Line honours for MAPFRE

With her low freeboard, hard chines and a foredeck as open as a cricket pitch, the Farr 280 is all about performance, says Matthew Sheahan At 28ft LOA and weighing in at 1,600kg with a downwind sail area that is just short of three times her upwind sail plan, the Farr 280 is designed to…

New Cup class causes the longest running Challenger to carry out its threat and withdraw its challenge for the 35th America’s Cup Patrizio Bertelli’s Italian America’s Cup team Luna Rossa has withdrawn from the 35th America’s Cup. The team raised concerns over the new class of boat that was suggested last week threatening that it…

Mastering the art of sailing in light airs gives rewards. Jonty Sherwill asks Steve Benjamin how to keep going when the wind dies away The forecast was spot on, the breeze has slackened as pressure rises, but now with the remains of an open sea swell and the tide soon to turn against you, making…

Designers work hard to create fast yachts, but much can be done to optimise a boat’s IRC rating. Jonty Sherwill asked measurement experts for their 5 tips It’s important to keep on top of subtle changes in the measurement rules if you want to be competitive. Photo: Paul Wyeth It’s the same type of boat…

Into the Roaring Forties As the Volvo fleet head further across the Southern Ocean, we take a look at the latest blogs straight off the yachts. It doesn’t sound pretty… Leg 5 onboard Dongfeng Race Team. Volvo Ocean Race- Leg 5- New Zealand to Brazil It’s that famous stretch of the Volvo Ocean Race, Leg…

If a good start is the key to a good race, the last tack into the start and the first 60 seconds out of it are crucial, explains top America’s Cup sailor Terry Hutchinson The subtleties of a good start are more complicated than identifying a good spot to leeward and starting next to someone…