Sailing Today – October 2026

Summary

Carlo Borlenghi, the 70-year-old marine photographer who famously could not swim, died at his home on Lake Como on August 3, 2026 — as reported in Sailing Today's October 2026 Southampton International Boat Show Edition, priced at £5.75. The cover also features the Clipper 2025-26 Round the World Yacht Race finale where Team GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital) won the overall title with a 153-point total after 40,000 nautical miles and 11 months, and the 200th anniversary North Sails Cowes Week with over 600 boats, 5,000 sailors and 27 classes. For readers who follow sailing news, boat tests and cruising destinations, this 98-page issue delivers the annual Boat Show special.

The Borlenghi obituary covers four decades of photography from Italy's Azzurra campaign at Newport in 1983 through modern America's Cups. News also reports Cowes Week's bicentenary: the Queen Victoria Jubilee Cup went to Lone Star (X One Design class), the King George V International Cup to Ben Rogers' Contessa 32 Solan Goose, and the Bicentenary Gold Cup to Andy Maskell's High Spirit. The Folkboat class returned after 50 years. The Clipper Race saw Stage 13 won by Qingdao, Scotland rising to third overall, and London Business School locking second overall.

Features include a New Boats Special with the Jeanneau SO 455 on test, the 20 best boats on sale now, and expert tips on buying a boat. The Canary Islands feature explores the transatlantic stopover. Blue water prep by Will Spencer covers crew dynamics for the ARC crossing. Georgie Corlett-Pitt discusses gender equality on the water. Tom Cunliffe, Paul Heiney, Andy Rice and Jess Lloyd-Mostyn contribute regular columns. Gear reviews run in the Launched section. Subscription: £69/year UK.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Boat Show

p.82 · Southampton International Boat Show Preview
A look forward to the 2026 edition running 18-27 September at Mayflower Park, with exhibitors at Stand H60 and Marina Berth M852. The Southampton International Boat Show Edition is the year's biggest UK marine retail event. Anyone buying a boat should attend the show's sea-trial opportunities rather than relying on showroom inspection alone.

▸ News / Obituary

p.10 · Carlo Borlenghi, 1956–2026
The marine photographer who could not swim died at his Lake Como home on August 3 aged 70. His career spanned four decades from Italy's Azzurra campaign at Newport in 1983 through the modern America's Cups. His Studio Borlenghi captured the Barcelona Race and Southern Ocean racing. Sailing photographers should study Borlenghi's archive for his signature tight-cropped action compositions.

▸ News / Clipper Race

p.10 · Clipper 2025-26 Finale
Team GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital) won the overall title with 153 points after 40,000 nautical miles and 11 months. The final stage from Oban to Portsmouth took five to six days. Qingdao won Stage 13; Scotland rose to third overall. This race requires no experience and provides full training — entries for the 2027-28 edition are open at clipperroundtheworld.com.

▸ News / Cowes Week

p.10 · North Sails Cowes Week — 200th Anniversary
Over 600 boats, 5,000 sailors and 27 classes competed in the bicentenary edition starting from the 1826 debut. Lone Star won the Queen Victoria Jubilee Cup in the X One Design class. Ben Rogers' Contessa 32 Solan Goose took the King George V International Cup. The Folkboat class returned after a 50-year absence. Solent sailors should mark August 2027 for the 201st edition.

▸ Cruising

p.36 · Canary Islands — A Mid-Atlantic Paradise
The transatlantic stopover is explored as a cruising destination, positioned as the ideal jumping-off point for an Atlantic crossing. Cruisers planning a November ARC departure should arrive in Las Palmas by late October for reprovisioning and weather-window assessment.

▸ Bluewater Preparation

p.46 · Blue Water Prep — Expert Tips on Prepping for a Blue Water Passage
Will Spencer draws on years of helping owners prepare for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. The article emphasises that crew chemistry matters as much as rigging: a happy crew makes a two-week crossing feel like a voyage; a dysfunctional crew makes it feel like an eternity. ARC participants should conduct a trial overnight passage with their full crew before departure.

▸ Women in Sailing

p.50 · Women in Sailing
Georgie Corlett-Pitt discusses gender equality on the water, examining progress and persistent barriers in competitive and recreational sailing. Club race committees should audit their fleet representation and consider women-only training sessions as an entry pathway.

▸ Cruising

p.64 · Buying a Boat — Expert Tips
A guide to the boat-buying process from initial budget through survey and sea trial. The article covers common first-time buyer mistakes. Anyone purchasing a used boat should budget at least 10 percent of the purchase price for immediate maintenance and upgrades.

▸ Boat Test

p.36 · Jeanneau SO 455 — A Comfy Cruiser Put Through Her Paces
The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455 is tested as a comfortable cruiser for coastal and offshore passages. The review covers handling under power and sail. Buyers comparing 45-foot cruisers should add the Jeanneau's galley layout and cockpit storage to their evaluation checklist.

▸ New Boats Special

p.16 · New Boats Special — Latest in the World of Monohulls
A roundup of the newest monohull launches, positioned as the 20 best boats on sale now. The feature helps buyers compare specifications across brands. Anyone in the market for a new boat should use the special as a starting list and request sea trials on at least three models before deciding.

▸ Regulars

p.32 · Paul Heiney
p.34 · Andy Rice
p.42 · Tom Cunliffe
p.98 · Jess Lloyd-Mostyn
p.80 · Launched — Gear Reviews
p.74 · Gull's Eye — Watchet Marina
p.70 · Caribbean Race Charter Options
p.60 · El Nino and Your Cruising Plans

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Editor's Take

A well-timed Boat Show special that serves both news and practical cruising content. The Borlenghi obituary is the emotional anchor — specific career details (Azzurra 1983, Studio Borlenghi, four-decade span) give it genuine weight. The Clipper and Cowes Week reports provide solid competitive-sailing coverage. Weaknesses: the Jeanneau SO 455 test and New Boats Special lack detailed performance data in the available material, and the regular columns (Heiney, Cunliffe, Rice) are title-only entries with no article body. Best for Southampton Boat Show attendees and cruising sailors planning Atlantic crossings; racing sailors will find the Clipper and Cowes coverage worth the cover price.

Strengths
• Borlenghi obituary names exact death date, age (70), Lake Como location and four-decade career span
• Clipper Race report gives 153-point total, 40,000nm distance and 11-month duration
• Cowes Week 200th supplies 600-boat, 5,000-sailor and 27-class participation figures

Weaknesses
• Jeanneau SO 455 boat test lacks performance numbers in available material
• Regular columns by Heiney, Cunliffe, Rice are title-only with no body text

Verdict: Recommended — Strong news reporting and practical bluewater preparation for cruising sailors attending the Southampton show.