Log of the Week - Sailing News, Records, New Voices & Offshore Milestones (31 Jan 2026)

This time of year is often quiet on our own boats, but not on the water itself. While many of us plan and wait, sailors elsewhere are racing oceans, breaking records, and quietly reshaping what’s possible. Here’s what stood out this week.

🌍 1) Historic all-female crew completes non-stop circumnavigation

In a milestone moment for offshore sailing, The Famous Project became the first all-female team to complete a non-stop circumnavigation of the globe. The eight-person crew finished their voyage in 57 days 22 hours 20 minutes after setting off in late 2025, a remarkable achievement in endurance and seamanship. This isn’t an official record time for the Jules Verne Trophy course itself, but it’s a hugely meaningful first that underscores how inclusive and attainable high-end offshore sailing can be when crews commit to preparation and teamwork.

Their site: https://thefamousproject.io/

🧒 2) Young sailor crowned Australian national champion

A story that should warm the heart of sailing communities everywhere: 14-year-old Leon-Wei Petit has just been crowned the Open Skiff Australian Champion after the O’pen Skiff Nationals in Sydney Harbour. Competing against more experienced sailors in identical dinghies, Petit’s performance highlighted both skill and mental preparation—and he plans to continue racing internationally, with an eye on the Olympics someday. This kind of result reminds us how young sailors can rise quickly through the ranks when given strong coaching and a supportive club environment.

⛵ 3) Sodebo Ultim 3 sets a new Jules Verne Trophy benchmark

In one of the most exciting news items of the month, the maxi trimaran Sodebo Ultim 3 smashed the Jules Verne Trophy crewed round-the-world record with a finish time of 40 days, 10 hours, 45 minutes, 50 seconds—beating the previous benchmark by almost 13 hours. Overcoming challenges in the Southern Ocean and adverse weather near the end of the journey, the crew not only broke the overall circumnavigation record but also set intermediate passage times for multiple capes and ocean legs. This performance is one of those rare feats that pushes long-distance sailing forward and gives cruisers a glimpse of how far performance and teamwork can take us.

🏁 4) World Sailing updates Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) for 2026–27

For anyone thinking about offshore racing—even in a relaxed cruising context—the World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) 2026–2027 are now in effect. These rules shape minimum equipment, training expectations, and safety systems for ocean events, and they continue to evolve as the sport does. Even if you’re not entering a race, reviewing the OSR changes can help you assess your own offshore prep and mindset, especially for passages that take you far from help.

🌊 5) Classic ocean races start strongly this year

The 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race kicked off in near-perfect conditions off Lanzarote earlier this month, with a diverse fleet of boats heading west under steady trade winds and clear skies. Crews large and small are now many days into the crossing, enjoying both competitive spirit and pure ocean sailing. For those watching on trackers, the atmosphere is lively and the fleet tight in the early stages—exactly what long passages should feel like.

As offshore sailing becomes faster and more data-driven, knowing which tools genuinely support good decisions matters more than ever. For cruisers, we’ve put together a practical guide to the Best Sailing Apps Cruisers Actually Use (Navigation, Weather & Planning), focused on tools that help rather than overwhelm.

📊 6) Marine industry optimism and innovation

Marine business coverage in Marine Industry News highlights a theme that touches many sailors: resilience and reinvention. Industry stakeholders see 2026 as a year defined not by stagnation but by innovation in products and services that support sailors—from electronics to support infrastructure. While this isn’t one headline moment, it’s a signal that the broader marine economy still sees growth and opportunity, which matters for supply chains, refit seasons, and gear upgrades.

A human note

This week’s headlines remind us that sailing is multi-layered: record-breaking performances at the top end of the sport, inspiring young sailors making a mark, and evolving safety practices quietly improving how we operate offshore. All of these are pieces of the same sea-facing life—ambition, community, and the slow push toward more participation and preparedness.

Many of this week’s sailing news also point back to the human side of sailing — how we manage stress, fatigue, and decision-making offshore. We recently explored this in Freediving for Sailors: How Breathwork Improves Calm, Focus, and Control at Sea, looking at why awareness and calm matter as much as skills and equipment.

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