Sailing News
All the latest news from the world of sailing and stories from experienced sailors.
Rounding the Fastnet Rock Espresso Martini Too and Challenger 4 rounded the Fastnet Rock in the early hours of Tuesday morning with under an hour between them. Espresso rounded at 02:47 on Tuesday 29 July with Challenger 4 hot on their heels at 03:31. They sat in positions 46th and 53rd in class respectively.… Read more
Challenger 4 Fastnet Update
Two days in and we have some updates from Challenger4 in the 2025 RORC Fastnet Race
First Class Start to the Fastnet Race 2025
Read up on how First Class Sailing’s corinthian crews are getting on in the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race
Dreaming of Chartering a Boat & Sailing to France for the Weekend?
Are you ready to upgrade your sailing skills? If you’re already a Day Skipper (or similar) and are looking to improve then the Coastal Skipper course is an ideal step towards your dreams of becoming a confident Yachtmaster. This summer we are running a number of Coastal Skipper courses and you could… Read more
VHF Radio Course: Sign Up & What to Expect
Sailors need to know how to use a VHF radio. Not only is it essential for safety, it’s also the law – if your yacht is fitted with a VHF radio, someone on board needs to hold a licence. That’s where the RYA VHF Radio Course comes in. Whether you’re skippering your own… Read more
To The Channel Islands and back on a Challenger 72 yacht
The following is a short account from the skipper of the Challenger Yacht we sailed to the Channel Islands and back in June. Ship’s Captain’s Log of the good ship Challenger 4 on a 5 day trip from Portsmouth to the Channel Islands in June. 3 June 2025 Deck all prepped. Just some pasties and… Read more
Online Day Skipper Theory Course: Learn at Your Own Pace
If you’re ready to take the next step in your sailing journey, but you need something that fits around a busy schedule, the Online RYA Day Skipper Theory course is the best place to start. It’s a flexible and thorough online sailing course which has been designed to build your understanding of navigation,… Read more
Day Skipper Course: What to Expect
If you already have some experience of sailing under your belt and you’re ready to take things to the next level, the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course should be your next move. On the Day Skipper Course you will go from crewing to skippering so you can eventually be the one giving instructions… Read more
Sailing Through History: The Beaulieu River’s WW2 Legacy
First Class Sailing tutors will often sail on the Beaulieu River, and you could too when you sign up to one of our RYA sailing courses. But did you know about the river’s wartime history? The Beaulieu River is not just known for its natural beauty and fantastic sailing opportunities, but it… Read more
Mile Building for Yachtmaster: Sail from the Solent on Extended Passages
Following on from our blog about mile building trips after Day Skipper (which can be read here) we thought we’d follow up with one for aspiring Yachtmasters. For the Yachtmaster Coastal you need 800nm. If you have done the Coastal Skipper course this is reduced to 400nm – this halving of the… Read more
