scuttlebutt
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:30:08 +1000
Subject: Scuttlebutt 6533 - June 12, 2026
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Scuttlebutt Sailing News [1]
Friday, June 12, 2026 - Issue 6533
Highlight video from the 2026 Sunfish North American Championship.
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:
Sail To Prevail - Sail California - North Sails
FUN FACT [2]
Leftover pasta has extra health benefits. That's because it contains more resistant starch [2] than fresh pasta, thanks to the effect of cooking and cooling on the pasta starch's structure. Resistant starch has been linked to improved blood sugar control and better gut health.
People that go above and beyond [3]
There are reasons why one design classes thrive, and critical is the people. Amanda Callahan, Head Coach at Roger Williams University [4] and USA representative at the 2023 Pan Am Games, highlights one of these people [5][0]=AZaQ_zN-cPo66Vul4db4q3p8jMj5TqideBzSu3ZVe2KSdhAgJuI2b8UTrmY7MenlbhxETsbbKPtRc2Fjr4oFQWxwvh3a5Pz5YcMn09qJs3V5vWXkzpRLux8v90GYYJhRqecjSICNcTkoD_FZ4iNVU8Q0AqUbYrsG3n4q1rY9C1hIOnmRhiC5n1cGVPyxYJZuIB_Ts6x3ixdksNWHlRUWMQ_v&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R]:
At the conclusion of the 2026 Sunfish North Americans [6], Bill Brangiforte received the Sunfish Class Lifetime Member Award [7], and there is truly no one more deserving than Bill. It’s not every day that your sailing mentor and friend receives such recognition.
After college, I got back into the Sunfish class when Bill and the Willy’s hosted the Northeast Challenge Sunfish Regatta at the club where we grew up. In typical Bill fashion, he gave a rigging demonstration on the beach before racing, teaching us how to use the newly fashionable, yet very confusing Jens rig (a way to depower the Dorito that is the Sunfish sail).
Starting that day, and in the nearly 20 years since then, I’ve learned just about everything I know about Sunfish sailing from Bill (or Eric Woodman).
Bill always denigrates himself, saying, “I’m just a brick layer”. In reality, he’s highly-skilled and leads the sought-after South Shore Masonry, Inc that will go above and beyond for his friends.
In 2012, when the devastating and historic Hurricane Sandy ripped through Long Island and nearly destroyed the beloved distributor for the Sunfish Class, the Dinghy Shop, Bill didn’t hesitate to pack his truck and supplies. He helped the Koehler's rebuild the concrete walls of the shop; they couldn’t have done it without him.
Bill’s generosity with his extensive sailing knowledge makes him so deserving of this award. He shares his secrets not only with newbies but also with fierce rivals. Bill has written loads of Words of Wisdom that can be found on the Class website [8].
Before sailing at Wequaquet Lake Yacht Club (Barnstable, MA), his “Light Air on Lakes” is a MUST-READ! He’s read practically every book on sailing and especially loves the Stuart Walker books, dry as they are. I’m pretty sure that his daughter, Alexa, was raised on those as bedtime stories. - Full report [9]
[10]
Making a difference since 1982 [11]
Each summer, approximately 1,000 people with disabilities learn the skills of sailing in the Sail To Prevail fleet of uniquely adapted, 20-foot sailboats. Their programs strongly encourage disabled individuals to be active participants by steering the boat and trimming sails.
The measurable outcomes demonstrate increased self-confidence in all parts of their daily lives, the camaraderie of teamwork, and improved leadership skills.
Since 1982, Sail To Prevail has improved the lives of tens of thousands of people through therapeutic sailing programs that focus on improving the mind, body and spirit.
Details: [11]
Ideal attributes of elite Sunfish sailor [12]
When a one design class limits the equipment variables, people become the prominent performance factor. In a dinghy class, this factor isn’t just skill, but also physical characteristics.
In a study developed by Samuel Hormiga as part of his master’s degree in sports science, an effort sought to describe the anthropometric and neuromuscular characteristics of elite Colombian Sunfish sailors and explore potential sex-related patterns.
Here’s an excerpt:
Sailing is a multifactorial, skill-oriented endurance sport in which athletes must continuously manage interactions among wind forces, boat dynamics, and water conditions while executing precise tactical and technical actions. - Full report [12]
[13]
How different sailors rank in the world [14]
With so many podiums to pursue, a comparison of sailor ability is a subjective exercise. Seeking to put a numerical scale to the task is the SSL Global Ranking
The system is inspired by the ATP rankings in tennis, conceived and developed by a passionate group of Olympic and amateur sailors. It provides an at-a-glance view of where different sailors stand in the world, based on their results in a range of classes and events in sailing.
A ranking allows fans to follow their heroes, for athletes to build their profile in the world, and to be used to select sailors for their national SSL Teams and Nation seedings for the SSL Gold Cup.
There is a Combined Global Individual Ranking, separate rankings for Men and Women, Helms and Crews, as well as Nations. You can also search by Nation or Class, making the powerful system truly comprehensive. – Full report [15]
[16]
Regatta attendance data analysis [17]
The 20-foot C Scow is actively raced in the inland lakes of the USA from Iowa to Michigan, and the National C Scow Sailing Association [18] wants to keep it that way. Here is what they are doing about it:
One of our objectives as a Board is to use data to get a better understanding of the health of our fleet. We are thinking of health both in terms of "boats registered for lake/home races" and "regatta attendance". This will help us separate fact from fiction and enable us to pursue targeted actions to address what's working / not working.
The first thing we've done is review regatta attendance over the last ~8 years to identify trends. - Full report [17]
[19]
Has technology ruined offshore racing? [20]
How routing software turned offshore racing into a different game. Report by Yacht Racing Performance Coach Stuart Greenfield:
It was off the Outer Hebrides, August 2022, during the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. We were on Morning After, my rebuilt S&S 34 from 1967, working our way around the top of Scotland, and the next big decision was at the Butt of Lewis before making course towards Muckle Flugga, up at the northern edge of Shetland.
It is the sort of place that concentrates the mind. The land is running out. The sea feels bigger. The weather has room to do what it wants, and the decision is no longer theoretical — get it wrong there and you can spend a long time paying for it. - Full report [21]
[22]
Outrunning the handicap system? [23]
Rating rules attempt to fairly handicap all boat types, but some are more fair than others. As boat types become increasingly dissimilar, French boat builder J/Composites has been exploring ideas in the rating space with the aim of helping to ensure maximum equity and fun:
“Racing yacht design is advancing rapidly but the growing gap between mainstream production boats and more extreme specialist designs is putting pressure on handicap systems, event formats and participation,” says Frédéric Bouvier of J/Composites.
From low freeboard and shallow, beamy cockpits to sailplans with square-topped mainsails and giant asymmetric kites, each capable of creating a partial eclipse, through to specialist double-handed racing yachts that are designed to promote shorthanded crews, these are exciting times for the racing scene.
The recent success of some scow hull configurations have been among the latest developments to challenge what we consider as normal, yet despite their unconventional looks, their growing popularity in some areas suggests that the sport is on the verge of yet another new trend.
But at what price? – Full report [24]
[25]
J/124 • J/97E • J/92 • J/7 — Available Now [26]
Sail California currently has an exceptional selection of pre-owned J/Boats available, including a J/124, J/97E, J/92, and a new J/7 demo boat.
From the capable racer/cruiser performance of the J/124 and J/97E to the responsive sailing characteristics of the J/92, these boats showcase the qualities that have made J/Boats a benchmark for performance sailing—speed, balance, simplicity, and lasting value.
Whether you're searching for a competitive racer, a versatile racer/cruiser, or a spirited daysailer, there's a J/Boat ready for your next adventure.
See the New J/7 in Alameda
Curious about the newest addition to the J/Boats lineup? Visit our Alameda office to see the new J/7 in person. Dockside tours and demo sails are available by appointment.
Contact Sail California:
• Bill Colombo – [bill@sailcal.com] (Northern California)
• Pat Nolan – [pat@sailcal.com] (Southern California)
• Wayne Zittel – [wayne@sailing-jworld.com] (San Diego)
Follow us on Instagram @sailcal • Sail California [26]
View current listings and learn more: Sail California [26]
World peace through sailing [27]
Latitude 38 publisher John Arndt started Summer Sailstice in 2001 after years of dreaming about a celebration that would grow sailing. He saw participation in sailing decline and wanted to find a way to get boats out of marinas and bring people together on the water. “It’s world peace through sailing.”
Coinciding with summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere… the 2026 edition is on June 20-21.
Summer Sailstice is sharing what you love about sailing. It could be racing, cruising with friends, teaching a kid how to sail, chartering a boat in an exotic location, taking a ride on a tall ship or just raising the sails with no destination.
Anyone can participate, whether you’re in a sailing dinghy that you restored in your garage, or on a yacht racing across the ocean. You can be the skipper or the crew. The goal is to engage sailors in community building all around the globe.
Details: [28]
[29]
Sailing is changing… do you like it? [30]
Is modern racing starting to look more like checkers than chess? Is something being lost in the pursuit of frenetic, high-speed thrills and spills? Lu Heikell attempts to answer the questions for Yachting Monthly… here’s an excerpt:
I have been following three offshore yacht races in recent months, which allows me to vicariously scratch the itch of sailing whilst at my desk.
All these races are, to varying degrees, something of a slow burn, running as they do over the course of hundreds (or thousands) of miles, and we are, of course, always at a very long arm’s distance from the live action, but as these races unfold, they develop their own narratives that keep me interested as the race progresses. And all the time the highs and lows of the sailors can be readily understood.
And then there is the other racing series I’ve been following, SailGP. I really don’t know where I stand here. The ‘machines’ are completely alien to my sailing world, and their phenomenally technical set-up utterly foreign. Helm, yes. Grinders, yes. Even tactician is a familiar term. But flight controller? Anyone? – Full report [31]
[32]
Race against time for SailGP Halifax [33]
The three-boat collision during New York Sail Grand Prix [34] damaged hulls, foils, and structural components, with only three weeks to complete repairs for the next event on June 20-21 in Halifax, Canada.
Simon Eatwell, head of engineering at SailGP Technologies in the UK, was at home watching the New York race live when the crash unfolded. "About 25 minutes later the phone rang and we were straight into response mode," he reveals.
While Brazil and the United States should be back on the start line for Halifax, Italy's repair is significantly more involved due to complex structural damage to the hull. "There's a big hole in the bottom and quite a lot of composite structure running through that area, with serious loads carried forward into the bow," he explains. - Full report [35]
[36]
West Marine closures, payoffs revealed [37]
West Marine, the largest marine retailer in the USA, filed for bankruptcy on May 17, 2026 [38]. Here are some recent updates:
• Court documents show that West Marine is planning to close 59 locations as it works to restructure under a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. West Marine’s LinkedIn page shows that it has more than 240 retail locations. For the list of closures, click here [39].
• During a mandatory hearing involving West Marine’s Chapter 11 restructuring, bankruptcy trustee Linda J. Casey said something that caught the attention of at least one of the more than 170 participants, many of whom West Marine owes money: “The former chief executive officer received a $1.2 million bonus. Can you explain what that bonus was?”
In addition to noting the money paid to former CEO Chuck Rubin, who left West Marine in late 2025, Casey also mentioned a retention bonus of an undisclosed amount that West Marine paid to current CEO Paulee Day [40] on May 1 — just 16 days before the company filed for bankruptcy. – Full report [41]
[42]
Game time at IOD World Championship [43]
The International One Design Class will hold its 2026 World Championship on June 13-19 in Marblehead, MA. Five past IOD World Champions, including Marblehead racer Bill Widnall (10x World Champion) and Defending World Champion John Burnham (5x World Champion) headline the twelve-team field.
Bermuda Olympian Peter Bromby, who dominated the IOD Class in the early 1990s, winning an unequaled three consecutive World Championships, has returned to the class and is eager to pick up where he left off. Charlie Van Voorhis last claimed the Aas Trophy in 2016, and hopes that he can etch his name in the cup again at the end of the week while Jonathan Farrar will be trying to claim his sixth title.
Hosted by Eastern Yacht Club, teams from Bermuda, Sweden, Canada, Maine, and Nantucket round out the field. - Full report [43]
[44]
Master the Rolex Big Boat Series with North Sails
Register now for the two remaining sessions in this three-part webinar series designed to prepare your team for success at the 2026 Rolex Big Boat Series / ORC North American Championship. The upcoming webinars will focus on sail optimization and local race strategy, offering valuable insights for both returning and first-time competitors.
Each webinar will be hosted by North Sails experts alongside guests from St. Francis Yacht Club and will run from 6:00–7:00 PM PT.
June 16: * Optimize Your Inventory [45]
Explore sail inventory strategies for both inshore and offshore racing, with guidance on building an efficient, versatile sail plan.
August 25: * What to Expect & Local Knowledge [46]
Understand local wind and current patterns and how they influence race strategy, content is ideal for local and visiting teams alike.
Past Webinar Recording:
May 12: BBS Race Prep with ORC Focus [47]
Experts reviewed how the ORC Rule, new race format, and measurement requirements impacted programs and shared preparation strategies.
* Registration reminders will be sent for each webinar closer to calendar date
Eight Bells: Charlie Dalin [48]
French offshore champion Charlie Dalin, winner of the 2025 Vendée Globe, died on June 11, 2026. He was 42 years of age and had been battling a gastrointestinal stromal tumor for just over two and a half years.
Dalin, born near Le Havre, France, was a competitive force in the sailing world for nearly 20 years, blending technical expertise with sharp racing skills. A trained naval architect who graduated from the University of Southampton in 2006, Dalin discovered sailing at the age of six and transformed his childhood passion into a professional career that has spanned over two decades. - Full report [48]
[49]
Eight Bells: Hoyle Schweitzer [50]
Hoyle Schweitzer, a surfer and sailor who turned a garage experiment into a global sport when he and a friend, Jim Drake, developed the Windsurfer, a sailboard that made it possible to glide across lakes and choppy seas, died on May 31 in San Marcos, Calif. He was 93.
Mr. Schweitzer, who worked in the nascent computer industry, and Mr. Drake, a sailor and aeronautical engineer, patented the design for what became the Windsurfer in 1970. Working out of Mr. Drake’s garage, they created a board that had an asymmetrical sail and a hand-held wishbone boom, allowing riders to skim — or even race — across waters that were either too placid or too turbulent for conventional surfing. A universal joint made it easy to drop the sail and haul it back up.
Mr. Schweitzer and Mr. Drake called their creation the SK8 and the Baja Board before settling on the name Windsurfer. – Full report [51]
[52]
GUEST COMMENTARY
Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. You can add your comments directly to stories on the website [53] or submit commentary by email [mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com]. Please save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
CRINGING OVER FEMALE-ONLY SAILING EVENTS ( #6532 [54])
The National-level, all-female events in team racing led the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association to support entry fees for their locals, which led to me starting a weekly, co-ed team racing practice to train together side by side. We may go to the events as all-female teams, but the experience at practice and there at the event translates to all of the co-ed sailing we do when we get back (fleet racing, offshore, keelboats, dinghies).
Because of a shakeup of normalcy, people sail with people they may never would have otherwise. The networking is incredible and valuable. Trying bow or trim or tactics for the first time at practice is valuable (for any sailor). The all-female events created this motivation to try. To learn together.
I’d never say the all-female events are the best way to prove our skills as equal to men, but I would 100% say that because those events exist, the pathway opens up for women to step on boats where all of the positions are open, because the one paying the most hasn’t picked their spot first.
Men learned they have to pay to play a long time ago. Women can pay too (by buying boats) or at least put in a LOT of time and effort to earn a spot (by captaining teams and organizing/volunteering). And they are!
Keep going! Keep challenging yourself and keep pushing.
- M. Ashley Love
Not sure what the right answer is, but having women's sailing events can definitely help new sailors get started and feel more comfortable on the water, it's all about finding ways to give opportunities to sail and share the experience with others, whether it's women's only or coed, the goal is to get people out there and enjoying the sport
- Chad Edwards
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
“If we would learn what the human race really is at bottom, we need only observe it in election times.” - Mark Twain
SPONSORS THIS WEEK
FOILFAST - UK Sailmakers - Team One Newport - Sail To Prevail - Sail California - North Sails
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[2] https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/the-secret-super-carb-how-resistance-starch-can-transform-your-gut-health
[3] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/11/people-that-go-above-and-beyond/
[4] https://rwuhawks.com/sports/sailing/roster/coaches/amanda-callahan/2260
[5] https://www.facebook.com/amanda.callahan.54/posts/pfbid04ynBjae6LLzMG8yXydA3DqkprHegQPybhH6fH1xKQEd3ssFbDMX5xhNT5uZWuV5El?__cft__
[6] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/07/2026-isca-north-american-championship/
[7] https://www.sunfishclass.org/lifetimemembers
[8] https://www.sunfishclass.org/getfaster
[9] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/11/people-that-go-above-and-beyond/#more
[10] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-m/
[11] https://sailtoprevail.org/
[12] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/10/ideal-attributes-of-elite-sunfish-sailor/
[13] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-c/
[14] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/10/how-different-sailors-rank-in-the-world/
[15] https://worldofsailors.com/news/the-ssl-global-ranking-every-sailor-every-event-every-nation
[16] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-q/
[17] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/10/regatta-attendance-data-analysis/
[18] https://www.cscow.com/
[19] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-yu/
[20] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/10/has-technology-ruined-offshore-racing/
[21] https://firstbeat.substack.com/p/follow-the-leader-has-it-ruined-offshore
[22] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-ji/
[23] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/10/outrunning-the-handicap-system/
[24] https://www.seahorsemagazine.com/article/july-2026/outrunning-the-handicap-system
[25] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-ju/
[26] https://www.sailcal.com/
[27] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/11/world-peace-through-sailing/
[28] https://summersailstice.com/
[29] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-tt/
[30] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/11/sailing-is-changing-do-you-like-it/
[31] https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/blogs/give-me-the-patient-strategy-of-offshore-racing-over-the-spectacle-of-sailgp-lu-heikell-105440
[32] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-tk/
[33] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/11/race-against-time-for-sailgp-halifax/
[34] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/05/31/australia-win-at-sailgp-new-york/
[35] https://sailgp.com/news/26/the-invisible-race-how-sailgp-technologies-rebuilds-f50/
[36] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-iy/
[37] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/11/west-marine-closures-payoffs-revealed/
[38] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/05/18/west-marine-files-for-bankruptcy/
[39] https://tradeonlytoday.com/industry-news/west-marine-to-close-59-stores/
[40] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2025/11/13/first-woman-ceo-of-west-marine/
[41] https://tradeonlytoday.com/industry-news/as-west-marine-foundered-ceo-bonuses-were-paid/
[42] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-dd/
[43] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/10/game-time-at-iod-world-championship/
[44] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-dh/
[45] https://northsails.zoom.us/meeting/register/aq7cja0mRRKByPlg0K5PYA
[46] https://northsails.zoom.us/meeting/register/w6FPr4t0ReufYWBTT5vtsQ
[47] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1DJ2vpKWfI&t=591s&utm_campaign=scuttlebuttjune&utm_medium=scuttlebutt&utm_source=scuttlebutt
[48] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/11/eight-bells-charlie-dalin/
[49] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-dk/
[50] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/09/eight-bells-hoyle-schweitzer/
[51] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/business/hoyle-schweitzer-dead.html
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Subject: Scuttlebutt 6533 - June 12, 2026
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Scuttlebutt Sailing News [1]
Friday, June 12, 2026 - Issue 6533
Highlight video from the 2026 Sunfish North American Championship.
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:
Sail To Prevail - Sail California - North Sails
FUN FACT [2]
Leftover pasta has extra health benefits. That's because it contains more resistant starch [2] than fresh pasta, thanks to the effect of cooking and cooling on the pasta starch's structure. Resistant starch has been linked to improved blood sugar control and better gut health.
People that go above and beyond [3]
There are reasons why one design classes thrive, and critical is the people. Amanda Callahan, Head Coach at Roger Williams University [4] and USA representative at the 2023 Pan Am Games, highlights one of these people [5][0]=AZaQ_zN-cPo66Vul4db4q3p8jMj5TqideBzSu3ZVe2KSdhAgJuI2b8UTrmY7MenlbhxETsbbKPtRc2Fjr4oFQWxwvh3a5Pz5YcMn09qJs3V5vWXkzpRLux8v90GYYJhRqecjSICNcTkoD_FZ4iNVU8Q0AqUbYrsG3n4q1rY9C1hIOnmRhiC5n1cGVPyxYJZuIB_Ts6x3ixdksNWHlRUWMQ_v&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R]:
At the conclusion of the 2026 Sunfish North Americans [6], Bill Brangiforte received the Sunfish Class Lifetime Member Award [7], and there is truly no one more deserving than Bill. It’s not every day that your sailing mentor and friend receives such recognition.
After college, I got back into the Sunfish class when Bill and the Willy’s hosted the Northeast Challenge Sunfish Regatta at the club where we grew up. In typical Bill fashion, he gave a rigging demonstration on the beach before racing, teaching us how to use the newly fashionable, yet very confusing Jens rig (a way to depower the Dorito that is the Sunfish sail).
Starting that day, and in the nearly 20 years since then, I’ve learned just about everything I know about Sunfish sailing from Bill (or Eric Woodman).
Bill always denigrates himself, saying, “I’m just a brick layer”. In reality, he’s highly-skilled and leads the sought-after South Shore Masonry, Inc that will go above and beyond for his friends.
In 2012, when the devastating and historic Hurricane Sandy ripped through Long Island and nearly destroyed the beloved distributor for the Sunfish Class, the Dinghy Shop, Bill didn’t hesitate to pack his truck and supplies. He helped the Koehler's rebuild the concrete walls of the shop; they couldn’t have done it without him.
Bill’s generosity with his extensive sailing knowledge makes him so deserving of this award. He shares his secrets not only with newbies but also with fierce rivals. Bill has written loads of Words of Wisdom that can be found on the Class website [8].
Before sailing at Wequaquet Lake Yacht Club (Barnstable, MA), his “Light Air on Lakes” is a MUST-READ! He’s read practically every book on sailing and especially loves the Stuart Walker books, dry as they are. I’m pretty sure that his daughter, Alexa, was raised on those as bedtime stories. - Full report [9]
[10]
Making a difference since 1982 [11]
Each summer, approximately 1,000 people with disabilities learn the skills of sailing in the Sail To Prevail fleet of uniquely adapted, 20-foot sailboats. Their programs strongly encourage disabled individuals to be active participants by steering the boat and trimming sails.
The measurable outcomes demonstrate increased self-confidence in all parts of their daily lives, the camaraderie of teamwork, and improved leadership skills.
Since 1982, Sail To Prevail has improved the lives of tens of thousands of people through therapeutic sailing programs that focus on improving the mind, body and spirit.
Details: [11]
Ideal attributes of elite Sunfish sailor [12]
When a one design class limits the equipment variables, people become the prominent performance factor. In a dinghy class, this factor isn’t just skill, but also physical characteristics.
In a study developed by Samuel Hormiga as part of his master’s degree in sports science, an effort sought to describe the anthropometric and neuromuscular characteristics of elite Colombian Sunfish sailors and explore potential sex-related patterns.
Here’s an excerpt:
Sailing is a multifactorial, skill-oriented endurance sport in which athletes must continuously manage interactions among wind forces, boat dynamics, and water conditions while executing precise tactical and technical actions. - Full report [12]
[13]
How different sailors rank in the world [14]
With so many podiums to pursue, a comparison of sailor ability is a subjective exercise. Seeking to put a numerical scale to the task is the SSL Global Ranking
The system is inspired by the ATP rankings in tennis, conceived and developed by a passionate group of Olympic and amateur sailors. It provides an at-a-glance view of where different sailors stand in the world, based on their results in a range of classes and events in sailing.
A ranking allows fans to follow their heroes, for athletes to build their profile in the world, and to be used to select sailors for their national SSL Teams and Nation seedings for the SSL Gold Cup.
There is a Combined Global Individual Ranking, separate rankings for Men and Women, Helms and Crews, as well as Nations. You can also search by Nation or Class, making the powerful system truly comprehensive. – Full report [15]
[16]
Regatta attendance data analysis [17]
The 20-foot C Scow is actively raced in the inland lakes of the USA from Iowa to Michigan, and the National C Scow Sailing Association [18] wants to keep it that way. Here is what they are doing about it:
One of our objectives as a Board is to use data to get a better understanding of the health of our fleet. We are thinking of health both in terms of "boats registered for lake/home races" and "regatta attendance". This will help us separate fact from fiction and enable us to pursue targeted actions to address what's working / not working.
The first thing we've done is review regatta attendance over the last ~8 years to identify trends. - Full report [17]
[19]
Has technology ruined offshore racing? [20]
How routing software turned offshore racing into a different game. Report by Yacht Racing Performance Coach Stuart Greenfield:
It was off the Outer Hebrides, August 2022, during the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. We were on Morning After, my rebuilt S&S 34 from 1967, working our way around the top of Scotland, and the next big decision was at the Butt of Lewis before making course towards Muckle Flugga, up at the northern edge of Shetland.
It is the sort of place that concentrates the mind. The land is running out. The sea feels bigger. The weather has room to do what it wants, and the decision is no longer theoretical — get it wrong there and you can spend a long time paying for it. - Full report [21]
[22]
Outrunning the handicap system? [23]
Rating rules attempt to fairly handicap all boat types, but some are more fair than others. As boat types become increasingly dissimilar, French boat builder J/Composites has been exploring ideas in the rating space with the aim of helping to ensure maximum equity and fun:
“Racing yacht design is advancing rapidly but the growing gap between mainstream production boats and more extreme specialist designs is putting pressure on handicap systems, event formats and participation,” says Frédéric Bouvier of J/Composites.
From low freeboard and shallow, beamy cockpits to sailplans with square-topped mainsails and giant asymmetric kites, each capable of creating a partial eclipse, through to specialist double-handed racing yachts that are designed to promote shorthanded crews, these are exciting times for the racing scene.
The recent success of some scow hull configurations have been among the latest developments to challenge what we consider as normal, yet despite their unconventional looks, their growing popularity in some areas suggests that the sport is on the verge of yet another new trend.
But at what price? – Full report [24]
[25]
J/124 • J/97E • J/92 • J/7 — Available Now [26]
Sail California currently has an exceptional selection of pre-owned J/Boats available, including a J/124, J/97E, J/92, and a new J/7 demo boat.
From the capable racer/cruiser performance of the J/124 and J/97E to the responsive sailing characteristics of the J/92, these boats showcase the qualities that have made J/Boats a benchmark for performance sailing—speed, balance, simplicity, and lasting value.
Whether you're searching for a competitive racer, a versatile racer/cruiser, or a spirited daysailer, there's a J/Boat ready for your next adventure.
See the New J/7 in Alameda
Curious about the newest addition to the J/Boats lineup? Visit our Alameda office to see the new J/7 in person. Dockside tours and demo sails are available by appointment.
Contact Sail California:
• Bill Colombo – [bill@sailcal.com] (Northern California)
• Pat Nolan – [pat@sailcal.com] (Southern California)
• Wayne Zittel – [wayne@sailing-jworld.com] (San Diego)
Follow us on Instagram @sailcal • Sail California [26]
View current listings and learn more: Sail California [26]
World peace through sailing [27]
Latitude 38 publisher John Arndt started Summer Sailstice in 2001 after years of dreaming about a celebration that would grow sailing. He saw participation in sailing decline and wanted to find a way to get boats out of marinas and bring people together on the water. “It’s world peace through sailing.”
Coinciding with summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere… the 2026 edition is on June 20-21.
Summer Sailstice is sharing what you love about sailing. It could be racing, cruising with friends, teaching a kid how to sail, chartering a boat in an exotic location, taking a ride on a tall ship or just raising the sails with no destination.
Anyone can participate, whether you’re in a sailing dinghy that you restored in your garage, or on a yacht racing across the ocean. You can be the skipper or the crew. The goal is to engage sailors in community building all around the globe.
Details: [28]
[29]
Sailing is changing… do you like it? [30]
Is modern racing starting to look more like checkers than chess? Is something being lost in the pursuit of frenetic, high-speed thrills and spills? Lu Heikell attempts to answer the questions for Yachting Monthly… here’s an excerpt:
I have been following three offshore yacht races in recent months, which allows me to vicariously scratch the itch of sailing whilst at my desk.
All these races are, to varying degrees, something of a slow burn, running as they do over the course of hundreds (or thousands) of miles, and we are, of course, always at a very long arm’s distance from the live action, but as these races unfold, they develop their own narratives that keep me interested as the race progresses. And all the time the highs and lows of the sailors can be readily understood.
And then there is the other racing series I’ve been following, SailGP. I really don’t know where I stand here. The ‘machines’ are completely alien to my sailing world, and their phenomenally technical set-up utterly foreign. Helm, yes. Grinders, yes. Even tactician is a familiar term. But flight controller? Anyone? – Full report [31]
[32]
Race against time for SailGP Halifax [33]
The three-boat collision during New York Sail Grand Prix [34] damaged hulls, foils, and structural components, with only three weeks to complete repairs for the next event on June 20-21 in Halifax, Canada.
Simon Eatwell, head of engineering at SailGP Technologies in the UK, was at home watching the New York race live when the crash unfolded. "About 25 minutes later the phone rang and we were straight into response mode," he reveals.
While Brazil and the United States should be back on the start line for Halifax, Italy's repair is significantly more involved due to complex structural damage to the hull. "There's a big hole in the bottom and quite a lot of composite structure running through that area, with serious loads carried forward into the bow," he explains. - Full report [35]
[36]
West Marine closures, payoffs revealed [37]
West Marine, the largest marine retailer in the USA, filed for bankruptcy on May 17, 2026 [38]. Here are some recent updates:
• Court documents show that West Marine is planning to close 59 locations as it works to restructure under a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. West Marine’s LinkedIn page shows that it has more than 240 retail locations. For the list of closures, click here [39].
• During a mandatory hearing involving West Marine’s Chapter 11 restructuring, bankruptcy trustee Linda J. Casey said something that caught the attention of at least one of the more than 170 participants, many of whom West Marine owes money: “The former chief executive officer received a $1.2 million bonus. Can you explain what that bonus was?”
In addition to noting the money paid to former CEO Chuck Rubin, who left West Marine in late 2025, Casey also mentioned a retention bonus of an undisclosed amount that West Marine paid to current CEO Paulee Day [40] on May 1 — just 16 days before the company filed for bankruptcy. – Full report [41]
[42]
Game time at IOD World Championship [43]
The International One Design Class will hold its 2026 World Championship on June 13-19 in Marblehead, MA. Five past IOD World Champions, including Marblehead racer Bill Widnall (10x World Champion) and Defending World Champion John Burnham (5x World Champion) headline the twelve-team field.
Bermuda Olympian Peter Bromby, who dominated the IOD Class in the early 1990s, winning an unequaled three consecutive World Championships, has returned to the class and is eager to pick up where he left off. Charlie Van Voorhis last claimed the Aas Trophy in 2016, and hopes that he can etch his name in the cup again at the end of the week while Jonathan Farrar will be trying to claim his sixth title.
Hosted by Eastern Yacht Club, teams from Bermuda, Sweden, Canada, Maine, and Nantucket round out the field. - Full report [43]
[44]
Master the Rolex Big Boat Series with North Sails
Register now for the two remaining sessions in this three-part webinar series designed to prepare your team for success at the 2026 Rolex Big Boat Series / ORC North American Championship. The upcoming webinars will focus on sail optimization and local race strategy, offering valuable insights for both returning and first-time competitors.
Each webinar will be hosted by North Sails experts alongside guests from St. Francis Yacht Club and will run from 6:00–7:00 PM PT.
June 16: * Optimize Your Inventory [45]
Explore sail inventory strategies for both inshore and offshore racing, with guidance on building an efficient, versatile sail plan.
August 25: * What to Expect & Local Knowledge [46]
Understand local wind and current patterns and how they influence race strategy, content is ideal for local and visiting teams alike.
Past Webinar Recording:
May 12: BBS Race Prep with ORC Focus [47]
Experts reviewed how the ORC Rule, new race format, and measurement requirements impacted programs and shared preparation strategies.
* Registration reminders will be sent for each webinar closer to calendar date
Eight Bells: Charlie Dalin [48]
French offshore champion Charlie Dalin, winner of the 2025 Vendée Globe, died on June 11, 2026. He was 42 years of age and had been battling a gastrointestinal stromal tumor for just over two and a half years.
Dalin, born near Le Havre, France, was a competitive force in the sailing world for nearly 20 years, blending technical expertise with sharp racing skills. A trained naval architect who graduated from the University of Southampton in 2006, Dalin discovered sailing at the age of six and transformed his childhood passion into a professional career that has spanned over two decades. - Full report [48]
[49]
Eight Bells: Hoyle Schweitzer [50]
Hoyle Schweitzer, a surfer and sailor who turned a garage experiment into a global sport when he and a friend, Jim Drake, developed the Windsurfer, a sailboard that made it possible to glide across lakes and choppy seas, died on May 31 in San Marcos, Calif. He was 93.
Mr. Schweitzer, who worked in the nascent computer industry, and Mr. Drake, a sailor and aeronautical engineer, patented the design for what became the Windsurfer in 1970. Working out of Mr. Drake’s garage, they created a board that had an asymmetrical sail and a hand-held wishbone boom, allowing riders to skim — or even race — across waters that were either too placid or too turbulent for conventional surfing. A universal joint made it easy to drop the sail and haul it back up.
Mr. Schweitzer and Mr. Drake called their creation the SK8 and the Baja Board before settling on the name Windsurfer. – Full report [51]
[52]
GUEST COMMENTARY
Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. You can add your comments directly to stories on the website [53] or submit commentary by email [mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com]. Please save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
CRINGING OVER FEMALE-ONLY SAILING EVENTS ( #6532 [54])
The National-level, all-female events in team racing led the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association to support entry fees for their locals, which led to me starting a weekly, co-ed team racing practice to train together side by side. We may go to the events as all-female teams, but the experience at practice and there at the event translates to all of the co-ed sailing we do when we get back (fleet racing, offshore, keelboats, dinghies).
Because of a shakeup of normalcy, people sail with people they may never would have otherwise. The networking is incredible and valuable. Trying bow or trim or tactics for the first time at practice is valuable (for any sailor). The all-female events created this motivation to try. To learn together.
I’d never say the all-female events are the best way to prove our skills as equal to men, but I would 100% say that because those events exist, the pathway opens up for women to step on boats where all of the positions are open, because the one paying the most hasn’t picked their spot first.
Men learned they have to pay to play a long time ago. Women can pay too (by buying boats) or at least put in a LOT of time and effort to earn a spot (by captaining teams and organizing/volunteering). And they are!
Keep going! Keep challenging yourself and keep pushing.
- M. Ashley Love
Not sure what the right answer is, but having women's sailing events can definitely help new sailors get started and feel more comfortable on the water, it's all about finding ways to give opportunities to sail and share the experience with others, whether it's women's only or coed, the goal is to get people out there and enjoying the sport
- Chad Edwards
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
“If we would learn what the human race really is at bottom, we need only observe it in election times.” - Mark Twain
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[13] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-c/
[14] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/10/how-different-sailors-rank-in-the-world/
[15] https://worldofsailors.com/news/the-ssl-global-ranking-every-sailor-every-event-every-nation
[16] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-q/
[17] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/10/regatta-attendance-data-analysis/
[18] https://www.cscow.com/
[19] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-yu/
[20] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/10/has-technology-ruined-offshore-racing/
[21] https://firstbeat.substack.com/p/follow-the-leader-has-it-ruined-offshore
[22] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-ji/
[23] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/10/outrunning-the-handicap-system/
[24] https://www.seahorsemagazine.com/article/july-2026/outrunning-the-handicap-system
[25] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-ju/
[26] https://www.sailcal.com/
[27] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/11/world-peace-through-sailing/
[28] https://summersailstice.com/
[29] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-tt/
[30] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/11/sailing-is-changing-do-you-like-it/
[31] https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/blogs/give-me-the-patient-strategy-of-offshore-racing-over-the-spectacle-of-sailgp-lu-heikell-105440
[32] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-tk/
[33] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/11/race-against-time-for-sailgp-halifax/
[34] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/05/31/australia-win-at-sailgp-new-york/
[35] https://sailgp.com/news/26/the-invisible-race-how-sailgp-technologies-rebuilds-f50/
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[38] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/05/18/west-marine-files-for-bankruptcy/
[39] https://tradeonlytoday.com/industry-news/west-marine-to-close-59-stores/
[40] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2025/11/13/first-woman-ceo-of-west-marine/
[41] https://tradeonlytoday.com/industry-news/as-west-marine-foundered-ceo-bonuses-were-paid/
[42] https://email.sailingscuttlebutt.com/t/j-fb-ydkidykk-ijtljumj-dd/
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[50] https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/06/09/eight-bells-hoyle-schweitzer/
[51] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/business/hoyle-schweitzer-dead.html
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