Sue Pelling Journalist
Yachting | Lifestyle | Racing
Pip Hare (48) is the sole British sailor competing in the Vendée Arctique, which started from Les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday 12 June, 2022.
Hare who finished 19th in the 2020/21 Vendée Globe (and 8th woman to ever finish the race) in a 1999-built IMOCA 60, is now sailing Medallia, a third gene...
The full beauty of the US Virgin Islands – photo Sue Pelling
Guaranteed spectacular sailing conditions and fine local hospitality continues to make St Thomas International Regatta an all-time Caribbean favourite writes Sue Pelling.
Those fortunate enough to be based in the US Virgin Islands in...
Emotions ran high with barely a ‘dry eye in the house’ at the start of the Golden Globe Race in Les Sables d’Olonne, France on 1 July, writes Sue Pelling.
Fond farewells on race day – photo Julio Graham
After three year...
St Croix, St Thomas and St John open for business as Caribbean regatta season gets underway
The beautiful white beaches and turquoise water off Buck Island, St Croix – photo Sue Pelling
Just six months after the devastation caused by Irma and Maria, two category 5 hurricanes that swept throu...
Gala prizegiving marks end of successful regatta
Bridgetown, Barbados (23 January, 2018): Barbados Sailing Week incorporating the Coastal Racing Series and the Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race concluded last night at a sumptuous rum-themed prizegiving dinner and party at the glitzy Beach House l...
Thrilling conditions for Caribbean classic
Bridgetown, Barbados (21 January, 2018): Squally winds reaching 30kts from the north-east made for magical sleigh-ride, record-breaking conditions in the 82nd Mount Gay Round Barbados Race.
While the lively conditions in big seas proved too much for...
J/24s complete series and countdown to Mount Gay Round Barbados Race underway
Bridgetown, Barbados (20 January, 2018): While final preparations are underway for the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race tomorrow, the J/24 fleet crowned its winner in the closely contested final showdown in the J/24 Coasta...
J/24 fleet springs into action as Coastal Series concludes
Bridgetown, Barbados (19 January, 2018): The hugely competitive local J/24 fleet enjoyed the first of its brand-new two-day race series. Today was also the final day of the Coastal Series.
J/24 sailing at its best
The launch of the J...
Coastal Series winners emerge with one race to go
Bridgetown, Barbados (18 January, 2018): With winds up to 17kts competitors enjoyed more thrilling sailing and tactical racing for the second day of Barbados Sailing Week .
The second and penultimate day of the Coastal Series, traditionally kno...
Tip top conditions for Coastal Series opener
Bridgetown, Barbados (17 January, 2018): Glorious conditions with up to 18kts of breeze and accompanying swell made for an exciting day on the water for the opening day of the three-day Coastal Series at Barbados Sailing Week.
With the wind and swell...
Caribbean race season officially open
Bridgetown, Barbados (17 January, 2018): Barbados Sailing Week incorporating the headline event – the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race – is officially underway.
16 1A skippers’ briefing at the Radisson Aquatica Resort, followed by the fi...
Caribbean 2017 season opener attracts record breakers for island rum dash
The beautiful Alfred Mylne 65 The Blue Peter never ceases to create a stir off Bridgetown – photo Peter Marshall
With just 10 days to go before the start of the 2017 Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series (16-24 January), th...
Time to relax after racing – photo Nigel Wallace.
Following the success of the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Series, which concluded last weekend, plans are already in place for the 2017 event with the dates confirmed for 16-23 January.
This popular regatta, organised Barbados Cruisi...
MS Barbados Concise’s Ned Collier Wakefield at 87.7Kg bagged an impressive nine cases to share among his team – photo NIgel Wallace.
The 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Series, which incorporates three days of coastal racing and headline event – the Round Barbados Race – concluded last...
Just 12 seconds between the two MOD70s after 60nm – photo Peter Marshall.
Big winds, big speeds and the fastest ever times ever recorded made the 80thanniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Race, one of the most spectacular in history with a total of five records broken, and each team winning their...
TP52 Conviction – photo Peter Marshall.
The 60-mile sprint clock-wise round Barbados has sparked a lot of interest with many of the world’s top speed sailors here on the island including Paul Larsen, Wouter Verbraak, Rob Greenhalgh, Brian Thompson, Lloyd Thornburg, Helena Darvelid, Ned Collier Wak...
Robbie Yearwood and team on Island Water World Die Hard, winners of the J/24 fleet – photo peter Marshall.
The final day of the Coastal Series at the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Regatta, organised by Barbados Cruising Club in association with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, and Mou...
Team Concise 12 on the Diam 24 trimaran won the multihull battle today – photo Peter Marshall.
Day 2 of the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, organised by Barbados Cruising Club in association with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, and Mount Gay, served up the sort of conditio...
The Alfred Milne-designed The Blue Peter – photo Peter Marshall.
The opening day of the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, Organised by Barbados Cruising Club in association with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, and Mount Gay, got off to a spectacular start today with an unusu...
Briefing 1With less than 24 hours before the start, a last minute rush has seen a significant boost in entries for the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series. A packed room for the skippers’ briefing headed by Howard Palmer (Chairman of the Race Committee) this evening also endorse...
Anne-Marie Rindom – new world champion from Denmark – photo Mark Lloyd.
The Laser Radial Women’s World Championship, organised by Oman Sail, concluded today with Anne-Marie Rindom from Denmark securing the overall world championship title.
The 24-year-old Scandinavian representing Horsens Se...
23006746060 D9c36026a5 CThe Oman Sail-organised Laser Radial Women’s World Championship is dishing up some spectacularly close racing with just four points separating the top three boats. The conditions, with winds reaching 15knots and big waves are adding to the excitement and making this worl...
22909250209 E24e40c699 CThe opening races of the Final Series produced the windiest conditions seen so far at the Oman Sail-organised Laser Radial Women’s World Championship. After a tough opening three days on the water, and a day of relaxation enjoying cultural activities on Reserve Day yeste...
On the concluding day of the Qualifying Series at the Laser Radial Women’s World Championship in Oman, the top sailors have emerged and gold and silver fleets are now established for the Final Series.
Manami Doi (JPN) finished the day first in Blue Group – photo Mark Lloyd.
Twenty-two-year-old...
Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) retains the overall lead in the Qualifying Series – photo Mark Lloyd.
After another glorious day of racing on the Gulf of Oman, Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) retains the overall lead in the Qualifying Series at the Laser Radial Women’s World Championship. Marit Bouwmeester (NED...
First victory for Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) – photo Mark Lloyd.
After a thrilling opening day at the Laser Radial Women’s World Championship in Oman, Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) leads the field overnight, wih Marit Bouwmeester (NED) in second.
In winds that reached nine knots the 100 competitors enj...
Pierre Le Coq (FRA) and Peina Chen (CHN) are the new RS:X world champions – photo Jesus Renedo
The RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Mussanah, Oman, concluded in spectacular style today with the Medal Races producing nail-biting competition and two extremely worthy world champions.
Peina C...
Close racing in the Women's fleet – photo Jesus Renedo
The Final Series at the RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Mussanah, Oman, concluded today with the top 10 from each Gold fleet – Men and Women – now confirmed for the Medal Race tomorrow.
Although she still needs to contest the Medal R...
Photo – Jesus Renedo
The RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Mussanah, Oman, delivered another cracking day of competition for the opening races of the Final Series.
Thirteen knots of wind, mid-afternoon, was enough to create thrilling speeds for the men’s fleets both upwind and down and i...
Dorian van van Rijsselberge (27) – photo Jesus Renedo
Peina Chen (CHN) and Pierre Le Coq (FRA) continue to lead their respective fleets at the RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Mussanah, Oman, but light tactical conditions made for some challenging racing on day two.
The wind, when it did...
Peina Chen wins the first race – photo Jesus Renedo
The RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Mussanah, Oman, got off to a spectacular start today with all six scheduled races completed in 10-11 knots of breeze.
Racing for the 145 athletes is split into two fleets – men and women – and each...
22729817317 3de8ee72ac CAt this evening’s grand Omani ceremony to mark the official opening of the Laser Radial Women’s World Championship, competitors from around the globe were welcomed in spectacular style to the Millennium Resort, Mussanah, Oman. The event also marked the occasion of yesterday’...
16The Sultanate of Oman officially welcomed the 2015 RS:X World Windsurfing Championships to its shores with a ceremony at the Millennium Resort Mussanah, part of the purpose-built Olympic-standard sports village that 140 athletes (82 men and 58 women) from 42 different countries will call home for...
EFG Bank (Monaco) – overall winners.
Zain Sailing Team (Kuwait) headed by seasoned Tour competitor Cédric Pouligny with Gérald Véniard on navigation won the final leg of the Oman Sail-organised EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2015.
Even more commendable is the fact that the crew consists of enthus...
Inport DohaA thrilling day on the water in Doha for the final four inport races of the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour, resulted in three more race wins for Sidney Gavignet and team on EFG Bank (Monaco).
The EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour is a demonstration of Oman Sail’s passion for the sport and i...
Leg 5 was the toughest so far.
EFG Bank (Monaco)’s winning streak continues as Sidney Gavignet and his mixed Omani and European team notch up another leg win from Abu Dhabi to Doha to edge closer to defending their EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour title.
Oman Sail’s vision to develop the region’s s...
EFG Leg 5The fast 60nm sprint from Dubai to Abu Dhabi gave Sidney Gavignet and his EFG Bank Oman team a chance to demonstrate their professional tactical skills once again to secure their third leg win of the of the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour.
Gavignet and his super-tuned crew that includes Sp...
EFG Bank takes her second Leg win.
Sidney Gavignet and team on EFG Bank (Monaco) have won Leg 3 of the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour from Ras Al Khaimah Dubai. The Tour reigning champions now add another first place to their Leg 1 and first inport race victory, which strengthen their overall posit...
Sidney Gavignet and members of the EFG Bank team show the youngsters round the boat.
Members of Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, guests, and EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour teams welcomed a group of young children from Rashid Center for Disabled yesterday.
The youngsters, aged between 9 -13 years ol...
Team Delft Challenge win Leg 2.
Wouter Sonnema (20) and his young student team from Delft University of Technology, sailing Delft Challenge have won Leg 2, one of the longest and most demanding legs of the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2015.
At 172 nautical miles, from Sohar to Ras Al Khaimah vi...
Sidney Gavignet and team win Leg 1
Sidney Gavignet and his team on EFG Bank (Monaco) have won the highly challenging opening 101nm leg of the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour. The winning team sailed across the line at 11.52 yesterday and received a warm welcome from the team at IMCO (International M...
Sidney Gavignet and EFG Bank team at opening ceremony.
Crowds gathered at The Wave, Muscat today to join Oman Sail and the 11 teams competing in this year’s edition in celebration of the launch of EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour. Now in its fifth year, this 760nm, six-leg race, which runs from 15-28...
Mount Gay Rum in full flow at the Barbados Cruising Club.
Following the success of the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series that concluded last week, the dates of next year’s event have been confirmed for 16-24 January 2016.
With overseas competitors from 11 nations representing a large part of...
Jason Tindale (right) with his young J/24 team collect 20 cases of Mount Gay Rum for breaking the Round the Island class record – photo Nigel Wallace
The Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, incorporating three days of coastal racing and the Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race concluded last night...
Elena of London – photo Peter Marshall.
Despite generally light airs with winds reaching no more that 15kts, three teams have won their skipper’s weight in rum for breaking records in the 79th Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race.
The Double Handed Monohull record for the 60-nautical mile course...
After three days of intense Coastal racing in the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, many sailing teams were keen to make the most of today’s lay day activities.
Mount Gay Rum tasting – photo – Peter Marshall
A visit to the Mount Gay Rum Distillery in the morning, and an afternoon soaking up...
Team Hawkeye, overall winners of the J/24 fleet – photo Peter Marshall
The concluding races the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Coastal Series took place today. Although the conditions were unusually light and fluky, the racing was intense in all classes with most fighting it out for overall honours...
Andy Budgen on his foiling International Moth comes to grief after luffing up at the start – photo Peter Marshall.
After two days of racing in the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Coastal Series, leading contenders for the overall honours are beginning to emerge.
Racing for most classes began with...
Close racing in the J/24 fleet – photo Peter Marshall.
Competitors were treated stunning conditions on the opening day of the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series 2015 with winds up to 20kts generally from the east-north east, and big rolling waves.
This regatta, which runs until 24 January is o...
Well supported skippers' briefing on the eve of the first race – photo Peter Marshall.
With teams continuing to arrive all day in time for the start of Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series tomorrow, the Bajan party scene kicked off early this evening with a steel band and Mount Gay rum in full flo...
Team Ambersail – photo Peter Marshall
With just over a week until the start of 2015 Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series (16-24 January), the party atmosphere on the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados is beginning to heat up.
Organised by Barbados Cruising Club in association with Barbados T...
Black Cat takes overall Governor's Cup 2015 win.
Dave Immelman and his team on Black Cat (Dudley Dix 38) have won the Governor’s Cup 2015 after their nearest rival – Avanti – who finished ahead in the early hours this morning – declared they had switched on their engine for 95 miles and moved...
Banjo crosses finish line in St Helena.
Kevin Webb, Sarel van der Merwe, and Brad Stemmett sailing Banjo, a Farrier F9AX trimaran, have broken the 1,750-mile Governor’s Cup Race record from Simon’s Town to St Helena with a time of 9 days 13 hours and 36 seconds.
Webb, van der Merwe and Stemm...
Cool Runnings.
Having enjoyed nearly a week of good, consistent winds, crews in the Governor’s Cup fleet are currently suffering from lack of speed as their yachts wallow in light airs 100 or so miles off the African coast.
The conditions look set to remain for the next few hours, which means th...
Banjo crosses halfway mark on course to St Helena.
After a hectic start from Simon’s Town on Saturday (27 January) when winds gusted over 30kts the 17-strong Governor’s Cup fleet has settled into a downwind sleigh ride on its 1,700 nautical mile course towards St Helena.
The roller coaster ride...
Do Do StartLively conditions with winds reaching over 30kts made for an exciting start for the 2014/15 Governor’s Cup. This 1700-nautical mile race from False Bay Yacht Club, Simon’s Town, South Africa, to the remote Atlantic island of St Helena, got underway at 1400 local time today.
The strong...
Big boats prepare for round Barbados blast – photo Peter Marshall.
The arrival of the first overseas yachts into Bridgetown, including British VO70 Monster Project marks the start of the countdown of the 2015 Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, which is taking place from 16-24 January.
This ev...
Race teams planning next season’s calendar could do worse than sign up for the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series 2015 which runs from 16-24 January.
Ralph Johnson’s Beneteau 53 Rapajam – overall winner of Racing Class 2014 – photo Peter Marshall/MGRBR
This event, which kick starts the Caribbe...
