scuttlebutt
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:30:05 +1100
Subject: Scuttlebutt 6499 - January 27, 2026
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Scuttlebutt Sailing News [1]
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - Issue 6499
BSI rigged Skylark, an Aquidneck Custom Composites 72’ Catamaran.
This newsletter is provided through the support of its sponsors, delivering a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk…with a North American focus.
Today's sponsors:
Quantum Sails - BSI Rigging - Marion Bermuda Race
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There are only five newsletter ad slots remaining in 2026, and four of them are in December. If you want reserve advertising space for your holiday push, ask for details at [advertising@sailingscuttlebutt.com].
What can sailing learn from motorsports [2]
The first edition of the Racing Rules of Sailing was established in 1907, and as the sport became more competitive, the rules became more comprehensive. While great for the elite level, what about everyone else? Mike Zani considered another approach to the rules in An experiment to reimagine racing [3], and returns with this latest report:
Sailboat racing has a rules problem. Not because the Racing Rules of Sailing are wrong—they’re remarkably thorough—but because they are optimized for correctness, not accessibility. The result is a sport that can intimidate newcomers, burden organizers, and too often rely on protest committees to resolve what should be simple on-the-water conflicts.
At the same time, other forms of “big and expensive” racing—most notably motorsports—have evolved in the opposite direction. Formula 1 and NASCAR operate with comparatively simple racing rules, no fault-based damage reimbursement, and little post-race litigation between competitors. If you’re hit, you fix your own car. Accountability comes through penalties, reputation, and incentives—not insurance claims.
That contrast raises an interesting question:
What would sailing look like if it leaned less on adjudication and more on incentives?
I started exploring that question while helping run a radio-controlled sailing club called the Wicked Tired Thumbs [4].
Protest committees enable parties to explore nuance and subtleties. Yet the concept of “onus” often predicts the outcome of hearings. In competitive team racing in the 1990s, we developed three-minute justice.
That system was faster and easier to implement, but if each party has only a minute to describe the situation and the jury has only a minute to decide (hence the three minutes), there is little time for nuance—the party that had the “onus” typically lost.
In our local RC sailing club, we went a step further. We removed onus entirely and made the rules deterministic. I’ll explain. - Read on [5]
[6]
Your 2026 Season with Quantum [7]
The 2026 season is calling! Whether you are hitting the water soon or starting to look forward to a spring launch, make sure your sails get the checkup they need.
We put together our recommendations for sail checks [8] that can help determine the sail service you need. From stretched seams and tired stitching to worn hardware and UV damage, our experts know what to look for to recommend the right repairs or recuts to keep your sails performing like new.
Contact your local loft [9] to make sure you are first in line for sail service when you need it. Don’t let small problems turn into big ones that halt your season before it starts. Ready to bypass service and go straight for new inventory, request a quote [7] today.
What if Judges walked the dock? [10]
Robert Stewart, an International Judge from Canada, posted this question on the Racing Rules of Sailing Forum which offers an opportunity for experts to share their wisdom:
I’ve noticed multiple incidents during racing where boats clearly infringe the rules—whether it’s mark-room, port-starboard, or right-of-way situations—and yet very few hearing requests are being filed afterward. Sailing is a self-policing sport, and the protest system exists to ensure fairness and proper rule enforcement. So why are competitors hesitant to use it?
Is it a lack of understanding of the protest process? A perception that filing a protest is “unsportsmanlike”? Fear of conflict or retribution? Or something else entirely? Would having judges walk the docks before racing help?
For example, their presence might make the process feel more approachable, allow sailors to ask questions informally, and encourage legitimate protests to be filed when needed. I’d love to hear perspectives from sailors, judges, and race organizers on what’s driving the low number of hearings and what actions could improve rule adherence and competitor confidence in the system.
To read the responses, click here [11].
[12]
Can a disqualified boat still protest? [13]
The Case Book for 2025-2028 ( click here [14]) complements The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and provides details on the application of the rules. Here’s Case 1 [15]:
A boat that breaks a rule while racing but continues to race may protest over a later incident, even though after the race she is penalized for her breach.
Facts
Boats A, B, and C are racing with others. After an incident between A and B, A hails ‘Protest’ and displays a red flag, but B does not take a penalty. Later, B protests a third boat, C, after a second incident. The protest committee hears A’s protest against B and disqualifies B.
Question
Does the fact that B is disqualified as a result of A’s protest make B’s protest against C invalid?
Answer
No. When a boat continues to race after an alleged breach of a rule, her rights and obligations under the rules do not change. Consequently, even though A’s protest against B is upheld, the protest committee must hear B’s protest against C and, if B’s protest is valid and the protest committee is satisfied from the evidence that C broke a rule, C must also be penalized.
[16]
What’s the etymological origin? [17]
The editors at SAIL magazine offer this trivia challenge:
Though it’s perhaps the most well-known word in the nautical lexicon, many don’t know where the word “starboard” came from. What’s the etymological origin?
A) Navigators stood on the right side of the boat when taking sights of the stars, so the right side became known as the “star board” side of the boat.
B) Early punts (a flat-bottomed boat that is pushed by pole, like a Venetian gondola) had passengers board from the right side.
C) It derived from the term “larboard,” the middle English word for the side on which cargo was loaded.
D) Before rudders, boats were steered by oars, and the helmsperson sat on the right side of the boat, resulting in the term “steer-board,” which eventually became “starboard.”
For the answer, click here [18].
[19]
Builder sues Bayesian widow and crew [20]
When the 184-foot luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a storm [21] at anchor off the Sicilian coast, seven of the 22 people on board died. The yacht capsized in the strong wind, and it was believed that the 237-foot aluminum mast – second highest mast in the world – was a contributing factor. This update comes from Peter Swanson at Loose Cannon:
Yacht builder Perini Navi has sued the Bayesian widow, her captain, and two crew members, blaming them for the ship’s 2024 capsize and sinking and seeking $540 million for a collapse in sales. The suit contradicts findings by British accident investigators, not to mention Loose Cannon’s extensive coverage pointing to design flaws.
The force behind the suit, which was filed in Sicily where the accident happened, is Giovanni Costantino, owner of The Italian Sea Group, which in turn is parent company to Perini Navi. – Full report [22]
[23]
America’s Cup: From there to here [24]
There have been turning points in the America’s Cup, and the 34th edition stands out. The shift from the IACC monohull to the AC72 catamaran was massive, as was the launch of the America’s Cup World Series [25] in 2011.
The AC45 was conceived for the circuit which provided an entry point for the 2013 Cup, with teams eager for exposure to attract necessary funding. There were up to nine foreign teams that participated, but only three - Italy, New Zealand, Sweden - made it to the 2013 event in San Francisco.
This type of circuit contuses today for the America’s Cup, providing exposure in between Matches, but now it is a requirement of entry that if you want to compete for the Cup, you must participate in all events.
A 2011 story by Kimball Livingston in SAIL Magazine was in our search feed and brought back memories… click here [26].
[27]
BSI Rigging, wishing everyone great sailing in 2026! [28]
Skylark, a custom Atlantic 72’ catamaran has adventurous owners who sail to far-flung destinations. Eight years after her initial build by Aquidneck Custom Composites, with many sea miles under her hull, it was time for a rigging refit. She has a combined rod and Kevlar standing rigging package and Offshore Spars carbon mast.
BSI Rigging is the OEM supplier of Nitronic 50 rod, Kevlar and fittings, with large stock held at the Rhode Island rig shop. In this instance, local authorized service center, Newport Rigging Group was appointed to pull the rig and coordinate the refit. During the refit there was close communication between BSI, Newport Rigging Group and Skylark’s owner. With a successful refit complete, she headed south for warmer latitudes and a Caribbean season.
“This is exactly what we do,” says Axel Josefsson from BSI. “Our service partners are the highly skilled ears on the ground, and we back them up at every step to ensure they have the genuine parts they need.”
Find your nearest service point and get ready for 2026 [28]
Get more racers on the water [29]
Since 2020, the topic of handicap dinghy racing [30] has had Scuttlebutt headlines such as Get more one design dinghies racing [31] and Dinghy handicap racing deserves support [32]. In this report by Gary Jobson for Sailing World, he beats this well-worn drum that deserves to be heard:
As I’ve traveled around the country over the years visiting yacht clubs and community sailing centers big and small, I’ve observed an extraordinary amount of perfectly good raceboats sitting idle on their trailers, racks and moorings. It’s easy to tell which ones don’t get used very often, their owners likely at home and thinking about the happier times when they bought the boat with aspirations of using it frequently and maybe even winning a few races.
Either life gets in the way, or in the case of many older one-designs, when new classes come on to the scene, older ones tend to fade away. Too often, remaining boats don’t have a place on the racing schedule, a spark plug to keep the fleet active or a community to rally. This sad and all too common sight of lonely crafts is often a result of too many types of boats in one area but access to the water and easy storage and launching are other barriers that I often hear about. – Full report [33]
[34]
Thoughts on double handing [35]
The growth of doublehanded sailing has been a positive in the sport, but the introduction of this category in fully-crewed events has detractors. Now that overall honors for the 2025 Sydney Hobart Race was won by a two-up team [36], and seven of the top ten came from this category, the questions remain. Frederic Berg offers this view:
Rather than open a can of worms with the inclusion of double handed in offshore races such as the vaunted Sydney to Hobart, perhaps we should open a dialogue on the one area DHers have a significant unmeasured advantage over fully crewed yacht’s – the autopilot.
It’s tireless, emotionless, not subject to onboard politics and arguably, with modern computational resources and data inputs, steers better than humans. While having an auto pilot may be considered a safety requirement for DHers, should it, say… only be allowed for maneuvers and emergencies?
I love double handing. My boat partner and I DHed the 2018 Pacific Cup from San Francico to Hawaii on board an Antrim 27 and did well. We chose to race without an autopilot, and in fact, I have never used an autopilot in any DH event.
Some might say I’m less qualified than others to comment, unless, of course others haven’t raced 2,200 miles autopilotless, which is why there should be a dialogue. My point is DH racing can be done without an autopilot and from my experience it’s much more rewarding. Your mileage may vary, but I take the position that we should not allow DHers the significant unmeasured advantage of an autopilot.
[37]
How to make the best of crew dynamics [38]
From big boats to Extreme 40s, David ‘Freddie’ Carr has been a lynchpin of close-knit and super-successful crews. He shares tips on team dynamics with Andy Rice for Yachting World:
“During the build-up to the 2024 America’s Cup, inside the INEOS Britannia team we came up with a set of team values that we ran our daily lives by,” says Freddie Carr. “Whether you’re competing in the America’s Cup or the Hamble Winter Series, I think there’s a set of core values that can really help bring crews together.”
If you’ve been sailing together for a while those values can develop organically. But if you’re still only getting to know each other, it’s helpful to define those values early on in the campaign.
“It’s good to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the team and tell each other that everything you discuss, however difficult or painful, is ultimately about making the boat go faster,” he says. – Full report [39]
[40]
Thomas Coville claims Jules Verne Trophy [41]
French skipper Thomas Coville has claimed the Jules Verne Trophy by improving the previous mark by more than 12 hours when his team crossed the finish line at 07:46:55 (French time) on January 25.
The Jules Verne Trophy is for the fastest time around the world by any type of yacht with no restrictions on the size of the crew, starting and finishing from the exact line between the Le Créac’h Lighthouse off the tip of Brittany (FRA) and the Lizard Point in Cornwall (GBR).
Coville and teammates Benjamin Schwartz, Frédéric Denis, Pierre Leboucher, Léonard Legrand, Guillaume Pirouelle, and Nicolas Troussel finished after 40 days, 10 hours, 45 minutes and 50 seconds at sea on their 105-foot Sodebo Ultim 3. - Full report [41]
[42]
Mission accomplished for female team [43]
Alexia Barrier and her crew of Dee Caffari, Annemieke Bes, Rebecca Gmür Hornell, Deborah Blair, Molly LaPointe, Támara Echegoyen, and Stacey Jackson became the first all-female team to complete the Jules Verne Trophy non-stop, round-the-world course which starts and finishes between Créac’h lighthouse (Isle of Ushant) and Lizard Point (England).
After their start on November 29 on the 103-foot trimaran IDEC Sport, which set the course record in 2017, they soon fell behind the pace to eclipse the course record of 40:23:30:30 ( since lowered to 40:10:45:50 [41]), but their finish on January 26 established a reference time for women of 57 days, 21 hours, and 20 minutes. - Full report [43]
[44]
Marion Bermuda Race Celebrates 50 Years! [45]
For fifty years, the Marion Bermuda Race has made a powerful statement about what Corinthian offshore sailing should be. Founded on the belief that ocean racing should be accessible, educational, and adventurous to amateur sailors who are willing to prepare seriously, sail responsibly, and test themselves against the sea.
From the beginning, the Marion Bermuda Race distinguished itself through its steadfast support of celestial navigation. Long after electronics became common in offshore racing, the Marion Bermuda Race continued to encourage navigators to master sextant, sight reduction, and the deeper understanding of seamanship that comes with looking up at the sky.
Youth sailing has always been central to the mission. By promoting opportunities for younger sailors to sail offshore and by reinvesting proceeds into youth programs, the race has helped pass down offshore skills and traditions to the next generation. At the same time, the Marion Bermuda Race has been an early and consistent supporter of women in offshore sailing, welcoming mixed and women-led crews and helping normalize inclusive participation long before it became common elsewhere.
Innovation has also played a defining role. The race has encouraged thoughtful advances in cruising design, safety practices, training, and crew development, influencing how modern cruising sailors’ approach long offshore passages.
In 2027, the Marion Bermuda Race will celebrate its 50th anniversary. It will be a milestone not only for the event itself, but for everyone who believes that offshore sailing thrives when tradition, education, inclusion, and innovation sail together. Please join the Marion Bermuda Race on June 18, 2027 to kick off the next 50 years. www.marionbermuda.com [45]
DOCK TALK
New era for Edson [46]
Edson has been sold to Adam Cove and Potentia Manufacturing Group partners David Slutz, Michael Trotta, Edward Schatz, and Michael Hullinger. The transfer includes the pump division, sailboat steering products, marine accessories, electronics mounts, and custom fabrication capabilities. - Full report [46]
[47]
Melges wins Melges 24 North Americans [48]
Twenty-eight teams competed in the 2026 Melges 24 North American Championship on January 23-25 in Miami, FL. After opening with a 10th, Harry Melges IV and his team of Allan Terhune, Will Huerth, Colleen O’Brien, and Ripley Shelley closed strong with two bullets to take the title by seven points over Drew Friedes. – Details [49]
[50]
Honoring those who have served [51]
A partnership with U.S. Patriot Sailing and the Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race (A2B) has created a Patriot Cup perpetual trophy for the 2026 race. The trophy is awarded to the boat with the fastest ORC corrected time in the Patriot Sub-Class for boats with Active Duty and/or Veteran crew. The 753 nm course from Annapolis, MD to Bermuda starts June 5. – Details [52]
[53]
GUEST COMMENTARY
Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. You can add your comments directly to stories on the website [54] or submit commentary by email [mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com]. Please save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
DISTANCE SAILED AND YOUR RATING ( #6498 [55])
Time-on-time scoring eliminates the issues inherent with time-on-distance.
- Bruce Nelson
You have some good points, and are not wrong. But the COURSE is the same, is it not? The point of it all is that the better sailors are able to look at the same body of water and identify that glossy patch as either an oil slick or a lull. The same dark, choppy patches as more pressure, and whether that gust is going to give their particular position an advantage or not.
This is not the 100-meter dash.
Of course, distance matters. The venue and its geography and bathymetry matter. But this is one of those less quantifiable sports, by its nature.
- Eric CapnEB
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
Correct each other in private. Defend each other in public. And keep your personal business off of Facebook.
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[2] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/26/what-can-sailing-learn-from-motorsports/
[3] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2025/04/07/an-experiment-to-reimagine-racing/
[4] https://www.siraracing.org/laser-rc-wicked-tired-thumbs.html
[5] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/26/what-can-sailing-learn-from-motorsports/#more
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[11] https://www.racingrulesofsailing.org/posts/4860-judges-walking-the-dock
[12] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-c/
[13] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/26/can-a-disqualified-boat-still-protest/
[14] https://d7qh6ksdplczd.cloudfront.net/sailing/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/31104846/WS-Case-Book-2025-2028-v2025-07.pdf
[15] https://d7qh6ksdplczd.cloudfront.net/sailing/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/31104846/WS-Case-Book-2025-2028-v2025-07.pdf#page=76
[16] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-q/
[17] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/24/whats-the-etymological-origin/
[18] https://sailmagazine.com/sail-extras/todays-trivia-the-right-way/
[19] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-g/
[20] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/23/builder-sues-bayesian-widow-and-crew/
[21] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/tag/bayesian-tragedy/
[22] https://loosecannon.substack.com/p/perini-navi-sues-bayesian-widow-and
[23] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-jd/
[24] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/23/americas-cup-from-there-to-here/
[25] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Cup_World_Series
[26] https://sailmagazine.com/racing/a-perfect-45/
[27] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-jh/
[28] https://bsi-rigging.com/dealer-and-service/
[29] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/26/get-more-racers-on-the-water/
[30] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/tag/portsmouth-yardstick/
[31] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2020/09/02/get-more-one-design-dinghies-racing/
[32] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2022/12/09/dinghy-handicap-racing-deserves-support/
[33] https://www.sailingworld.com/racing/jobson-report-forgotten-py-fleets/
[34] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-tr/
[35] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/26/thoughts-on-double-handing/
[36] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2025/12/31/first-woman-to-win-sydney-hobart-race/
[37] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-td/
[38] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/26/how-to-make-the-best-of-crew-dynamics/
[39] https://www.yachtingworld.com/5-tips/5-expert-tips-how-to-make-the-best-of-crew-dynamics-161773
[40] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-ih/
[41] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/25/thomas-coville-claims-jules-verne-trophy/
[42] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-dd/
[43] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/26/mission-accomplished-for-female-team/
[44] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-hl/
[45] http://www.marionbermuda.com/
[46] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/26/new-era-for-edson/
[47] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-ht/
[48] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/25/melges-wins-melges-24-north-americans/
[49] https://bacardiregattas.sailti.com/en/default/races/race-resultsall?text=2026-bacardi-winter-series-1-melges-24-na-championship-en&menuaction=race
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[52] https://yachtscoring.com/emenu/50382
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Subject: Scuttlebutt 6499 - January 27, 2026
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Scuttlebutt Sailing News [1]
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - Issue 6499
BSI rigged Skylark, an Aquidneck Custom Composites 72’ Catamaran.
This newsletter is provided through the support of its sponsors, delivering a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk…with a North American focus.
Today's sponsors:
Quantum Sails - BSI Rigging - Marion Bermuda Race
December advertising in Scuttlebutt [mailto:advertising@sailingscuttlebutt.com]
There are only five newsletter ad slots remaining in 2026, and four of them are in December. If you want reserve advertising space for your holiday push, ask for details at [advertising@sailingscuttlebutt.com].
What can sailing learn from motorsports [2]
The first edition of the Racing Rules of Sailing was established in 1907, and as the sport became more competitive, the rules became more comprehensive. While great for the elite level, what about everyone else? Mike Zani considered another approach to the rules in An experiment to reimagine racing [3], and returns with this latest report:
Sailboat racing has a rules problem. Not because the Racing Rules of Sailing are wrong—they’re remarkably thorough—but because they are optimized for correctness, not accessibility. The result is a sport that can intimidate newcomers, burden organizers, and too often rely on protest committees to resolve what should be simple on-the-water conflicts.
At the same time, other forms of “big and expensive” racing—most notably motorsports—have evolved in the opposite direction. Formula 1 and NASCAR operate with comparatively simple racing rules, no fault-based damage reimbursement, and little post-race litigation between competitors. If you’re hit, you fix your own car. Accountability comes through penalties, reputation, and incentives—not insurance claims.
That contrast raises an interesting question:
What would sailing look like if it leaned less on adjudication and more on incentives?
I started exploring that question while helping run a radio-controlled sailing club called the Wicked Tired Thumbs [4].
Protest committees enable parties to explore nuance and subtleties. Yet the concept of “onus” often predicts the outcome of hearings. In competitive team racing in the 1990s, we developed three-minute justice.
That system was faster and easier to implement, but if each party has only a minute to describe the situation and the jury has only a minute to decide (hence the three minutes), there is little time for nuance—the party that had the “onus” typically lost.
In our local RC sailing club, we went a step further. We removed onus entirely and made the rules deterministic. I’ll explain. - Read on [5]
[6]
Your 2026 Season with Quantum [7]
The 2026 season is calling! Whether you are hitting the water soon or starting to look forward to a spring launch, make sure your sails get the checkup they need.
We put together our recommendations for sail checks [8] that can help determine the sail service you need. From stretched seams and tired stitching to worn hardware and UV damage, our experts know what to look for to recommend the right repairs or recuts to keep your sails performing like new.
Contact your local loft [9] to make sure you are first in line for sail service when you need it. Don’t let small problems turn into big ones that halt your season before it starts. Ready to bypass service and go straight for new inventory, request a quote [7] today.
What if Judges walked the dock? [10]
Robert Stewart, an International Judge from Canada, posted this question on the Racing Rules of Sailing Forum which offers an opportunity for experts to share their wisdom:
I’ve noticed multiple incidents during racing where boats clearly infringe the rules—whether it’s mark-room, port-starboard, or right-of-way situations—and yet very few hearing requests are being filed afterward. Sailing is a self-policing sport, and the protest system exists to ensure fairness and proper rule enforcement. So why are competitors hesitant to use it?
Is it a lack of understanding of the protest process? A perception that filing a protest is “unsportsmanlike”? Fear of conflict or retribution? Or something else entirely? Would having judges walk the docks before racing help?
For example, their presence might make the process feel more approachable, allow sailors to ask questions informally, and encourage legitimate protests to be filed when needed. I’d love to hear perspectives from sailors, judges, and race organizers on what’s driving the low number of hearings and what actions could improve rule adherence and competitor confidence in the system.
To read the responses, click here [11].
[12]
Can a disqualified boat still protest? [13]
The Case Book for 2025-2028 ( click here [14]) complements The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and provides details on the application of the rules. Here’s Case 1 [15]:
A boat that breaks a rule while racing but continues to race may protest over a later incident, even though after the race she is penalized for her breach.
Facts
Boats A, B, and C are racing with others. After an incident between A and B, A hails ‘Protest’ and displays a red flag, but B does not take a penalty. Later, B protests a third boat, C, after a second incident. The protest committee hears A’s protest against B and disqualifies B.
Question
Does the fact that B is disqualified as a result of A’s protest make B’s protest against C invalid?
Answer
No. When a boat continues to race after an alleged breach of a rule, her rights and obligations under the rules do not change. Consequently, even though A’s protest against B is upheld, the protest committee must hear B’s protest against C and, if B’s protest is valid and the protest committee is satisfied from the evidence that C broke a rule, C must also be penalized.
[16]
What’s the etymological origin? [17]
The editors at SAIL magazine offer this trivia challenge:
Though it’s perhaps the most well-known word in the nautical lexicon, many don’t know where the word “starboard” came from. What’s the etymological origin?
A) Navigators stood on the right side of the boat when taking sights of the stars, so the right side became known as the “star board” side of the boat.
B) Early punts (a flat-bottomed boat that is pushed by pole, like a Venetian gondola) had passengers board from the right side.
C) It derived from the term “larboard,” the middle English word for the side on which cargo was loaded.
D) Before rudders, boats were steered by oars, and the helmsperson sat on the right side of the boat, resulting in the term “steer-board,” which eventually became “starboard.”
For the answer, click here [18].
[19]
Builder sues Bayesian widow and crew [20]
When the 184-foot luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a storm [21] at anchor off the Sicilian coast, seven of the 22 people on board died. The yacht capsized in the strong wind, and it was believed that the 237-foot aluminum mast – second highest mast in the world – was a contributing factor. This update comes from Peter Swanson at Loose Cannon:
Yacht builder Perini Navi has sued the Bayesian widow, her captain, and two crew members, blaming them for the ship’s 2024 capsize and sinking and seeking $540 million for a collapse in sales. The suit contradicts findings by British accident investigators, not to mention Loose Cannon’s extensive coverage pointing to design flaws.
The force behind the suit, which was filed in Sicily where the accident happened, is Giovanni Costantino, owner of The Italian Sea Group, which in turn is parent company to Perini Navi. – Full report [22]
[23]
America’s Cup: From there to here [24]
There have been turning points in the America’s Cup, and the 34th edition stands out. The shift from the IACC monohull to the AC72 catamaran was massive, as was the launch of the America’s Cup World Series [25] in 2011.
The AC45 was conceived for the circuit which provided an entry point for the 2013 Cup, with teams eager for exposure to attract necessary funding. There were up to nine foreign teams that participated, but only three - Italy, New Zealand, Sweden - made it to the 2013 event in San Francisco.
This type of circuit contuses today for the America’s Cup, providing exposure in between Matches, but now it is a requirement of entry that if you want to compete for the Cup, you must participate in all events.
A 2011 story by Kimball Livingston in SAIL Magazine was in our search feed and brought back memories… click here [26].
[27]
BSI Rigging, wishing everyone great sailing in 2026! [28]
Skylark, a custom Atlantic 72’ catamaran has adventurous owners who sail to far-flung destinations. Eight years after her initial build by Aquidneck Custom Composites, with many sea miles under her hull, it was time for a rigging refit. She has a combined rod and Kevlar standing rigging package and Offshore Spars carbon mast.
BSI Rigging is the OEM supplier of Nitronic 50 rod, Kevlar and fittings, with large stock held at the Rhode Island rig shop. In this instance, local authorized service center, Newport Rigging Group was appointed to pull the rig and coordinate the refit. During the refit there was close communication between BSI, Newport Rigging Group and Skylark’s owner. With a successful refit complete, she headed south for warmer latitudes and a Caribbean season.
“This is exactly what we do,” says Axel Josefsson from BSI. “Our service partners are the highly skilled ears on the ground, and we back them up at every step to ensure they have the genuine parts they need.”
Find your nearest service point and get ready for 2026 [28]
Get more racers on the water [29]
Since 2020, the topic of handicap dinghy racing [30] has had Scuttlebutt headlines such as Get more one design dinghies racing [31] and Dinghy handicap racing deserves support [32]. In this report by Gary Jobson for Sailing World, he beats this well-worn drum that deserves to be heard:
As I’ve traveled around the country over the years visiting yacht clubs and community sailing centers big and small, I’ve observed an extraordinary amount of perfectly good raceboats sitting idle on their trailers, racks and moorings. It’s easy to tell which ones don’t get used very often, their owners likely at home and thinking about the happier times when they bought the boat with aspirations of using it frequently and maybe even winning a few races.
Either life gets in the way, or in the case of many older one-designs, when new classes come on to the scene, older ones tend to fade away. Too often, remaining boats don’t have a place on the racing schedule, a spark plug to keep the fleet active or a community to rally. This sad and all too common sight of lonely crafts is often a result of too many types of boats in one area but access to the water and easy storage and launching are other barriers that I often hear about. – Full report [33]
[34]
Thoughts on double handing [35]
The growth of doublehanded sailing has been a positive in the sport, but the introduction of this category in fully-crewed events has detractors. Now that overall honors for the 2025 Sydney Hobart Race was won by a two-up team [36], and seven of the top ten came from this category, the questions remain. Frederic Berg offers this view:
Rather than open a can of worms with the inclusion of double handed in offshore races such as the vaunted Sydney to Hobart, perhaps we should open a dialogue on the one area DHers have a significant unmeasured advantage over fully crewed yacht’s – the autopilot.
It’s tireless, emotionless, not subject to onboard politics and arguably, with modern computational resources and data inputs, steers better than humans. While having an auto pilot may be considered a safety requirement for DHers, should it, say… only be allowed for maneuvers and emergencies?
I love double handing. My boat partner and I DHed the 2018 Pacific Cup from San Francico to Hawaii on board an Antrim 27 and did well. We chose to race without an autopilot, and in fact, I have never used an autopilot in any DH event.
Some might say I’m less qualified than others to comment, unless, of course others haven’t raced 2,200 miles autopilotless, which is why there should be a dialogue. My point is DH racing can be done without an autopilot and from my experience it’s much more rewarding. Your mileage may vary, but I take the position that we should not allow DHers the significant unmeasured advantage of an autopilot.
[37]
How to make the best of crew dynamics [38]
From big boats to Extreme 40s, David ‘Freddie’ Carr has been a lynchpin of close-knit and super-successful crews. He shares tips on team dynamics with Andy Rice for Yachting World:
“During the build-up to the 2024 America’s Cup, inside the INEOS Britannia team we came up with a set of team values that we ran our daily lives by,” says Freddie Carr. “Whether you’re competing in the America’s Cup or the Hamble Winter Series, I think there’s a set of core values that can really help bring crews together.”
If you’ve been sailing together for a while those values can develop organically. But if you’re still only getting to know each other, it’s helpful to define those values early on in the campaign.
“It’s good to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the team and tell each other that everything you discuss, however difficult or painful, is ultimately about making the boat go faster,” he says. – Full report [39]
[40]
Thomas Coville claims Jules Verne Trophy [41]
French skipper Thomas Coville has claimed the Jules Verne Trophy by improving the previous mark by more than 12 hours when his team crossed the finish line at 07:46:55 (French time) on January 25.
The Jules Verne Trophy is for the fastest time around the world by any type of yacht with no restrictions on the size of the crew, starting and finishing from the exact line between the Le Créac’h Lighthouse off the tip of Brittany (FRA) and the Lizard Point in Cornwall (GBR).
Coville and teammates Benjamin Schwartz, Frédéric Denis, Pierre Leboucher, Léonard Legrand, Guillaume Pirouelle, and Nicolas Troussel finished after 40 days, 10 hours, 45 minutes and 50 seconds at sea on their 105-foot Sodebo Ultim 3. - Full report [41]
[42]
Mission accomplished for female team [43]
Alexia Barrier and her crew of Dee Caffari, Annemieke Bes, Rebecca Gmür Hornell, Deborah Blair, Molly LaPointe, Támara Echegoyen, and Stacey Jackson became the first all-female team to complete the Jules Verne Trophy non-stop, round-the-world course which starts and finishes between Créac’h lighthouse (Isle of Ushant) and Lizard Point (England).
After their start on November 29 on the 103-foot trimaran IDEC Sport, which set the course record in 2017, they soon fell behind the pace to eclipse the course record of 40:23:30:30 ( since lowered to 40:10:45:50 [41]), but their finish on January 26 established a reference time for women of 57 days, 21 hours, and 20 minutes. - Full report [43]
[44]
Marion Bermuda Race Celebrates 50 Years! [45]
For fifty years, the Marion Bermuda Race has made a powerful statement about what Corinthian offshore sailing should be. Founded on the belief that ocean racing should be accessible, educational, and adventurous to amateur sailors who are willing to prepare seriously, sail responsibly, and test themselves against the sea.
From the beginning, the Marion Bermuda Race distinguished itself through its steadfast support of celestial navigation. Long after electronics became common in offshore racing, the Marion Bermuda Race continued to encourage navigators to master sextant, sight reduction, and the deeper understanding of seamanship that comes with looking up at the sky.
Youth sailing has always been central to the mission. By promoting opportunities for younger sailors to sail offshore and by reinvesting proceeds into youth programs, the race has helped pass down offshore skills and traditions to the next generation. At the same time, the Marion Bermuda Race has been an early and consistent supporter of women in offshore sailing, welcoming mixed and women-led crews and helping normalize inclusive participation long before it became common elsewhere.
Innovation has also played a defining role. The race has encouraged thoughtful advances in cruising design, safety practices, training, and crew development, influencing how modern cruising sailors’ approach long offshore passages.
In 2027, the Marion Bermuda Race will celebrate its 50th anniversary. It will be a milestone not only for the event itself, but for everyone who believes that offshore sailing thrives when tradition, education, inclusion, and innovation sail together. Please join the Marion Bermuda Race on June 18, 2027 to kick off the next 50 years. www.marionbermuda.com [45]
DOCK TALK
New era for Edson [46]
Edson has been sold to Adam Cove and Potentia Manufacturing Group partners David Slutz, Michael Trotta, Edward Schatz, and Michael Hullinger. The transfer includes the pump division, sailboat steering products, marine accessories, electronics mounts, and custom fabrication capabilities. - Full report [46]
[47]
Melges wins Melges 24 North Americans [48]
Twenty-eight teams competed in the 2026 Melges 24 North American Championship on January 23-25 in Miami, FL. After opening with a 10th, Harry Melges IV and his team of Allan Terhune, Will Huerth, Colleen O’Brien, and Ripley Shelley closed strong with two bullets to take the title by seven points over Drew Friedes. – Details [49]
[50]
Honoring those who have served [51]
A partnership with U.S. Patriot Sailing and the Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race (A2B) has created a Patriot Cup perpetual trophy for the 2026 race. The trophy is awarded to the boat with the fastest ORC corrected time in the Patriot Sub-Class for boats with Active Duty and/or Veteran crew. The 753 nm course from Annapolis, MD to Bermuda starts June 5. – Details [52]
[53]
GUEST COMMENTARY
Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. You can add your comments directly to stories on the website [54] or submit commentary by email [mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com]. Please save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
DISTANCE SAILED AND YOUR RATING ( #6498 [55])
Time-on-time scoring eliminates the issues inherent with time-on-distance.
- Bruce Nelson
You have some good points, and are not wrong. But the COURSE is the same, is it not? The point of it all is that the better sailors are able to look at the same body of water and identify that glossy patch as either an oil slick or a lull. The same dark, choppy patches as more pressure, and whether that gust is going to give their particular position an advantage or not.
This is not the 100-meter dash.
Of course, distance matters. The venue and its geography and bathymetry matter. But this is one of those less quantifiable sports, by its nature.
- Eric CapnEB
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
Correct each other in private. Defend each other in public. And keep your personal business off of Facebook.
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[22] https://loosecannon.substack.com/p/perini-navi-sues-bayesian-widow-and
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[25] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Cup_World_Series
[26] https://sailmagazine.com/racing/a-perfect-45/
[27] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-jh/
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[32] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2022/12/09/dinghy-handicap-racing-deserves-support/
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[36] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2025/12/31/first-woman-to-win-sydney-hobart-race/
[37] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-td/
[38] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/26/how-to-make-the-best-of-crew-dynamics/
[39] https://www.yachtingworld.com/5-tips/5-expert-tips-how-to-make-the-best-of-crew-dynamics-161773
[40] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydjkkdg-ijtljumj-ih/
[41] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/25/thomas-coville-claims-jules-verne-trophy/
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[48] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/01/25/melges-wins-melges-24-north-americans/
[49] https://bacardiregattas.sailti.com/en/default/races/race-resultsall?text=2026-bacardi-winter-series-1-melges-24-na-championship-en&menuaction=race
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