racing skiff sailboat

18ft Skiffs Jumping around Europe

The 18ft Skiffs are a full carbon high-speed sailboat class that are sailed by three athletes on each skiff. Watch the documentary HERE

The wildest boat

Welcome to the international 18ft Skiffs homepage. Here you’ll find the latest events and information on 18ft Skiff racing in Europe.

Interested to start sailing? Find your nearest contact and buy a boat in Buy and Sell.

JJG 2024 Pictures Online

April 4, 2024.

Take a look at the best of the best. A very detailed one: Maybe you want to see how the […]

Looking forward to Garda?

June 20, 2023.

We have a whopping 17 boats coming to Lake Garda for the European Championships. Be sure to come and watch! […]

Team Black knight with exceptional JJG performance

March 21, 2024.

The Bavarian Team Black Knight had an exceptional performance the the JJ Giltinan Trophy 2024 – the world championships of […]

German Team in Sydney

February 14, 2023.

The Black Knight Racing Team of Heinrich von Bayern, Tom Martin and Andy Martin are racing the Australian fleet in […]

Winter Training in Cadiz

January 7, 2024.

Sailing the 18ft Skiff is one of the hardest things one can learn. It’s fast, unstable and tricky. And when […]

Action in Aarhus

November 7, 2022.

This years 18ft Skiff Grand Pri was closed with spectacular sailing in Aarhus Denmark. It is one of the best […]

News channel

Subscribe to the European 18ft Skiff news channel to stay informed about the next events, class actions and more

Next Events

September 2024, thursday september 26 – sunday september 29.

Our main events

18ft skiffs are sailed all around the world with hot-spots in Australia, Europe and New Zealand

Summer in Australia and summer in Europe means double the fun while racing at the worlds best locations

Mark Foy Regatta The Mark Foy is the Official World Championship for the 18ft skiffs

JJ Giltinan Regatta This is the biggest event in the Australian league calendar and is regularly the highest attendance event in the world

European Championships This event brings together sailors from across the continent to race to be the champions of Europe. Containers regularly visit from New Zealand and Australia. It takes place in Torbole, ITA, for some guaranteed No2 rig racing.

Meet the boat

On triple trapeze

Unlimited spinnaker size

typically 61–73 m 2 (660–790 sq ft)

Unlimited main Unlimited jib

Typically 26–32 m 2 (280–340 sq ft) 9.28 m 2 (99.9 sq ft)

LWL: 5.49 m (18.0 ft) LOA: 8.9 m (29 ft) Beam: 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in)

Weight ready to sail: 175 kg

Watch the action

18ft Skiffs jumping at Lake Garda

Full video on YouTube .

Supported worldwide by

International 14

INT 14 AT A GLANCE

A HIGH-PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT SKIFF

The International 14 is a 14 foot twin trapeze racing dinghy sailed in many countries around the world. It is a development class being controlled by a set of rules that allow for innovation and changes in hull and rig design as long as they fall within a set of specific limitations. The class has permitted its rules to be revised at various times in its history in order to keep the class at the forefront of dinghy racing development. Modern  boats weigh little, have unlimited asymmetric spinnaker size, square top fully battened mainsail, an adjustable carbon rig and a hydrofoil rudder.

Ovington Boats has a long history of building the International 14, along with Chris Turner who joined in 2005. We are building boats to the latest Beiker 6 design.

Fitted Hull Weight	70kg
Length	4.26m
Width	1.83m
Mast Length	7.63m
Upwind Sail Area	18.58sqm
Spinnaker Area	Unlimited, 32sqm typically
Designer	Various
Year Designed	Early 20th century
Number of Sailors	2, Twin Trapeze
Ideal Racing Weight	150-190kg

Association Link int14.org

Int.14 Bieker 6 Complete Boat

• Complete, fitted hull
• Launching trolley
• Top / Under Cover

Price:  £37,850

            (£31,541.67 ex VAT)

Int.14 Bieker 6 Moulded Hull Complete

• Carbon moulded with gel coat finish – Fitted carbon racks and bowsprit, ready for a home fit-out** NOT FITTED OUT **

Price:  £18,700

            (£15,583.33 ex VAT)

INT 14 PARTS

Int.14 Daggerboard

Int.14 Rudder & wing assembled

Int.14 Rudder Wing

Int.14 Rudder blade

Looking for something else, we sell parts & spares.

From sails to rigging, mast fittings and covers.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• AROUND THE SAILING WORLD
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2022 Boat of the Year: Best Offshore Racer

• By Dave Reed
• December 17, 2021

Sailing World Magazine’s annual Boat of the Year tests are conducted in Annapolis, Maryland, following the US Sailboat Show. With independent judges exhaustively inspecting the boats on land and putting them through their paces on the water, this year’s fleet of new performance-sailing boats spanned from small dinghies to high-tech bluewater catamarans. Here’s the best of the best from our 2022 Boat of the Year nominees »

As interest in doublehanded offshore racing piqued with the expectations it would be an Olympic sailing discipline in 2024, so too did the development and production of several purpose-built 30-footers. Dehler Yachts, Germany’s big production boatbuilder, jumped into the action with its own 30-footer, and as we’d expect of a Judel/Vrolijk and Co.-designed race boat, this one is an all-business shorthanded racing machine jam-packed with cool features found on grand‑prix boats twice its size.

“You can tell they started with a blank slate because the boat is so well-integrated with the design and construction—from bow to stern,” Greg Stewart says. “It hits its design purpose spot on. It’s a complete small offshore one-design, and it’s obvious there was a lot of development required to get things so right.”

Prototypes and mock-ups after mock-ups were required, Dehler says, to efficiently accommodate a lot of boat handling and living in such a compact craft. Virtually every rope on the boat spills into the cockpit, which is the way of life in shorthanded sailing, where everything happens at the back of the boat. Vigilance with line keeping, therefore, is paramount. That and carefully executed and planned maneuvers. In full-tilt conditions, there will be a lot going on in the cockpit, Stewart says, but everything’s easily at hand.

“All the control-line leads are well thought out,” he adds, pointing to the smooth-operating traveler controls and the individual gross and fine-tuned mainsheet flip cleats mounted on the cockpit floor.

Powlison’s first impression at the dock was that the boat would be challenging to manage, but “once we went sailing, it all was logical. Yes, there’s a lot of line management, but once you’re disciplined to do that, the boat is much easier to sail than it looks.”

With the trio of judges and the owner piled on board during the test sail, it was immediately obvious that two is company and three is definitely a crowd. “It’s also not the type of boat where you’ll want to spontaneously invite an inexperienced crew [to go race],” Powlison says. “You will really need to know what you’re doing, but once you do get comfortable with everything, it will be a really easy boat to sail well.”

Ben Corson, the Annapolis-based owner of our test boat, had spent the better part of a year racing with his female partner and tinkering with the boat, and consequently, the boat is meticulously prepared, race-ready and offshore-compliant. There’s no mistaking what’s what and where—labels pasted throughout the boat identify halyards, sail and ballast controls, safety gear and even the electronics manuals.

As a tightly controlled one-design class with ratified rules, owners like Corson can’t do much to the boat as it is, but there’s not much—if anything—an owner would need to change anyway. Everything on the boat, the judges agreed, works as it should. Adjustable backstays, for example, lead forward to clutches mounted on the cockpit wall, which allows the backstays to be kept taut or released without having to worry about loading to a winch during a maneuver. With the turn of a locking nut on the tiller arm, the steering system can be adjusted to change rudder toe-in on either side. The traveler track runs nearly the full width of the wide transom, opening up a wide range of adjustability for the 361-square-foot mainsail, and as a bonus, small removable reaching struts open up headsail sheeting angles. Stainless-steel foot braces are easy to deploy and stow, and allow the skipper to lock into a comfortable position over the angled coaming, with great visibility over the bow.

When the boat is powered up and leaning on the chine, Allen says, the sensation is exceptional: “This delivered the best sailing experience of all of the boats we tested. It was easy to tack and jibe, it tracked great, it’s easy to get to the sail controls, and we had no problems whatsoever with wiping out—and we tried hard a few times.”

With Allen on the tiller and Powlison managing the sheets as they started upwind into a 15-knot breeze, Stewart hit the chamfered rail. “My first impression from the rail was how high I was and how it was charging upwind—like a big boat. I couldn’t feel the chop, I didn’t get wet, it didn’t skid out at all. I was also amazed at how solid it felt; there wasn’t one bit of pounding, creaking or anything.”

Eventually, Stewart came off the rail and they filled the ballast tank instead—to the equivalent of 400-plus pounds of rail meat. Allen says the gravity-fed water-ballast system took about five minutes to top off, roughly 30 seconds to transfer during a tack, and less than a minute to drain.

“Once we added the water ballast, the boat just powered forward,” Powlison says. “You can really feel the difference when the boat sits on the chine and just tracks straight ahead.”

Impressed as they were with the Dehler 30’s upwind pace, when they set the big red A2 spinnaker (1,076 square feet) and took off down the bay, they had no doubts about the boat’s downwind potential. They only used three of the five class-sail inventory on board, which includes an A2, an A5, a spinnaker staysail and a Code Zero, and if they had more time and distance, they would have certainly piled on more sail area.

“I could see going with the A5, the J3 and the staysail, and maybe a reefed main in a big breeze,” Allen says. “That would be fun—and wicked fast.”

Lightweight and strong is, of course, the holy grail of every race boat, and here too Dehler delivers with what the judges say is an immaculate cored-hull laminate and good detail in the finish work throughout the boat. Dehler was also keen to leave out extraneous weight from the interior to get the boat to weigh in at just over 6,000 pounds. Without any floorboards (there’s thin foam padding glued to the inner hull skin instead), they’re able to get 6 feet of standing headroom at the companionway (which has a sliding hatch hood on rails) and plenty of sitting headroom forward of the mast and into the V-berth.

To achieve a higher level of the camper-sailor experience, comfortable V-berth cushions and removable mesh hull liners are standard, as is a folding centerline table, rounded wooden bench seats, and backrests that double as pipe berths. With storage cubbies scattered about the boat, a marine toilet with a graywater tank, a two-burner stove and two quarter berths, this little race rocket is definitely a legit weekender too. Lithium-ion batteries and a 9.9 diesel with a retractable Stealth Drive shaft that pulls up flush with the hull will get you where you need to go and keep the electronics suite powered up just fine.

The Dehler 30 was a strong contender for Boat of the Year, but the judges couldn’t dismiss the boat’s biggest limitation: It will get hammered by most rating systems, which makes it a one-trick one-design offshore-racing pony. It is, however, an outstanding design for keen shorthanded sailors looking for a race-ready platform for just over $240,000. If—or when—international class racing ever becomes a real thing, the offshore sailing world will be a better place.

• More: Boat of the Year , Boat of the Year 2022 , Dehler , Sailboats
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COMPETITION

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

SANCTIONED CLASSES

Jersey Speed Skiff

JS Modified

ENGINE RULES

The evolution of bay clammers. Over the course of 60+ years. The Garvey has been refined into a g-force pulling, hard charging, turn carving, racing machine. Weighing anywhere from 1500 - 2500 lbs. Powered by SBC's. There's no forgetting your first green flag.

J ersey s kiff

A national treasure among the boat racing community. The Jersey Speed Skiffs never fail to impress. Stock class is designed to incorporate the universal rules of the 283s, and 305's. But with a cheaper, more accessible build sheet. But don't leave before the modified's fire up. They're bringing the heat..

Known for their presence on the lakes and rivers in the west. Ski boats are some of the fastest on the circuit. Cutting lines and accelerating off turns, its hard to beat a well balanced SK. 

JSBR  Jersey Shore Boat racing 

© 2035 by Apex. Powered and secured by Wix

Hours of operation 

Mon-Thu: 9AM to 8PM

Friday: 9AM to 3PM

Sat-Sun: Closed

155 Willowbrook Blvd, STE 110 #2359

Wayne, New Jersey 07470

[email protected]

RS800 – SMOKING TWIN-WIRE SKIFF FOR ALL

The twin wire skiff with the kind of performance many sailors dream about. Graduating from youth racing or stepping up from slower boats – this is the skiff class for all – men and women, young or not. Minimal weight and hull drag mean the rig doesn’t have to be enormous to develop awesome speeds. So the loads are manageable by both sexes and performance equalization ensures that mixed teams usually stand on the RS Racing Circuit podiums. And that leads to friends, parties and an intoxicating skiff racing lifestyle.

No. of Crew

Crew weight (kgs), no. of trapezes, sail area (m²), find out more, ready to buy, find similar models, what the sailors are saying….

I was impressed, not only with her stability, but also the effortless way she took off.

The best thing about 800’s is you can sail them with girls.

The RS800 has filled a slot by creating an exciting, easy to sail skiff that allows a range of sailor to race against each other competitively. Easy to sail but hard to sail well.

You see, the new 800 is an absolute peach of a boat. Every single aspect of the boat is superb, from build quality (which is unbelievable), to the top notch sail, full Harken kit and the fully carbon mast from Selden which is a sight for sore eyes (compared to the alloy bottom section of the 49er).

Sensational skiff racing

• Incredible high-performance racing for men and women
• User-friendly handling makes it possible for many
• Superb Performance Equalisation System allows winners to be big or small
• Exciting class with action and camaraderie on the RS Racing Circuit
• Long and narrow on the waterline to reduce drag
• Flared topsides give reserve buoyancy and forgiving handling
• Cockpit design gives the helmsman a secure steering position while allowing run-through manoeuvres by experienced teams
• Large gennaker chute forward of the jib tack for fast hoists with minimum loads
• Incredibly light 62kg hull weight. Ready to sail the whole boat is a staggering 110kg light
• High tech construction system uses the immensely strong RS epoxy foam sandwich system – with long competitive life
• Daggerboard for low drag efficiency
• Lifting rudder for easy launching
• Sophisticated GRP sandwich construction gives strong, light, high performance foils
• The light all-up weight allows exceptional performance from a moderate size rig – making the RS800 the attainable skiff class
• Carbon composite mast – ultra-light and the flexible top section delivers excellent gust response
• Sealed mast to reduce the tendency for inversion when capsized.
• Mainsail and jib are built from light, strong and high visibility Mylar laminate.
• Only the top two mainsail battens are full length, creating a light and forgiving rig
• Self tacking jib ensures easy manoeuvres, especially offwind
• Asymmetric gennaker design with relatively short foot to minimise sheet loads and a high clew to aid visibility.

Performance equalised racing

• Performance Qqualisation System measures weight and leverage – and gives high speed close racing with both big and small winners. It works and is an integral part of the RS800’s success
• Mixed teams and joint events with other great RS classes mean the RS800 is the place to be for a complete skiff racing lifestyle

Accessories

• Harken deck fittings
• Intermediate wing bars (pro-gripped)
• Top cover – breathable polycotton
• Under cover – Nylon
• Launching trolley
• Road trailer base
• Padded rudder bag
• Padded daggerboard bag
• Carbon tiller extension
• Wing foot loops
• Performance equalisation weights
• Burgee wind indicator
• Tack tick micro compass (inc mast bracket)
• Race rope pack (jib, main and kite sheets)

SPECIFICATION

		RS800
Designer	Phil Morrison
Length	4.8m (15'9")
Beam	1.88–1.89m (6'2"–9'6")
Hull Weight	68kg (150lbs)
Sailing weight	110kg (242lbs)
Sail area – mainsail and jib	16.5m² (172ft²)
Sail area – spinnaker	21m² (225ft²)
Hull construction	Epoxy GRP foam sandwich
Spars	Carbon composite mast. Aluminium alloy boom. Composite bowsprit.
Sails	Mylar / kevlar semi battened mainsail. Fully battened jib. Twin patch radial cut spinnaker.
Foils	Daggerboard and lifting rudder. GRP foam sandwich.
Intermediate wing bars	Pro-gripped
Continuous cunningham
Harken deck fittings
Top cover	Breathable polycotton
Under cover	Nylon
Launching trolley
Road trailer base
Padded rudder bag
Padded daggerboard bag
Padded rig bag
Carbon tiller extension
Wing foot loops
Additional corrector weights
Burgee wind indicator
Tack tick micro compass	Includes mast bracket
Race rope pack	Jib, main and kite sheets

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Types of Racing Sailboats

Sailboats come in many different shapes and sizes depending on a variety of factors. This means there are a variety of sailboat racing boat types on the market.

When you look specifically at racing sailboats, you will notice several different aspects that separate them from other sailboats. You might be wondering, what are the types of racing sailboats?

There are many types of racing sailboats that range from one-man dinghies all the way to 100-foot yachts. Some racing sailboats are classified as keel boats, multi-hull, and even a tower ship. These boats are built primarily for speed, so comfort is usually an afterthought depending on the brand.

For racing sailboats, each one is going to fit within a specific race category. So depending on the type of race will dictate the types of sailboats you will see.

According to sailboat data, racing boats have slightly different designs that stand out compared to bluewater sailboats. Looking at the Olympics is another example of what other racing sailboats are out there.

Table of contents

‍ Characteristics of Racing Sailboats

There are quite a few sailboats made today that are geared specifically towards racing. They have one purpose, which is to go as fast as possible.

Some racing sailboats are advanced far more than the average ones, which is completely up to the buyer. For example, America’s Cup race showcases “foiling boats” that run on foils under the hulls. These allow the sailboats to go faster than 50 MPH.

If you are searching for boats that have characteristics to fit within a specific race type, you will find that many boats can enter different races depending on the rules. The most popular sailboat races are:

• Offshore/Oceanic

There are key features that separate racing boats from other sailboats and allow them to enter specific races. These can be narrowed down to the hull design, the type of keel, how many masts it has, and what type of sails are used.

Size of Racing Sailboats

As mentioned, these boats range from smaller dinghies to 100-foot yachts. Depending on the type of race will determine the type of boat that is being used.

The size of certain boats might prevent them from entering races where only smaller ones are allowed. There are exceptions in some races, like a handicapped fleet race, that will adjust the rating to allow their final time to be adjusted. The reason some races are handicapped to a certain extent is so a captain and his crew can determine the outcome and not a boat that is at an advantage.

Overall Design

With racing sailboats, they are subject to racing against the wind about half of the time. The angles of the boats are still similar to cruisers but greatly differ in the size of the sails to allow the sheets to have a better shape.

As racing boats are typically trying to sheet the sails hard, they are trying to keep them within the centerline. This allows the sails to be flatter and change them as needed.

Over time, the sails will typically wear out faster than the ones being used on regular sailboats. Since they are aggressively being used to stretch in the wind, they are subject to more use than regular sailboats.

Similar Looking Sailboats

There are races that only accept sailboats called one-design. These sailboats are built to exact specifications and are nearly identical to one another.

The reason that these boats are designed is to help combat any potential advantages from one boat to the next. It does not really set itself apart from other boats, but it is a good start to get into racing.

Lack of Interior Accommodations

Racing sailboats typically lack anything special on the inside to help save weight and go faster. Since a lot of features are not available, this means it would be nearly impossible to liveaboard full time.

In most scenarios, a true racing sailboat strictly has one purpose: to go fast. This does not mean that all racing sailboats cannot have luxury or comfort, since boat racing has been in existence since boats were first invented for water.

You would need to find boats that have a great balance between using them on weekends and racing. There are plenty of options to consider for what you want to accomplish in racing and comfort.

Types of Sails Being Used

Another characteristic that separates racing boats from cruisers is the types of sails that are being used. Both are designed for performance but are measured a bit differently. Racing sails are meant for speed, as regular sails are meant for cruising.

Depending on the goal of sailing, such as racing, you could look into purchasing sails that are specific to racing. Would you rather take off an extra minute or two of your time with a long upwind leg during a race or have the same durable sail for another five years out?

This opens up the door to endless possibilities of sail-making materials to get the job done. Most cruisers use Dacron or laminates that use a high-stretch fiber. With racing boats, light laminate sails have proven to be more durable and last longer than previous racing sails.

Popular Types of Racing Sailboats

Since the goal is to be around 50 MPH and have the best handling, many options have to be considered for the type of boat to possess both. Since comfort is not a deciding factor, it is somewhat easier to narrow down a racing boat over a bluewater or cruiser boat.

The types of racing sailboats that cater to you will all depend on your budget and your main goal of use. Each series of boats has its main purpose, with some having a little bit of comfort with racing.

Yachts and Super-Sized Sailboats

Yachts that specialize in racing tend to have a solid mix between speed and comfort. With a fiberglass hull and roughly 50 feet or so in length, these boats are not easily handled by just one or two people like others or there.

With that being said, they are also the most expensive out of the group. Even with exceptionally older models, you are still easily looking at $100,000.

You can expect to see racing yacht sailboats to reach about 17 MPH. Depending on the size, they can go faster or slower.

High-Performance Cruisers

Some boats can do it all when it comes to all-around performance . If you are looking for a boat that you can race for fun but still want to take it out offshore and live on, then you need to look at high-performance cruisers that can do both.

These boats generally range between 25 to 40 feet and are similar to yachts. However, they do not have as much luxury in comparison but the price tag is not nearly as heavy.

Trailerable Sailboats

Trailerable sailboats fall into similar categories like the dinghy and small racing boats. These boats can range in length up to 27 feet but are limited in their height and weight.

These serve a purpose for just about anything to do with sailing, but the racing ones are strictly for racing. Their design is meant for speed, not the comfort of heavy-duty performance offshore.

Small Racing Sailboats

Smaller racing sailboats are built to be lighter and have practically nothing on board compared to cruisers or dinghies. Due to their smaller size, they often get mistaken for larger dinghies even though they typically range between 20 and 70 feet.

These smaller racing sailboats are related to cruising sailboats but are a bit smaller. They are cousins to sailing dinghy boats that are used for racing. They also have fin keels and utilize laminate sails.

Sailing Dinghies

Dinghies are a category of small boats that have a wide variety of uses. If you are new to boating, it is a great place to start learning due to its size and simplicity.

These typically only need one or two people at most and are no longer than 15 feet in length at max. Many of these boats are competitively raced and will also result in a wet ride no matter what you do. You will see these types of boats used in certain Olympic events.

Racing Cruising Sailboats

Cruisers have a wide range in size and length, as they range between 16 and 50 feet or more. They feature cabins for extended cruising and have standing headroom below deck if over 26 feet.

Popular brands on the market have introduced models that are fit for racing. These are great for fleet races or for boats that are associated with cruising. With that being said, it is a great compromise for boaters that enjoy racing but also want to cruise whenever they want.

The cutter features a single mast and mainsail, which is very similar to common sailboats like a sloop. A cutter sailboat has the mast further aft which allows the attachment of the jib and staysail.

In high winds, a smaller staysail can still be flown from the inner stay. This used to be a traditional racing design back in the day.

Cutters are great for both offshore and coastal cruising. In addition, they can still be utilized as a racing boat depending on the conditions.

Fractional Rig Sloop

Fractional rig sloop sailboats were popular in the 60s and 70s, but have steadily made a comeback in today's market. This sloop’s forestay will not cross at the highest point of the mast, meaning it attaches at a lower position.

On fairly windy days when you do not have to utilize full power, the fractional rig allows the crew to slightly bend the tops of the mast and flatten out sails. This greatly affects performance and is a great option for cruising, one-design races, and even handicap sailing.

Schooner Sailboats

These particular sailboats have multiple sails which are protected by two masts. These are known as the mainmast and foremast, with the foremast being close to the ship’s foredeck and a lot shorter than the mainmast.

Depending on the size of the schooner, additional masts can be added to allow more sails. These are great for offshore cruising and sailing but can be an effective racing boat.

Trimarans and Catamarans

Trimarans have three of their hulls side by side and “cats” only have two. In comparison, they both share very similar characteristics for racing and overall performance.

Trimarans are quicker and easier to build than catamarans, so, therefore, they are more common. They both have similar restrictions on space and can be used for day sailing.

In addition, they are not as stable as compared to other sailboats out there. There are still various ways to use them and they make for great racing boats since they can reach up to 10 MPH.

How Can These Boats Go Faster?

Each person will select a racing boat that fits their needs accordingly. If you enjoy racing, but continue to lose against boats that are the same, you might want to consider either your team, the technique behind it all, or the boat itself. Routine maintenance is going to be the best thing you can do when checking to see if your racing sailboat can go any faster.

The hull has to be in top shape and needs to be able to hold tension. The sails also need to be checked to make sure they are not overly stretched or worn out.

The masts also need to be of the right stiffness, as they are bending with tension from the rigging. This one might have to be professionally calibrated if you do not know how to do it, especially since every boat with its mast is going to measure differently based on size and shape.

Finally, the weight of the boat could be the determining factor in winning or losing. Make sure the weight is appropriate and the maximum amount for the boat is not exceeded.

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16 Feet 1980 J&S Marine Jersey Speed Skiff

$24,900 (usd), boat id: 40228, contact us directly - 800-675-4089, learn how the process works (faq).

1980 APBA jersey speed skiff race boat Designed, built and driven by Dave Paraskevas in 1980. World record setter in 1981 and a very well-documented history since day 1. Campaigned last 20 years on the vintage APBA circuit . New engine built by Mike Endres in 2019, direct drive setup with no transmission as-raced. Includes Eagle trailer, cover. Many new hardware parts. New 20 gallon fuel tank, certified lifting slings, new MSD electronic ignition system. Has Livorsi GPS installed. 2 bucket seats are redone in vinyl red white & blue as original. This is one of the best running vintage-division Jersey Speed skiffs on the circuit and has strong racing provenance.

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With many hull sizes to choose from you know that you can get the perfectly sized hull for you, not just comfortable, but ergonomically correct, meaning more of your effort goes into boat speed.

Mould #	105-	121-*	109L-	107-	122-*	109H-	104-
Crew weight - kg	50-65	50-65	55-65	57-70	60-75	65-75	70-83
Crew weight - lb	110-143	110-143	121-143	125-154	132-165	143-165	154-183
Length - cm	790	745	790	778	798	790	800
Waterline Beam - cm	25	25	25.1	23.4	25.8	25.8	26.5

Mould #	123-*	111-*	124-*	103-	125L-*	125H-*
Crew weight - kg	70-85	75-90	75-90	83-100	85-100	95-110
Crew weight - lb	154-187	165-198	165-198	183-220	187-220	187-220
Length - cm	805	821	806	830	826	826
Waterline Beam -cm	25.8	25.8	26.5	28.2	28.3	28.3

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New Yachts on the Market: Latest Racing & Cruising Designs

In the market for a racing or cruising yacht? It’s been another bumper year for the boatbuilding industry… Sam Jefferson casts his eye over the latest launches.

New yachts: cruising, wauquiez 55.

Wauquiez is a marque that has been much revered in cruising circles since they first started building elegant cruisers back in the 1960s. Their new 55 boat is definitely intriguing and one of the striking features is the centre cockpit with the helm offset to port under a well protected solid plexiglass sprayhood.  Another interesting feature is the option of a swing keel which gives you an almighty 4.2m of draft when lowered and 1.6m when raised. Aside from that, the boat dares to be different by supplying two Volvo D2 engines as standard.  The interior looks extremely spacious and Lombard has capitalised on full forward sections and plenty of beam to ensure that there is a huge interior space. In addition, the centre cockpit allows for a huge aft owner’s cabin.

wauquiez.com

Moody 48 DS

Moody has been under German ownership as part of the Hanse group for many years now and offers a different sort of cruiser in quality deck saloon cruisers which are designed by Judel/Vrolijk. The new 48 is the first new launch they have made since their 41 2017 and fits between the Moody 45 and 54 in their range. As you’d expect, this is a boat that is big on space and comfort, featuring a big, beamy hull with twin rudders. Performance has not been neglected, however, because she sports a generous rig to push her 21,000kg displacement through the water. 

Inspirationmarine.co.uk

Hanse Yachts broke with go to designer of many years Judel/Vrolijk a couple of years back and this was the catalyst behind the launch of a new generation of Hanses designed by the French team of Berret/Racoupeau. In addition to a marked change in styling, with inverted ‘dreadnought bow and hard chines aft giving the boats a more angular look, the main drive seemed to be to up the quality of the boats down below – which was certainly achieved. The new 590 is their biggest boat yet of this new generation and offers easy sailing on a big scale. The new boat features an optional hard top bimini, a tender garage and acres of space down below. The boat will be officially unveiled at Cannes Boat show and promises to be a head turner.

New Cruising Yacht: Maxus 35

Maxus Yachts is a Polish company that made its name. building small trailerable yachts to sail on the Masurian lakes not far from the Russian border. Now the company has moved up a size bracket and their new 35 is bigger and aimed more at offshore sailing than previous designs. The result is a spacious yacht with striking styling and a semi deck saloon arrangement that bathes the saloon with natural light. It all points to promises decent performance and accommodation at a highly competitive price. 

northman.pl

French manufacturer Dufour has really pumped up the volume with its latest generation of yachts. The new Umberto Felci designed 44 follows on from the 37 and 41 which have already drawn plaudits thanks to their remarkable ability to create internal volume without looking overly dumpy. The 44 continues in this vein boasting plentiful beam aft and full sections at the bow above the waterline. The interior is positively palatial and there is a choice of three or four cabin layouts.

dufour-yachts.com

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 is the successor to the 349 which was actually launched way back in 2013. At 34’1” excluding the bowsprit she is the starter boat in the range and viewed by the French manufacturer as offering a gateway into sailing for young families.

The boat is designed by Marc Lombard and Piaton Yacht design and, as you’d expect the lines are bang up to date, offering plenty of internal volume via fuller forward sections. Like its predecessor the 349, the new boat is available with a swing keel – a real boon in UK waters. The interior is really quite large and there is the option of twin doubles aft plus a double forward. 

jeanneau.com

Elan GT6 Explorer

The Elan GT6 was a very stylish fast cruiser from drawing board of rob Humphreys that has been very well received since its launch. The GT6 Explorer is, as you can imagine a variation on this theme but the manufacturers have identified rthe potential of the boat as a fast blue water cruiser and built on that. As such, the boat fuel and water tankage has been boosted as has battery power. There is also the option of an all electric version utilising Oceanvolt’s pioneering technology. 

elan-yachts.com

It has been some years since Danish manufacturers X Yachts realised that if they offered a de tuned Xc cruising range alongside its out and out performance yachts, it would massively enlarge its customer base. The project was a huge success and the Xc range is now into its second generation with the launch of the Xc47. The new launch is one of the first since X Yachts divorce from founder and chief designer Niels Jeppesen and the result is a yacht that leans heavily towards the cruising market, featuring something not far from a deck saloon. The hull lines feature plenty of beam aft and there has obviously been a very conscious effort to up the cruising ante. That said, the boat retains a powerful rig and weight has been kept reasonably modest.

x-yachts.com

New Yachts: Racing

Cf 580 ran 8.

Ran 8 is one of the latest launches from the drawing board of Shaun Carkeek and is a boat that has already cut a dash by taking overall and line honours in the RORC Channel Race. This is a boat that comes from the same mould as Oystercatcher XXXV, launched to much fanfare in 2021. The new boat boasts an uprated water ballast system which is designed to reduce the number of crew required from eight to seven. In addition to this, electric propulsion has been introduced. 

The boat is not designed to one particular set of rules and the main aim is simply to design a boat that will go as fast as possible in a range of conditions. The result is a boat optimised for offshore conditions, in which she will be somewhat quicker than a TP52. 

carkeekdesignpartners.com

Jeanneau Sun Fast 30

The Sun Fast 30 is a VPLP project who have teamed up with Multiplast to produce a strict one design yacht at what Jeanneau feels is a competitive price. The new boat features full forward sections married to light (2,700kg) displacement, twin rudders and flat aft sections to provide a boat that planes easily and early. The boat is available in two versions: One Design and Club. The one design version features a carbon mast mainsheet track and uprated electronics pack. The Club version has an aluminium mast and a bridle for the mainsheet. The aim is to make it more affordable to club racers.

Clubswan 28: Racing

The Clubswan 28 is a something of a break from tradition for Nautor Swan who have never produced a yacht this small. She rounds off their ClubSwan range and is a pure one design racer set up for four crew. At 1000kg, this Juan Kouyoumdijan design is going to be fast but she appears to be much less technical than boats higher up the range, eschewing foils and keeping things as simple as possible. There is no accommodation.

nautorswan.com

Reichel/Pugh 56 Vasara

The design house of Reichel/Pugh has produced some memorable yachts over the years and  the design brief here was for a fast, competitive yacht that was also comfortable and luxuriously appointed down below. There are a number of interesting touches. Most notably, a split backstay and square topped mainsail can be switched out for a single backstay and standard main when cruising. The keel has a substantial 4.1m depth but this can be raised to 2.4m for entering port. The interior is constructed almost exclusively out of carbon but a thin veneer of wood is placed over this to soften things up. The result is a sleek and versatile racer/cruiser.

reichel-pugh.com

New Yachts: Bluewater Cruisers

Bestavaer 36.

Bestavaer Yachts is a Dutch boatbuilder specialising in steel construction. They are reputed for building handsome steel ‘go anywhere’ yachts, generally in the 50-70’ bracket. The announcement of an all new 36 footer is therefore something of a surprise and not an unwelcome one. The new boat marries a big rig with a decent displacement ot provide a boat that is both seaworthy but none too slow. As with her bigger sisters, the 36 is designed to be a very practical ctuiser and is therefore equipped with a swing keel which will allow her to take the ground when required and the draft is a mere 0.7m with the board up and a substantial 2.4m with the board down.

bestavaer.com

Boreal Yachts sit in that very French cadre of utilitarian aluminium ‘go anywhere’ yachts much loved by soul sailors who idolise Moitessier and dream of communing with the albatross. Yet these soul sailors seem to have developed a taste for a spot of luxury too and the Boreal 70 is typical of the latest iteration of these hardy swing keel boats in that she is huge and surprisingly well appointed, boating such luxuries as a dishwasher should you so wish to choose that option. Sacre bleu! Nevertheless, this is a tough go anywhere cruiser which is at home in the tropics or the high latitudes. 

boreal-yachts.com

Hallberg Rassy 69

Swedish manufacturer Hallberg Rassy is an institution in the world of blue water cruising. Yet it’s an institution that isn’t afraid to evolve and many were shocked when the boatbuilder started to introduce twin rudders and broader aft sections to its designs. The 69 is another step forward, being the largest boat ever built by the Swedes and nudging towards the cadre of pocket superyacht. The boat is designed by German Frers and features a big rig and contemporary lines familiar to those who are familiar with the most recent launches from the yard. The difference with the 69 is she is just a lot bigger and more luxurious. Far not though, the trademark Hallberg Rassy armchairs are still an option.

hallberg-rassy.com

Contest 63CS

Dutch boatbuilder Contest is famed for building high quality blue water cruisers and their all new 63CS looks straight out of that playbook. Designed by their go to nabal architects Judel/Vrolijk, this is a big, luxurious cruising yacht that will boat good performance particularly for those who love a spot of tradewind sailing. This is a centre cockpit yacht with a relatively modest 31,900kg displacement and a decent sail area pointing to a very versatile long distance cruiser.

contestyachts.com

New Yachts: Performance Cruisers

Grand soleil blue.

Italian manufacturer Grand Soleil seems to have been producing ever larger cruiser/racers so news of the launch of the Grand soleil Blue, a 30’ weekender is welcome. The boat is very interesting as it is the first fully recyclable production yacht built in Italy and features biodegradable resins in construction meaning that the boat ban be separated out and re used at the end of the boats life. The boat also features and electric motor and sails made of recycled materiels. The design is clearly performance oriented but there is pleasant and stylish weekend accommodation.

grandsoleil.net

Saffier SL 46

Dutch manufacturer Saffier Yachts has specialised in turning out fast, stylish weekend sailers with an emphasis on performance and ease of use. That is, until now. By launching the new SL 46 the boatbuilders has moved into an altogether new realm as this boat is unquestionably a cruiser/racer capable of offshore passages. This is an intriguing move, as it pitches Saffier against a plethora of established operators such as Grand Soleil, Italia Yachts, even Beneteau and Jeanneau. Anyway, the SL 46 looks the part, featuring modern aggressive styling couple to a big rig, light displacement and a deep, T-shaped keel. The interior looks stylish and luxurious and the boat is available with the option of a tender garage – something of an oddity in a 46 footer. 

saffieryachts.com

Tofinou 7.9

The new Tofinou 7.9 follows in the vein of other yachts in their range in that she is a performance oriented modern classic day sailer. As the name suggests, the boat is 7.9m making her the smallest boat in the range and she is available with a swing keel or fixed T shaped keel. The boat is available with an electric outboard or a diesel inboard and offers a blend of lustrous woods and light carbon laminates which gives the boat a classy air while also promising exhilarating sailing. There is also a small double berth forward if you do want to spend a night afloat.

tofinou.com

La Rochelle based RM Yachts has made a name for itself by being the last company standing when it comes to the mass production of epoxy/ply yachts. This is partly because it’s hideously complicated to put together an epoxy/ply yacht. The result, however, is a lightweight yacht that is stiff and strong. RM has made a name for building sporty cruiser/racers with the option of lift, fixed or bilge keels. The 1080 is a welcome mid sized addition to their range. Designed by Marc Lombard, the 1080 features plenty of beam aft, fullish forward sections and generous sail area. The looks are distinctive and the cockpit layout is innovative plus interior space is impressive.

rm-yachts.com

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Sports | Gold Cup powerboat race highlights San Diego…

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Sports | Gold Cup powerboat race highlights San Diego Bayfair weekend on Mission Bay

San Diego Bayfair will also be hosting one of the more historic events in motorsports. The American Power Boat Association Gold Cup, which dates to 1904 — or seven years before the first Indianapolis 500.

Six of the turbine-powered Unlimiteds are entered in the event, with qualifying Friday, three heats races Saturday and three heats Sunday before the championship race around 3:45 p.m. Competition will be held on the 2½-mile Bill Muncey Memorial Course between East Vacation Isle and Crown Point Shores on the west and Fiesta Island on the east.

This will be the 56th Unlimited Hydroplane race on Mission Bay since 1964 and the fifth time San Diego has hosted the Gold Cup — although this is the first time since 1989.

The weekend program will also include racing in the automotive-powered Grand Prix class plus One Liters and other flatbottom and limited hydroplane classes.

“The goal is to have more action on the water plus other activities,” said race director Bob Davies. “It’s more than a race. It’s a festival.”

Historically, the saltwater Mission Bay course has been the fastest on the tour.

“Mission Bay is by far one of my favorite courses,” said three-time Mission Bay champion J. Michael Kelly. “Not only because it’s a very fast course that I’ve had success on, but it’s also a beautiful place to visit. It’s like a mini-vacation before and after a serious weekend of racing.”

The boat racing course was part of the charter when the Mission Bay aquatic park was first being developed in 1958. The curvature of East Vacation Isle and Fiesta Island was designed for the race course, with the sloping beach developed to dissipate waves from both race boats and recreational boat traffic.

While Kelly is one of the six Unlimited Hydroplane drivers here this weekend, he is not the one to beat.

Andrew Tate and his U-91 could clinch the season driver and boat championships during Saturday’s heats. With two wins, a second and a fourth in the season’s first four races, Tate and the U-91 hold a 949-point lead over teammate Corey Peabody and the U-9 entering the traditional Mission Bay season finale.

Tate won the season’s first two races at Guntersville, Ala., and Madison, Ind. Peabody defeated Tate at Tri-Cities, Wash. Kelly won in Seattle in the U-1.

Rounding out the six-boat fleet in the East Vacation Isle pits are the U-40 (Dustin Echols driving), U-11 (Jamie Nilsen) and the U-27 (Dave Villwock). Echols is third in points with 3,837, followed closely by Nilsen at 3,812 and Kelly at 3,795.

In addition to his win, Peabody has a runner-up finish, a sixth-place finish and a seventh-place finish this season. Echols has a third and three fifths. Nilsen has pair of seconds.

But don’t count out Villwock on Mission Bay. Now 70 years old, Villwock is the all-time leader in Unlimited Hydroplane wins with 67. He is 10-time winner of the Gold Cup and a 10-time champion on Mission Bay, where he last won in 2011. Villwock has been racing Unlimited since 1992, although he has twice retired only to return.

Tate scored his Mission Bay wins in 2014, ’19 and ’21. There was also no race during the pandemic year of 2020. Tate previously scored back-to-back wins in ’17 and ’18.

The rules of the Gold Cup places extra demands on Unlimited Hydroplane teams. The preliminary heats are each four laps. Sunday’s championship will be five laps of the 2.5-mile course.

The Unlimited Hydroplane program opens at 11 a.m. Friday with testing. Two 45-minute rounds of qualifying will commence at 12:50 p.m. and 2:35 p.m.

The Grand Prix boats powered by big-block automobile engines will race on a shorter 1 2/3-mile course between East Vacation Isle. The Grand Prix field includes a pair of entries from Australia. The One Liters and other hydro and flatbottom classes will also run on shorter courses with all the championship heats scheduled for Sunday.

One of the attractions of Bayfair is that it is the only weekend of the year when motorhomes and overnight camping is allowed on East Vacation Isle, Fiesta Island and Crown Point Shores. Limited spaces are still available on Fiesta Island and Crown Point Shores, although East Vacation Isle is sold out.

Three-day super passes are available for $60.

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

The day of the underdog: What we learned from the third day of Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final racing

• Toby Heppell
• September 16, 2024

The third day of the Louis Vuitton Cup took place today, Monday in Barcelona as the four remaining America's Cup challnegers go head-to-head

Today, Monday 16 September saw the third day of racing for the four remaining America’s Cup challengers in the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals. And for two teams it was a crucial day as both Alinghi Red Bull Racing and American Magic would be fighting to stay in the competition.

To date, the Semi-Finals have both been fairly one-sided in terms of results, with INEOS Britannia going 4-0 up against Alinghi and Luna Rossa also going 4-0 up against American Magic. This series is a best of nine races (first to five wins) so INEOS and Luna Rossa would each only need to win one of their two scheduled races today to book a spot in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final.

Yesterday’s racing took place in a decent 1o knots, which built throughout the day to top out at 19 knots, by the final race of the day. Today’s racing was dogged by lighter unstable winds and there were many delays as the race committee waited for the wind to get over the 6.5 knot minimum needed for racing to start.

Even when the racing did get underway, it took place in marginal 6-8 knot conditions and with the thermal enhancement never really kicking in, only two races were able to be sailed today.

Tomorrow will see the start of the Youth America’s Cup racing, so Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final racing will resume on Wednesday 18 September.

Key takeaways from the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final Day 3

• American Magic continue to look very close to Luna Rossa and it’s not impossible to imagine them winning a few more matches on the bounce
• INEOS look weak in the sub-6 knot conditions and struggled to stay foiling.
• Both Luna Rossa and INEOS will rue not having sealed up their Semi-Final today in order to get an extra day in the shed ahead of Louis Vuitton Final racing

Photo: Ian Roman / America’s Cup

Race 9 Alinghi Red Bull Racing  Vs  INEOS Britannia

Skippers INEOS Britannia:  Ben Ainlsie  &  Dylan Fletcher Alinghi Red Bull Racing:  Arnaud Psarofaghis  & Maxime Bachelin

Having gone 4-0 down in this series to INOES Britannia, and with all of those wins being by a significant margin, Alinghi Red Bull Racing were looking for a minor miracle from today’s racing. But it all looked to be over for the Swiss team at the start.

Although the wind had filled in enough to officially start a race it was still looking very light with some big holes where the wind strength was probably under 6 knots.

Alinghi led back to the startline in the light winds and it was clear both teams were looking to minimise manoeuvres in order to stay on the foils, but the Brits did a good job of gybing round in front of the Swiss to lead them back to the line. With INEOS downspeed after their gybe, the Swiss looked to try to roll over the Brits, but they could not accelerate quickly enough and ended up to windward of the Brits, with both boats over the startline.

The only choice the Swiss had from there was to wait for the Brits to bear away down to the startline and follow INEOS to the line and start right on their hip, a very weak position. And to make matters worse Psarofaghis and Bachelin got their time on distance wrong and were over the line at the start, handing the lead to the Brits.

By the first windward gate, INEOS led round with a 17 second gap over Alinghi and stepped away in the final part of the first downwind to lead through the leeward gate by over a minute.

However, the wind was looking ever lighter and, as the Brits went to tack on the left hand boundary upwind, they dropped off the foils, allowing the Swiss to catchup and as the Swiss managed to stay on the foils though their tack, the Swiss grabbed the lead and sailed away for a huge lead.

For their part, the Brits seemed to drop off their foils almost every time they tried to tack, while Psarofaghis and Bachelin foiled their way upwind, rounded the windward gate and set off downwind. To add even more peril to the Brits’ predicament the Race Committee then shortened the course to move the finish to the top of the next beat.

But on their final gybe into the leeward gate, Alinghi dropped off their foils and with the wind around 5 knots across the course both boats gave up trying to get foiling and we were treated to a very slow low-riding race. Alinghi made it through the leeward gate and the question quickly became could they make it to the finish inside the 45 minute race time limit.

In the Alinghi crossed the line after 41 minutes 22 seconds and so officially took their first win of the Semi-Final and will live to race another day.

“The guys did a good job of fighting all the way and we got lucky on one puff and it was quite nice,” said Psarofaghis. “Of course we would like to cross the finish line at 45 knots, but we’ll take crossing it at 8 knots if it’s a win.”

What did we learn from Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final Race 9?

Certainly INEOS will be concerned about their manoeuvres. Ainslie commented after racing that there were a couple of manoeuvres where they could and should have stayed foiling but they absolutely looked more prone to dropping off the foils than Alinghi did in this incredibly light weather.

The British boat was still clearly the faster when they were on the foils but this does add to some manoeuvrability problems we’ve seen previously. This is of particular concern as the weather becomes more changeable in October as the thermal winds become weaker. As such October sees some significantly windier days and some very light days too.

However, this weakness only looks to show its head in sub-6 knot conditions, so they need a race such as this where there is enough wind to start but it dies away to really see their manoeuvring be an issue.

Alinghi were impressive this race and they absolutely looked the better of the two in sub-6 knots. It was a bit naive in the pre-start from Psarofaghis and Bachelin – a weakness that has been clear throughout this Semi-Final.

Race 10  Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli  Vs  American Magic

Skippers American Magic: Lucas Calabrese &   Tom Slingsby Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli:  Jimmy Spithill  & Francesco Bruni

There was another delay as we waited for the wind ahead of the second race of the day, but after only 15 minutes or so, the breeze was back strong enough to get a race start completed. But it still looked pretty unstable and, though it was up to 9 knots in the startbox, it was again softer in other parts of the course.

It was gloves off from the start as Slingsby and Calabrese decided to lead back very early and started hunting the port-tacked Luna Rossa, hoping to put a penalty on the Italian team. But American Magic were not quite able to get up to the Italians to force a port/starboard incident.

The upshot of that is that the American-flagged boat was leading back to the line very early and were scrubbing off speed all the way back to the startline, while Spithill and Bruni were able to reach all the way down to the startline to cross to windward of the Americans but at significantly higher speed.

By the first boundary Luna Rossa managed to get bow-forward of the US boat and were able to tack on them immediately after the boundary, but American Magic did a good job to hang in there and break cover at the top end of the beat and round the windward gate 17 seconds behind.

Both teams then traded sides of the course downwind and the gap was exactly the same at the downwind gate, with Luna Rossa leading around the left mark and American Magic raking the right hand mark.

But there was a touch more wind on the right of the course and at the first cross the port-tacked Luna Rossa were forced to duck the American’s. But it was a late call by Slingsby and Bruni and they crossed the transom of American Magic a little too close and picked up a penalty.

The Italians still managed to snatch the lead back at the next cross, forcing the port-tacked American Magic to duck them. But that looked to have reversed when they crossed again with American Magic on starboard. But Luna Rossa tried to squeeze across their bow and got another penalty in the process.

At the next windward gate rounding, it was American Magic just leading by 3 seconds, with both boats splitting out to different sides of the course again. The gap remained as a 3-second advantage to the Americans all the way down to the leeward gate.

Coming into the leeward gate, the starboard tacked American Magic looked like they might just cross in front of the the port tacked Luna Rossa. But with Luna Rossa in the two boat length circle, Spithill and Bruni decided to go for broke and dive inside American Magic in the hopes of getting a penalty on the American team, who must give way to allow Luna Rossa room to round the mark.

Slingsby and Calabrese were live the danger with Slingsby stating “I think he’s going to go for a penalty here, so we’ll give room.” It was a very close thing, but Slingsby and Calabrese were just able to give enough room to avoid picking up a penalty. With the Italians diving so low coming into the mark they were always going to drop off the foils. They were clearly hoping to get a penalty and force the Americans to drop behind them.

“It was clearly the wrong call, I didn’t look well enough at the software, I just got a glimpse and thought we had a bit of them,” said Bruni after racing.

It took the Italians an age to get back up on the foils and, by the time they managed it, American Magic were long gone to pick up their first win of the series. “It feels really good,” said Slingsby of the win. “It’s been tough, they’ve been just knocking us off for four races straight. But we know we can do it, so we want another one in these conditions.”

What did we learn from Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final Race 10?

These two teams have looked pretty evenly matched so far this Semi-Final and the 4-0 scoreline coming into today’s racing was not really a fair reflection of just how close this series has been. Once again this race there was not a great deal to choose between these two boats, with the teams once again trading the lead on a number of occasions.

Famously when Jimmy Spithill was asked how he felt when his Oracle Team USA was one 8-1 down in the best-of-nine 2013 America’s Cup against New Zealand he simply said: “Imagine if they lost it from here.” And after racing yesterday, Slingsby was asked how he felt being one point away from being sent home, to which he replied: “Imagine if they lost it from here.” Imagine, indeed.

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