Sailing yacht Maiden has won the Ocean Globe Race 2023-2024, smashing numerous records in the process, including becoming the first all-female crew to win a round-the-world race. On Tuesday, 16 April 2024, in a brisk northerly breeze, the yacht and its young, international crew crossed the finishing line at 1152hrs, completing the fourth and final leg of the Ocean Globe Race, after departing on an epic 27,000-mile global navigation last September. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Whitbread Round the World Race, the fully crewed retro Ocean Globe Race 2023 was run in the spirit of t ..read more

Monaco-based superyacht builder Dynamiq has appointed Candas Balci of BLC Yachts as its exclusive dealer in the Republic of Turkey. Based in Göcek, Balci is an industry veteran with a naval architecture background. “It’s a great pleasure to find an ambassador like Candas, who is experienced, energetic and understands what sets Dynamiq apart,” says Sergei Dobroserdov, CEO of Dynamiq. “Since our production is based here in Turkey, we’re excited to offer Turkish owners something completely different while still being close to home.” Dynamiq says the partnership will ‘further establish it as a str ..read more

British luxury motor yacht manufacturer Fairline has announced MRN Yacht Sales as its partner in California, and will operate as Fairline San Francisco.  Founded by Rob Newman in 2023, MRN Yacht Sales based in Marin County, one of the most picturesque boating destinations in the US, will now offer Fairline’s range of yachts to those located in the San Francisco Bay area and the wider west coast. Newman’s background in motor yacht sales started in Weymouth, UK, before he relocated to the US, making his way to the Bay area over a decade ago. Newman says: “Even though I’ve worked for varioiu ..read more

The UK government is launching an £8 million Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund to drive maritime innovation and harness the benefits of AI to boost productivity. The AI maritime funding will support feasibility studies for cutting-edge technology – from self-driving boats to ports using automated systems. Maritime minister Lord Davies is in Southampton today (22 April) announcing the £8 million funding boost. The Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund will kickstart feasibility studies to develop smart shipping technologies such as AI, robotics, and autonomous vessels. The winning projects will also ..read more

INEOS Britannia, the British challenger of record representing Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd for the 37th America’s Cup, has revealed its AC75 race boat for the first time. The 75ft vessel, code-named RB3, emerged from the INEOS Britannia base in Barcelona on Saturday 20 April for rig stepping and checking in preparation for her first sail. It is the first time the race boat had been in public view after two-and-a-half years of design, build and fit-out. Up until this point, RB3 has been shrouded in secrecy and was kept under wraps for its 1,000 mile journey from its UK base ..read more

Electric propulsion company ZeroJet is establishing a sales office in Southampton, UK, to meet increasing demand for its 18kW electric jet unit. ZeroJet launched its first product, the 18kW electric jet propulsion for small boats, in 2024. It is now in production. The firm says its proprietary motor design is 60 per cent smaller than other similar products, resulting in a compact design, freeing up precious space on small boats. Declan Price and Matt Forbes will head up the UK sales and support operation, based in Southampton. “We have outgrown our ability to meet the high level of interest an ..read more

Marine dealer Ray White Marine group has been appointed as Sunreef Yachts’ exclusive distributor in New Zealand. Ray White Marine has a strong history of Sunreef Yachts sales with multiple vessels already based in New Zealand and Australia as well as the cutting-edge 60 Sunreef Power Eco announced to be sold by the group recently. The partnership will promote the brand from both the North and South Island office locations, with Ray White’s flagship Auckland office to field all new build inquiries. Francis Lapp, CEO of Sunreef Yachts, says: I am proud to broaden and deepen our cooperation ..read more

The first World Foiling Congress, produced by The Foiling Organization, was attended by 220 professionals from 16 countries in Italy last week. The event comprised 11 discussion panels, led by 25 international experts and coordinated by The Foiling Organization’s board of directors. Topics covered included insurance, certification, laws and regulations, intellectual property protection, global market data and trends, industry promotion, market access, safety, research and innovation. During the conference, The Foiling Organization announced three initiatives: the first, starting in 2025, conce ..read more

International sailing events should try to reduce the underwater noise they create to avoid impacting marine wildlife, new research led by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, suggests. Researchers who looked at the noise made during the last America’s Cup have now produced a list of suggestions to help lower the effects of large flotillas on marine wildlife, including turning off echosounders while idling, and staggering exits post race so flotillas aren’t so large. The scientists from the university’s Institute of Life and Earth Sciences found that noise from large groups of specta ..read more

Attacks on merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea are continuing. The tragic loss of three crew aboard the container ship True Confidence, struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile on 6 March, underscores how very little protection is afforded to seafarers in the front line, writes Thomas Owen, CEO of MariTrace. While the attacks may be intended to mark out ships with business connections to the US and the UK, the risks of collateral damage and the very real threat to the lives of innocent people are clear. As with routing decisions in any part of the world, any decision to transit a ..read more