Sailing News

The FCS crew on Challenger 2 have won the Fastnet! Well, we exaggerate a little, we had two, 16-strong crews in the Fastnet race, both sailing the steel Challenger yachts, and having their own private duel amongst the 100’s of other competitors. Sue Geary was the Skipper of Challenger 2 and Gary Rutherford was on… Read more

  SailGP is coming to the Solent in August and it looks like we’ll be seeing some epic racing on the south coast and maybe pass the 50-foot wingsailed catamarans in Southampton Water as they head to the technical area. It’s a new sport, established in 2018 and is an annual, global sports championship featuring… Read more

  Ja mon! Well, the ARC is over and you’re probably wondering what the crew have been up to for the past week. As they made great time, the crew of Challenger 4 have been able to spend an extra few days exploring some of the sights and sounds, and certainly rum, of the Carribean… Read more

  It’s all over, congratulations Challenger 4! They’ve run a good race, managing to beat Challenger 3. Rum punch and firm land await them. They’ve earned it!   Monday 10 December Festivities Await After a night of squally clouds, heavy downpours and shifty winds we have made great speed and course towards Rodney Bay, St… Read more

  Saturday 8th December We are still racing to the finish. 389 NM to go and we are neck and neck with Challenger 3. We continue to have interesting squalls rushing at us from behind: the latest measured 36 knots of true wind. Oh, how superb it is to be in this 72’ steel yacht,… Read more

  After a squall blows through, Skipper Ricky and Mate Kirstie have their work cut out for them trying to keep Challenger 4 going in a straight line as the squalls blow through and try to take her offline. The crew have to pull together and it’s all hands on deck helping out. Tiring work,… Read more

  Mate Kirstie’s Log   Once More Unto The Breach Yesterday we had a 20ft-ish whale play alongside us for an hour, broaching several times – once right in front of the boat, as it continuously circled us and surfed waves.  The whole crew watched and many videos (mainly of blue sea!) were captured.  … Read more

  2nd Night Watch Interlude   A good night for shooting stars around Gemini, and whilst no means a meteor shower, included a fizzing ember that lingered for 2 or 3 heartbeats as it streaked the 20 or so degrees from Canis Minor over to Sirius, the Dog Star in the larger sibling. Jim.    … Read more

  Monday 3 December   Today’s main event was the “half-way party” which was the strangest and most wonderful mid-ocean celebration most of us had ever attended. We are celebrating being slightly more than 1,550 nautical miles into this race, with a “short” 1310 Nm left to run. THAT, ladies and gentlemen of the internet,… Read more