Sailing News

All the latest news from the world of sailing and stories from experienced sailors.

  With the sun unexpectedly shining in a late October light wind and the temperatures at a Mediterranean 17c, our First Class Sailing crew gathered at Gunwharf Quay to begin their voyage to the Canaries aboard Challenger 2. Their skipper is Neil Montague and his plan was to take them across to Cowes for the Read more

Atlantic Ocean Challenge – 35 day voyage – Antigua to the UK!

  Deep Sea Ocean Sailing – For those that fancy just escaping for a whole month! Sail from Antigua to the UK, Jolly Harbour to Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. This trip is not for the faint hearted but is a great opportunity to get some serious miles and ocean sailing experience in. The distance is Read more

Race across the Atlantic Ocean in the ARC Rally 2017

  This is open to anyone. Although, as you will likely be 14 days non stop on a boat, it helps if you know you like sailing! But it doesn’t matter if you haven’t got a lot of experience providing you have some. The Race is actually a Rally. The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. A Read more

Portsmouth to the Canaries – an Atlantic Sailing Adventure

  Sail away from the UK, out of the Solent, down the busy English Channel and then South across the Bay of Biscay to warmer climes and your destination: Gran Canaria in the Canaries! For anyone wishing to do some serious offshore sailing, build miles, or just escape to the high seas this will be Read more

FCS Enter ‘Parade of Sail’ During Southampton Sailing Week

Southampton Sailing Week’s Parade of Sail from the River Itchen will look similar to Amsterdam’s   It is time to celebrate the thrill of sailing and in May, First Class Sailing are getting involved with Southampton Sailing Week. Both of our yachts will enter the ‘Parade of Sail’ which is being billed as “the finest Read more

The ARC Rally

The 2016 ARC Rally, a hugely social yet really quite competitive sailing race, is fast approaching with the training weekend kicking off on the 5th November. This year we’re entering, giving 12 people the opportunity to crew in this renowned race (we’ve got one place remaining if you are interested!). Established in 1986 as a Read more

Achieve Your Sailing Qualifications With First Class Sailing

Whether you’re a competent sailor or are just beginning to take to the water, First Class Sailing provides some of the most up to date and comprehensive sailing courses and qualifications you will find within the United Kingdom. With our wide range of Royal Yachting Association (RYA) approved practical and theory courses, you can broaden Read more

Sailing in the Solent – the Perfect Destination for Yacht Training

First Class Sailing offers an extensive range of RYA practical yacht training courses, suitable for sailors of different abilities and levels of experience. Set along some of the UK’s most beautiful and diverse coastlines, our courses allow you to build upon your existing sailing knowledge, and learn new skills. Training is an essential part of Read more

America’s Cup World Series in The Solent 2015

If you’ve been sailing on the Solent during the early part of 2015 you may well have seen the Ben Ainslie Racing team going through their paces. The images below were taken by our crew and left everyone impressed by their speed and dedication. All this preparation is building up to the big day in Read more

Make Shamrock Quay Marina of the Year in 2015

So where would you find the best Marina in the UK? And what makes a Marina excel? These are the questions that surface every time the Yacht Harbour Association’s Marina of the Year Award comes around. Having said that the award was only started last year and won by Plymouth’s Mayflower Marina, an independent marina Read more