Kirsten Thomas

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Kirsten enjoys sailing and is a passionate writer based in coastal New Zealand. Combining her two passions, she crafts vivid narratives and insightful articles about sailing adventures, sharing her experiences and knowledge with fellow enthusiasts.
Nosaka in the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic // Photo credit: Kirsten Thomas
Coastal Classic

Entries open for the 2026 PIC Coastal Classic, who will take it out this year?

It was the early hours of the Sunday morning in October, after having followed t...
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From hydrogen cats to recyclable hulls, Cannes' Innovation Route returns. // Photo credit: Cannes Yachting Festival
Cannes Yachting Festival

From hydrogen cats to recyclable hulls, Cannes’ Innovation Route returns

The Cannes Yachting Festival is returning with its Innovation Route for its 49th...
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Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge: prize-giving at Southport

Fifteen boats started. Eleven finished. Four retired, and nearly every one of th...
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Beneteau Gran Turismo 50 // Photo credit: Groupe Beneteau
New Boat

Beneteau Gran Turismo 50 Alpine, Venice debut for the new flagship

Beneteau
There is a moment, somewhere between the ancient stones of the Arsenale and the ...
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The Fife Regatta Day 4 © Marc Turner / PFM pictures
Boating Festivals & Events

Where history sails: The 2026 Richard Mille Fife Regatta

There are sailing events measured in results, and there are sailing events measu...
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Sailor Profile

Ocean racing legend Charlie Dalin passes away at 42

Elite French offshore sailor Charlie Dalin has died at the age of 42 following a...
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Doug Esterman and his Salthouse Cavalier 39, Fair Seasons // Photo credit: Boating New Zealand
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Doug Esterman and Fair Seasons: Last to finish the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman — and first in heart

On the evening of 31 May, less than 48 hours into the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yac...
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Feadship's Halycon, when a refit becomes something else entirely. // Photo credit: Feadship
Boat Refurbishments

Feadship’s Halycon, when a refit becomes something else entirely

Captain Joe Gallegos puts it plainly: "What started as a refit became something ...
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Heavy-Duty Innovation FPT NZ and Konrad Join Forces to Redefine Marine Stern Drive Packages // Photo: supplied
Boat Bling

Heavy-duty innovation: FPT NZ and Konrad join forces to redefine marine stern drive packages

A powerful new partnership is set to transform New Zealand’s commercial and recr...
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Peter Nobbs sitting in Smoko's cockpit before the start of the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge // Photo credit: Kirsten Thomas
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

From customs officers to Southport, Peter Nobbs and Smoko finish the Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge

The customs officers were waiting for Peter Nobbs fifty miles outside New Zealan...
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Off Opua, the Insight Media team catch the action at the start line of the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. Photo credit: Insight Media
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

LIVE: The 2026 Solo Trans Tasman Yacht Challenge (part 2)

  Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge 2026 Live Tracker Full coverage ...
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Off Opua, the Insight Media team catch the action at the start line of the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. // Photo credit: Insight Media
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Peter Bourke and Diablo: the little kauri boat has finished the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challen...

This morning at 07:00am NZST (10 June 2026), Peter Bourke crossed the finish lin...
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1980 Bristol Channel Cutter 28 // Supplied
Boat for Sale

1980 Bristol Channel Cutter 28 — now for sale

There are very few 28-foot sailboats that have earned a genuine cult following, ...
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The six 12' Dinghys participating in the seventh edition of the Ponte Vecchio Cup. // Photo credit: Paolo Maccione
Boating Festivals & Events

Coppa Ponte Vecchio: Racing through the heart of Florence

Few regattas anywhere in the world can claim a setting like this. The Coppa Pont...
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2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge. RACE START - Saturday 30th May. // Photo credit: Suellen Hurling / Live Sail Die
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Terry Dunn sailed a borrowed boat 1,362 miles across the Tasman. His 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht ch...

After over nine days at sea, Terry Dunn crossed the finish line at Southport in ...
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Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman 2026: Catnip 90 minutes from the finish line

Six boats are home. Four have retired. Five are still sailing. And as I write, G...
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Sanlorenzo's 50Steel Almax. // Photo credit: Sanlorenzo
Electric & Hybrid Boats

Sanlorenzo pushes for green methanol infrastructure at Venice Climate Week

Italian superyacht builder Sanlorenzo has used Venice Climate Week to call on Eu...
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Ben Ball onboard Camellia, his 1976 Cavilier 36. // Photo credit: Boating New Zealand
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

The Tasman dream is real, Ben Ball and Camellia cross the finish line

Ben Ball has been waiting since he was 14 for this moment. On 08 June 2026 at 14...
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Doug Bourke with Diablo at the start of the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge // Photo credit: Kirsten Thomas
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman 2026: Camellia climbs the handicap table and Terry Dunn calls in from the Tasman

Five boats are home. Four have retired. Six are still racing across the Tasman, ...
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Frantic wins the 39th Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race // Photo credit: Peter Campbell
Lord Howe Ocean Race

Inaugural Lord Howe Ocean Race: RPAYC launches new Cat 1 classic

The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club has announced what promises to become one of ...
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Doug Esterman onboard his Cavalier 39 Fair Seasons t the start of the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Challenge. RACE START - Saturday 30th May. // Photo credit: Suellen Hurling / Live Sail Die
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Doug Esterman and Fair Seasons, still out there, still loving it

Doug Esterman called from somewhere in the Tasman, with Norfolk Island about 250...
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Off Opua, the Insight Media team catch the action at the start line of the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. // Photo credit: Insight Media
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman 2026: Six still sailing — Camellia surfing five-metre waves toward the finish

Five boats are home. Four have retired. Six are still out on the Tasman. Cond...
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Off Opua, the Insight Media team catch the action at the start line of the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. // Photo credit: Insight Media
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Sarau and Pacman cross the line — in the dark, 31 minutes apart

Malcolm Dickson's 55-foot Sarau crossed the finish line at Southport at 06:38 NZ...
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1 nautical mile separates Sarau and Pacman in the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge // YTB (screen grab)
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman 2026: Electron nearly finished, one mile between Pacman and Sarau

Two boats have now finished the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. Guy Ches...
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2026 Fife Regatta, fleet at port. // Photo credit: PKC Media
Boating Festivals & Events

Richard Mille Fife Regatta 2026: 23 classic yachts return to the Clyde

The waters of the Firth of Clyde have seen a lot of sailing history. But there a...
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Sharon Ferris-Choat, Vixen Racing // Supplied
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Sharon Ferris-Choat: 1,400 miles alone — first woman to finish the Solo Trans-Tasman in 12 years

At 12:15pm NZST on Saturday 6 June 2026, Sharon Ferris-Choat crossed the finish ...
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Kevin Le Poidevin's Open 40 Roaring Forty at the start line of the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. // Photo credit: Kirsten Thomas
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman 2026: Chester finished, Roaring Forty retired, Vixen Racing is 40 miles out

Guy Chester docked at Southport on Friday evening at 19:34 NZST, crossing the fi...
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Guy Chester soon to cross the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge finish line in Southport, Queensland // Photo: Kirsten Thomas
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman 2026: Chester on the dock tonight as the fleet fights to the finish

At 20:00 NZST tonight, if the projection holds, Guy Chester will dock his Crowth...
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New interior concept unveiled for flagship Galeon 700 // Photo credit: Gideon Yachts
Yacht Interior Design

New interior concept unveiled for flagship Galeon 700

Galeon
Polish shipyard Galeon Yachts has released technical and design details for the ...
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A view from the side of Malcolm Dickson's 55-foot Sarau from in the Tasman Sea during the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. // Photo credit: Malcolm Dickson
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman 2026: Ocean’s Tribute finishes tonight, Camellia’s handicap charge and...

Guy Chester checked in from his Crowther Design 93 trimaran Oceans Tribute just ...
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Glen Jeffery returns to Opua in Wave // Glen Jeffery (FB)
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman 2026: The solo handicap battle just got tighter

Guy Chester is 248 nautical miles from Southport and talking like a man who can ...
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The Kadey-Krogen 53. Courtesy Kadey-Krogen Yachts.
New Boat

Krogen 53: Meet the bluewater passagemaker built to go slow

Kadey-Krogen Yachts
American trawler yacht builder Kadey-Krogen has announced the Krogen 53, a new f...
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Vixen at night // Photo credit: Kirsten Thomas (enhanced by AI)
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman 2026: 47 Knots in the night and Southport finally in sight

The 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge got a moment on national television l...
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Bill Kidman onboard Pretty Boy Floyd has arrived safely back in Opua // Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman 2026: Bill Kidman is home, Chester closes in, and Camellia bails out

Four days and ten hours in, and the fleet is heading into its fifth night on the...
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UIM F1H2O World Championship. Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy. May 2026 // Photo credit: Mike Magnin
UIM F1 H2O

Stefan Arand survives Cagliari chaos to win F1H2O Italian Grand Prix

Stefan Arand arrived in Cagliari as the winner of the final race of the 2025 UIM...
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Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman fleet batten down as 37-knot blasts return and leaders stretch away

The conditions came back overnight, and came back hard. Sharon Ferris-Choat chec...
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At the start of the 2026 Three Kings Offshore Yacht Race // Photo credit: Roger Mills / Boating New Zealand
Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race

Two New Zealand yachts confirmed for 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Two New Zealand yachts are confirmed in the 81st Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race,...
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Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Glen Jeffery and Wave retire from the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Glen Jeffery has made the decision to retire from the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yac...
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James Foster and his Mumby 48 catamaran, Electron. Off Opua, the Insight Media team catch the action at the start line of the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. Photo credit: Insight Media
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman: Southport is closing in

It's dark over the Tasman Sea. Winter hours have brought earlier sunsets. Out th...
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Ben Ball onboard Camellia, his 1976 Cavilier 36. // Photo credit: Boating New Zealand
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Solo Trans-Tasman 2026: A Milo at midnight, a stunning sunrise, and Camellia on the prowl

This race has hit a milestone. Guy Chester on his Crowther trimaran Oceans Tribu...
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