Dear readers,
Isn't that what we all taught our children? Whoever speaks up is wrong. But before I go any further, first of all: Objection!
What my colleague Nils Leiterholt wrote here about the America's CupI don't share that view. I don't find the foiling races off Barcelona boring at all, on the contrary. It may be because my sailing background was as a round-the-barrel sailor, i.e. as a regatta sailor. In any case, I have a pulse when it comes to the line during the broadcast on YouTube and even more so when it gets tight on the course.
I noticed something. It was in the last race of the elimination of the challengers between Italy and the USA. I had an aha effect. Which brings me to making noise. Or rather, the mastery of it.
The Italians sailed upwind with wind from starboard, i.e. right of way. The Americans came on the other bow with a lead of 50 metres. 50 metres is nothing for these boats. They cover that distance in three seconds at 30 knots upwind. It was extremely close. Pass round the front, go round the back, or tack? Those were the Americans' options. They decided in favour of the tack. They only had a few seconds to weigh up the options and make the manoeuvre.
I was impressed by the way they communicated. No shouting, no hectic commands. The on-board radio, which is easy to hear in the transmissions, sounded more like they were talking about what to eat at the weekend. And the fact that there was even time to count off the turn, i.e. "three, two, one, board down", was evidence of enormous mastery and professionalism.
A lot is always written about the so-called "spin-offs" of this high-tech sport, i.e. that developments from the America's Cup are making their way into popular sport. This is indeed the case; membrane sails, grinders and carbon fibre processing are just a few examples. It may be difficult to imagine foil technology as a spin-off for cruising sailing. But I would like to see something else become such a spin-off: the way we communicate.
We used to shout at each other on the regatta course, not on board for me as a single-handed sailor, but especially at the start and at the course markers, it was loud between the boats. I certainly wasn't a fly on the wall either. I'm sure I also shouted "you're not coming in here" in the style of a disco bouncer. According to the motto: whoever is the loudest gets the upper hand.
Something similar can also be observed time and again in harbour manoeuvres when sailing. Whoever shouts, usually the skipper, is right and can thus distract from their own mistakes. However, some people can't help but get loud. If you want to instruct someone on the foredeck on a 50-footer in strong winds, for example, you have no choice but to shout. Or to work with hand signals. One Greek charter company already equips its yachts with headsets as standard.
Which is a clever idea. If you don't want to shout against ambient noise, you can easily make use of appropriate technology today. My colleague Michael Rinck has the necessary expertise in summarised in this article. The America's Cup also does not have a higher decibel level because of the high-tech headsets.
But even without technology, I think you can learn a lot from the sailing pros. By that I mean the content of communication: away with the emotions and in with the facts. This applies in everyday life as well as on board. Be it when responding to emails, comments on social networks or during manoeuvres. Calm down, stay objective. There will still be time for emotions after the sun goes down.
Lars Bolle,
Editor-in-Chief Watersports Digital
Click on it to see through:
The week in pictures
Recommended reading from the editorial team
Malizia 4
First the damage to the foil, now the mainsail has torn
First the damage to the foil, then broken hull reinforcements, and now a tear in the mainsail. Two new videos show how Team Malizia is repairing and further developing the IMOCA ahead of the Route du Rhum.
Silting up of the Elbe
Small ports are fighting for every metre of water depth
The Lower Elbe is silting up, time windows are shrinking and ports are becoming difficult to reach. With flat-bottomed boats and homemade dredgers, sailors are fighting to preserve their fishing grounds.
Propulsion
Max Bianchi variable-pitch propeller, which adjusts its pitch whilst the aircraft is in flight
A variable-pitch propeller that automatically adjusts its pitch whilst in flight: this is what Max Prop’s Max Bianchi model is designed to achieve in powered flight and motor-sailing.
Interview
What is it like to work on board the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’?
The ‘Thor Heyerdahl’ has been sailing the world’s oceans for more than 40 years. YACHT editor Fabian Boerger explains why this historic vessel remains relevant.
Hurricanes 2026
Dramatic rescue off the coast of California – El Niño shapes the storm season
A lifeguard rescues a sailor from a partially flooded yacht off the coast of California. Why the 2026 hurricane season is turning out so differently between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Blue-water yachts
These five are heading to the ends of the earth
Five blue-water yachts, five designs: the Boréal 56, Kraken 58, Pure 49, Stem 50 and Breehorn 55 demonstrate their strengths and weaknesses on a long-distance voyage.
Record low water level in Lake Zurich
Sailing yacht flown by helicopter to its winter storage facility
Water levels in Lake Zurich are below the previous record low. Because his sailing yacht was stuck in the shallow water and in danger of capsizing, a 65-year-old owner had his boat airlifted out by helicopter. The operation cost around 2,000 francs and highlights just how much the exceptionally low water level is now affecting navigation.
Series of thefts continues
Thieves make off with two 300 PS outboard motors from Wieltsee
Thieves have struck again at Wieltsee: they have stolen two boats and removed heavy outboard motors. This is already the fourth such incident in three months.
Second-hand boat of the week
Arietta 31 – the dawn of an era
A narrow waist, mahogany hull and elegant overhangs: the Arietta 31, designed by Olle Enderlein, prioritises balanced lines and seaworthiness over maximum living space. As a forerunner of later Scandinavian cruising yachts, it is now an interesting classic for sailors seeking a traditional, compact cruising yacht.
Breehorn 55 review
Is it the ideal home at sea?
A pilothouse, teak fittings and an unusually accessible service tunnel: this is how the Breehorn 55 works below deck, and these compromises remain.
Newsletter: YACHT-Woche
Der Yacht Newsletter fasst die wichtigsten Themen der Woche zusammen, alle Top-Themen kompakt und direkt in deiner Mail-Box. Einfach anmelden:
