Sailing News — Log of the Week 29 August 2025: Regattas, Marinas & Boat Shows

Late August is that sweet crossover when race courses are still buzzing, marinas are finishing summer upgrades, and the big European shows start lighting the fuse. This week’s log rounds up 10 useful stories—what happened on the water, what’s changing shoreside, and what to circle on your calendar for early September. Grab a coffee and let’s tour the highlights.

1) MDL Marinas gets sustainability nod from Monaco Yacht Show’s Blue Wake

MDL has been recognised by the Monaco Yacht Show’s Blue Wake™ programme for leadership in sustainability—timely as the 2025 show leans harder into “operational” green solutions (waste, energy, shore power) instead of just concepts. MDL reports a 54% cut in operational carbon emissions since 2022, backed by 100% renewable electricity across its UK sites; Blue Wake will spotlight similar concrete steps from exhibitors in Monaco next month. For cruisers, labels and programmes only matter if they change dockside reality—shore power reliability, waste handling, and quieter nights. This is exactly the lane Blue Wake aims to accelerate.

2) SailGP Germany delivers a shocker: France wins Sassnitz in a last-gasp surge

The first-ever Germany Sail Grand Prix in Sassnitz produced one of the series’ wilder finishes: France stormed through for the event win with a “how did they do that?” comeback in the Final. Beyond the fireworks, Germany’s debut stop looked like a keeper—massive crowds, challenging Baltic conditions, and a venue that suits fast foiling cats. If you follow SailGP for pure spectacle, this one delivered and then some—and it sets up the back half of the season with real momentum. Full debriefs and onboard clips are worth a scroll.

3) SailGP sets out its longer game: new dates and markets locked in

As teams de-rig in Europe, the league is already selling the next chapters: tickets for Perth 2026, new/returning venues locked across Germany, Australia, Brazil, USA, UK, UAE, and a clearer roadmap for 2026/27. Calendar certainty helps fans plan travel—and helps teams and partners invest. For sailors, it means more chances to catch a live event in places that were once one-offs. Keep an eye on the league news feed this week; date drops and city confirmations are arriving in clumps.

Read more here - SailGP

4) Pacific Northwest: Cap Sante Marina approves $2.1M facilities upgrade

Anacortes’ Cap Sante Marina has green-lit its first major facility refresh in decades—$2.1 million for upgraded restroom and laundry spaces as part of a broader waterfront plan. The goal is better pedestrian access, stronger links to downtown, and the kind of clean, reliable services visiting crews notice immediately. It’s not the glamorous stuff, but it’s what keeps a stop on your “we’ll come back here” list. Work slots into a longer redevelopment arc the port’s been shaping for years.

5) 52 SUPER SERIES: American Magic Quantum Racing tops Puerto Portals

On Mallorca’s Bay of Palma, the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week wrapped with American Magic Quantum Racing taking the top prize. The circuit’s return to the Med after Atlantic stops brought classic Palma patterns—pressure lines, shifts off the hills, and punishing mistakes. For tacticians, it was a masterclass in lane management; for the rest of us, a reminder why the TP52s remain the gold standard for grand-prix monohull sailing. If you’re headed to the island, expect dock talk to linger well into September.

6) ILCA U21 Worlds in Dublin Bay: hard, honest racing at the halfway

The ILCA Under-21 Worlds at Dun Laoghaire hit mid-regatta with a bruising third day—solid breeze, proper waves, and tight points spreads. Host clubs Royal St George YC and National YC are running a slick show, with full galleries/results up daily. For one-design fans, youth worlds are where you see tomorrow’s names before they hit senior podiums. If you’re in Ireland or just gear-curious, scan the photo sets for rig tuning in those lumpy Irish seas.

7) Fireball Worlds, Lake Garda: big fleet, classic Ora, British form

The Fireball World Championship at Circolo Vela Arco served peak-Garda conditions—afternoon Ora filling like clockwork, a 136-boat fleet, and textbook downwind angles. British teams have looked sharp through the first half, but Garda always punishes inconsistency; a bad lane at the cliff can erase a day’s work. If you’ve never raced there, this year’s drone shots explain why sailors keep coming back: speed, scenery, and enough geometry in the breeze to make your head spin (in a good way).

Read More - Fireball World Championship

8) Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup preview: 45 maxis, new Rolex-IMA ranking category

With the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup a week out (7–13 Sept), previews confirm a ~45-yacht lineup off Porto Cervo and the first-ever Rolex IMA 80–100ft category to sharpen competition among the quickest rating band. Rolex marks four decades backing maxi racing this year; expect a little extra pageantry to go with the usual Costa Smeralda theatre. If you’re cruising Sardinia, race courses and restricted zones will be posted—worth a check before you pick an anchorage.

9) Cannes Yachting Festival countdown: 700 boats, late-opening Friday

The show sprint starts in Cannes 9–14 September with ~700 boats and ~650–700 exhibitors spread across Vieux Port (power) and Port Canto (sail). Friday keeps doors open until 22:00—handy if you’re juggling travel. Expect a dense slate of world premieres across Italian and Northern European yards; if you’re shopping, pre-book builder appointments—slots vanish quickly once the docks wake up. Official guides and exhibitor lists are live now.

Read more - Cannes Yachting Festival

10) Last call: TYHA Marina Awards voting closes 29 August

If a marina team saved your bacon this season—or just ran a spotless facility—this is your final nudge: voting closes at midnight on 29 August. Results drop at the Southampton International Boat Show on 24 September. The awards feed improvements (and bragging rights); the more thoughtful the feedback, the better the docks get next year. Two minutes well spent if you have a favourite berth to champion.

Vote here - TYHA Marina Awards

This Week's Message

From youth fleets duking it out in Dublin Bay to maxi programmes packing for Sardinia—and marinas upgrading quietly in the background—the season still has plenty of wind in it. If you’re Riviera-bound for the shows, give yourself time: Cannes alone can swallow a day (happily). And if you’re staying local, a final reminder to vote for your go-to marina before the deadline ticks over.

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