modern racing yachts

Sail GP: how do supercharged racing yachts go so fast? An engineer explains

Head of Engineering, Warsash School of Maritime Science and Engineering, Solent University

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Jonathan Ridley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Sailing used to be considered as a rather sedate pastime. But in the past few years, the world of yacht racing has been revolutionised by the arrival of hydrofoil-supported catamarans, known as “foilers”. These vessels, more akin to high-performance aircraft than yachts, combine the laws of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics to create vessels capable of speeds of up to 50 knots, which is far faster than the wind propelling them.

An F50 catamaran preparing for the Sail GP series recently even broke this barrier, reaching an incredible speed of 50.22 knots (57.8mph) purely powered by the wind. This was achieved in a wind of just 19.3 knots (22.2mph). F50s are 15-metre-long, 8.8-metre-wide hydrofoil catamarans propelled by rigid sails and capable of such astounding speeds that Sail GP has been called the “ Formula One of sailing ”. How are these yachts able to go so fast? The answer lies in some simple fluid dynamics.

As a vessel’s hull moves through the water, there are two primary physical mechanisms that create drag and slow the vessel down. To build a faster boat you have to find ways to overcome the drag force.

The first mechanism is friction. As the water flows past the hull, a microscopic layer of water is effectively attached to the hull and is pulled along with the yacht. A second layer of water then attaches to the first layer, and the sliding or shearing between them creates friction.

On the outside of this is a third layer, which slides over the inner layers creating more friction, and so on. Together, these layers are known as the boundary layer – and it’s the shearing of the boundary layer’s molecules against each other that creates frictional drag.

A yacht also makes waves as it pushes the water around and under the hull from the bow (front) to the stern (back) of the boat. The waves form two distinctive patterns around the yacht (one at each end), known as Kelvin Wave patterns.

These waves, which move at the same speed as the yacht, are very energetic. This creates drag on the boat known as the wave-making drag, which is responsible for around 90% of the total drag. As the yacht accelerates to faster speeds (close to the “hull speed”, explained later), these waves get higher and longer.

These two effects combine to produce a phenomenon known as “ hull speed ”, which is the fastest the boat can travel – and in conventional single-hull yachts it is very slow. A single-hull yacht of the same size as the F50 has a hull speed of around 12 mph.

However, it’s possible to reduce both the frictional and wave-making drag and overcome this hull-speed limit by building a yacht with hydrofoils . Hydrofoils are small, underwater wings. These act in the same way as an aircraft wing, creating a lift force which acts against gravity, lifting our yacht upwards so that the hull is clear of the water.

While an aircraft’s wings are very large, the high density of water compared to air means that we only need very small hydrofoils to produce a lot of the important lift force. A hydrofoil just the size of three A3 sheets of paper, when moving at just 10 mph, can produce enough lift to pick up a large person.

This significantly reduces the surface area and the volume of the boat that is underwater, which cuts the frictional drag and the wave-making drag, respectively. The combined effect is a reduction in the overall drag to a fraction of its original amount, so that the yacht is capable of sailing much faster than it could without hydrofoils.

The other innovation that helps boost the speed of racing yachts is the use of rigid sails . The power available from traditional sails to drive the boat forward is relatively small, limited by the fact that the sail’s forces have to act in equilibrium with a range of other forces, and that fabric sails do not make an ideal shape for creating power. Rigid sails, which are very similar in design to an aircraft wing, form a much more efficient shape than traditional sails, effectively giving the yacht a larger engine and more power.

As the yacht accelerates from the driving force of these sails, it experiences what is known as “ apparent wind ”. Imagine a completely calm day, with no wind. As you walk, you experience a breeze in your face at the same speed that you are walking. If there was a wind blowing too, you would feel a mixture of the real (or “true” wind) and the breeze you have generated.

The two together form the apparent wind, which can be faster than the true wind. If there is enough true wind combined with this apparent wind, then significant force and power can be generated from the sail to propel the yacht, so it can easily sail faster than the wind speed itself.

The combined effect of reducing the drag and increasing the driving power results in a yacht that is far faster than those of even a few years ago. But all of this would not be possible without one further advance: materials. In order to be able to “fly”, the yacht must have a low mass, and the hydrofoil itself must be very strong. To achieve the required mass, strength and rigidity using traditional boat-building materials such as wood or aluminium would be very difficult.

This is where modern advanced composite materials such as carbon fibre come in. Production techniques optimising weight, rigidity and strength allow the production of structures that are strong and light enough to produce incredible yachts like the F50.

The engineers who design these high-performance boats (known as naval architects ) are always looking to use new materials and science to get an optimum design. In theory, the F50 should be able to go even faster.

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REALISING THE DREAM

Racing pedigree meets modern classic design.

A favourite of Spirit Yachts’ founder Sean McMillan (who raced his own Spirit 52 successfully for many years), the Spirit 52 is designed to deliver fast-paced racing for those who appreciate a timelessly classic look.

With the option to be transported on a truck, Spirit 52s can be seen racing and cruising all over the world. At nearly 16m long, a Spirit 52 incorporates the latest technology and materials, including carbon spars and nitronic rod rigging. Displacing only eight tonnes with all running rigging left aft to the cockpit, the Spirit 52 has short-handed, racing ability, or she can be crewed by a team of friends or racing professionals. With a top speed of 16 knots, the Spirit 52 is one of Spirit Yachts’ most successful racing yachts to date.

SPIRIT R52 AT A GLANCE

Specification & features.

• L.O.A 52' 0" / 15.9m
• L.W.L 36' 8" / 11.2m
• Beam 11' 3" / 3.4m
• Draft 7' 2" / 2.2m
• Lightship Displacement 8.8 tonnes
• Ballast Ratio 40%
• Propulsion 40hp diesel shaft drive
• Upwind Sail Area 92.9 m2
• Rig Fractional Bermudan Sloop
• Keel Iron Blade 1585kg – Lead Bulb 2160kg
• RCD Category A (F8 winds 4m waves)
• RCD max persons 6

TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Spirit Yachts’ contemporary, elegant design style is world renowned. Subtle variations on 1930s classic yacht design with long overhangs, low profiles and smooth lines, married to contemporary underwater profiles, are synonymous with Spirit’s modern classic performance yachts.

Spirit Yachts are designed to be as beautiful in 100 years as they are today.

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The J Class has its roots in the oldest international yacht race in the world, the America’s Cup.

Our Heritage

Considered some of the most beautiful yachts ever built, the story of the J Class is defined by fierce transatlantic competition for the America’s Cup, followed by an era of steep decline, and the modern-day revival.

The J Class includes a mixture of refitted surviving yachts along with a number of new yachts faithfully built to original hull lines from 1930’s designs, with more yachts currently in build.

The J Class Association was founded in 2000 to protect the interests of the Class, present and future, and organises an annual calendar of racing for these magnificent yachts.

2024 Calendar

The Superyacht Cup Palma

Palma, Spain

8 - 14 September

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

Puerto Cervo, Sardinia

5-11 October

J Class Barcelona Regatta

Barcelona, Spain

We love them because they are sublimely beautiful, utterly impractical and fiendishly demanding.

Elizabeth Meyer

Modern-day saviour of the J Class

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By winning the second, final coastal race of the Maxi YachtRolex Cup by only a handful of seconds, the highly polished crew of the SwedishJ Class yacht Svea won the Super Maxi division overall.

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After two days of no sailing due to the big breeze, racing finally got underway today in Porto Cervo.

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Racing sailing yachts for sale are often in high demand among sailors and racing enthusiasts who are looking for a competitive edge on the water. These yachts are specifically designed and optimized for speed and maneuverability, with sleek, lightweight hulls and high-performance sails. The market for racing sailing yachts includes a range of sizes and classes, from small one-design dinghies to large, ocean-going boats. Buyers interested in purchasing a racing yacht will typically look for models that offer a balance of speed and control, as well as high-quality equipment and rigging. Whether for personal enjoyment or professional competition, racing sailing yachts offer an exciting and challenging way to experience the thrill of the open water.

Discover the finest racing sailing yachts for sale and find the perfect one for you. 

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Retro revival: The best modern classic yachts

Livingstone.

Many people love classic design, but old yachts, cars and aircraft often come with inevitable issues in terms of performance and comfort, not to mention a never-ending maintenance list. The modern classic offers an alternative to owning a classic superyacht , drawing inspiration from the magnificent lines of yachts from the first half of the 20th century, and yet concealing modernity beneath the waterline and within. We round up some of the best modern classic yachts in the world...

It is not just the name of the 24 metre Livingstone that recalls a bygone era - this steel-hulled cruiser from Hartman Yachts oozes 1930s charm with a canoe stern and a decorative aluminium funnel. However, these classic flourishes belie her high-tech equipment, such as an extendable passarelle that can emerge from the beautifully curved transom in a matter of seconds.

The massive modern classic Nero stretches more than 90 metres in length. Built in China by Corsair Yachts , her owner was inspired by J.P. Morgan's Corsair yachts from the 1930s. An apt replica, she resembles a small, classic cruise liner – with a smoke stack included.

Accommodating 12 guests, Nero is one of the most expensive charter yachts . Superyacht Nero is available for charter in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean , with a talented chef on board who has received some bizarre requests in his time.

More about this yacht

Yachts for charter.

She may look like she was born in a different era, but the 48.7 metre yacht Clarity was launched by Turkish yard Bilgin Yachts as recently as 2015. Styled in-house, this modern classic was based on a simple but ambitious premise: to build a yacht with a design that will last forever.

Her full-displacement hull has a bilge keel and bulbous bow for all-ocean seakeeping, while modest 707hp Caterpillar engines yield a serene cruising speed of around 10 knots befitting of Clarity ’s graceful appearance.

Photo: Eray Altay

The 38.8 metre Truly Classic  Atalante  was launched by Claasen in 2015 and combines retro good looks and modern performance . She features design from renowned modern classic designer Andre Hoek , who takes his inspiration from famous designers of old, such as William Fife , Charles Nicholson and Nathanael Herreshoff .

Atalante was built for the owner of a 27.5 metre Truly Classic of the same name, who enjoyed the smaller version so much that he ordered a larger, faster version.

“ Atalante represents the best of both worlds," said Hoek. "She performs like a modern thoroughbred and blends this with the timeless appeal of a classic yacht.”

The 28.9 metre Ardis II was built by De Cesari for superyacht and jewellery house owner Carlo Traglio . The mahogany motor yacht can often be seen moored in Porto Cervo, Sardinia .

Traglio spent much of his childhood on the classic 50 metre schooner Xarifa , before owning the  Perini Navi 80 yacht  Malizia . His experience of classic yachts acted as inspiration for building Ardis II , which can accommodate up to eight guests in four cabins. She is fitted with modern MTU diesel engines and is capable of 25 knots.

Launched in 2015 by Rossinavi , the 40 metre motor yacht Taransay was built to replicate yachts of the early 1930s . Taransay's owner is said to have been inspired to build a modern classic yacht after chartering the real classic Ocean Glory , launched in 1935.

Rossinavi married Taransay 's classic styling with modern propulsion – two Caterpillar C18 Acert engines deliver a top speed of 14 knots, and she has a range of 3,500 nautical miles at 10 knots. She also has spacious interiors and deck spaces thanks to a roomy 7.6 metre beam.

Eleonora E is an exact replica of the schooner Westward and an excellent example of a modern classic paying tribute to the original. She was built at the GraafShip yard in the Netherlands and was launched in March 2000. Since then, Eleonora E  — currently available for charter  — has successfully participated in a number of classic sailing regattas.

The 46 metre Sycara IV was a show-stopper when she was launched by Burger in 2009, displaying the US builder's diversity as it waded into retro yacht waters. With exteriors by Bruce King and interiors by Ken Freivokh and Craig Beale , the fantail stern yacht makes you do a double take as she could easily fit in alongside classic Trumpys .

But this modern classic has a shallow draft and was designed for cruising the Bahamas and the Great Lakes in style. Sycara IV  has modern touches with a spacious on-deck master stateroom, telescoping bowsprit and corrosion resistant aluminium hull.

Tempus Fugit

This modern classic yacht is a head turner on the racecourse, blending speed and style thanks to her highly varnished wooden hull. The 27.43 metre Tempus Fugit , from Arkin Pruva , was designed by Rob Humphreys to pay homage to J Class yachts , but she is beamier, offering more comfortable living accommodations below and in the cockpit during races.

And race she does —  Tempus Fugit was a surprise contender at regattas when she came onto the scene, holding her own against classic yachts and modern carbon crafts as well.

The beautiful, modern classic ketch Elfje is owned by philanthropist Wendy Schmidt . Schmidt had a very hands-on role in designing Elfje with Hoek Naval Architects and is proud of its environmental credentials, from its racing design to sustainable materials. Expect to hear a lot more about Elfje , a sailing superyacht of the ages , as she's been busy on the racecourse since her launch.

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• This New Superyacht Line Takes Design Cues From High-Performance Sports Cars

Tribale's new Gran Turismo vessels deliver speed, comfort, and elegance.

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There is no shortage of automotive-inspired yachts on the market—take the Tecnomar Lamborghini 63 , the Candela C-8 Polestar , and the Brabus Shadow 900 for starters—but that hasn’t stopped Tribale Yachts from diving into vehicular designs.

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This new catamaran concept was designed to carry your bugatti across the high seas, the shipyard that built the ‘titanic’ has filed for bankruptcy.

• This Bonkers Space Balloon Just Completed Its First Full Test Flight

The first model, which is already under construction at Tribale’s yard in Pisa, Italy, spans 120 feet from pointed bow to sculpted stern. Penned by designer Michele Dragoni, the 120 Gran Turismo will be topped with an aluminum superstructure to ensure it is light on the water and quick to build. The vessel will also feature a raised pilothouse that provides “optimal visibility and control at high speeds,” according to Tribale.

The 120 Gran Turismo can soar across the seas like a GT, too. The yacht can be powered by twin MAN V-12 engines capable of churning out 2,000 hp or two Cat C32 engines with 1,790 kW of grunt. Every detail has been designed to enhance speed, handling, and efficiency, according to the yard.

The yacht offers way more space than the average GT, though. The sprawling interior can be outfitted with five or six generous cabins for 10 or 12 guests and three cabins for six crew. The scenic owner’s suite occupies a prime position on the main deck, while the guest cabins are spread across the lower deck and the crew quarters are positioned in the bow. Every space has been meticulously crafted with the finest materials and attention to detail, Tribale says. Other highlights include a plush sundeck and a sizable swim platform.

Tribale’s lineup currently comprises four catamaran models, three crossovers, and two explorers. Work on the flagship, Tribale 165 Explorer is due to commence later this year. The yard also has a new Essence range in the pipeline, with three models of 45, 83, and 123 feet “coming soon.”

Click here to see all the photos of the Tribale 120 Gran Turismo.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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The Old Town

Yakutsk is a compact city, and you can get to know its center in two or three hours. The main street - Prospekt Lenina - links three squares: Friendship, Lenin and Ordzhonikidze. The area can be described as the historical center, although the oldest buildings here were built relatively recently - in the 1940s50s.

Not far from Lenin Square is the Old City historical and architectural complex, which contains samples of wooden architecture typical of Yakutsk in the 17th-18th centuries. Despite its name, all the buildings in the Old City are newly built. However, they were reconstructed in accordance with the designs of the original buildings, none of which survive today. The last original monument - the eastern gate tower of Yakutsk Fortress, a symbol of the city - burned down in 2002. In the same year, in time for the celebration of the 370th anniversary of Yakutsk, it was rebuilt according to surviving drawings.

If you are interested in the history of the city and the culture of the Yakut ethnic groups, we would advise you to visit the Yakutsk State Museum of the History and Culture of the People of the North named after Yemelyan Yaroslavsky, which is located a few blocks from the Old City.

In the heart of the Old City is the Kruzhalo shopping mall, where you will find Yakutia's best jewelry brands, offering a wide choice of ornaments made of gold and silver and set with Yakut diamonds, of course. You can also buy souvenirs here: Yakut knives, the traditional musical instrument, the khomus, and much more. In the past, there used to be a market on the site of Kruzhalo, which led directly to the quayside. 

Across the road is Moskovskaya Embankment, in the center of which stands a monument to the founder of the city - Russian Cossack, Pyotr Beketov. It overlooks the Green Meadow and the city canal. It has water in it only during flooding from melting snow in the spring, and after the floating ice passes and the water level in the River Lena returns to normal, the water recedes.

The Treasury of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

On the way to the Old City, in the building of the Committee for Precious Metals and Gem-Stones of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), you will find something akin to the Diamond Fund in the Kremlin. It is the Treasury of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The museum displays the best examples of Yakut jewelers’s work, as well as gold nuggets, gem-stones and diamonds found in Yakutia. It also has copies of famous historic diamonds and the biggest Yakutian diamonds that are currently stored in the Diamond Fund in Moscow.

There are daily tours every hour, except on Saturdays and Sundays. The cost of a 45-minute tour for an adult is around $4 (250 rubles). Unfortunately, the museum does not provide English-language tour guides, so if you are not sure of your Russian, you'd better come with someone who can interpret for you!

The Kingdom of Permafrost

A visitor at the Kingdom of Permafrost tourist complex.

Another museum that is a must-visit place is the Kingdom of Permafrost, in which winter reigns all year round. It is set up in an old mining tunnel at the foot of the Chochur-Muran hill, one of the highest in the environs of Yakutsk. Prior to becoming a museum, the tunnel served as a huge natural refrigerated storage depot, where meat, fish and other foods were kept in wholesale quantities.

The amazing properties of permafrost make the place cold in summer and relatively mild in winter. Unlike the outside temperature, which can reach +40 C in summer and -40 C in winter, it is a relatively constant -6 C inside the tunnel. Before you enter the zone of eternal cold, you will be asked to put on a special thermal suit, warm footwear and socks - regardless, when you visit, definitely take warm clothes with you, even if you arrive in the height of the summer heat.

You will be able to visit the throne room of Chys Khan, the lord of the cold, and the residence that Father Frost has made his home from home, admire enormous snowflakes and ice sculptures, try ice cream and soft drinks served in ice glasses in the Ice Bar and ride the ice slide. Everyone who does this receives a snowflake, which at the end of the tour can be exchanged for a certificate of attendance at the Kingdom of Permafrost.

It even has its own paleontological mini-museum where you can see the most famous mammoth finds, in particular the head of the Yukagir Mammoth, discovered in Yakutia's Ust-Yansky District. The museum is open daily from 11:00 to 20:00. The ticket price is around $8 (500 rubles) for adults. There are concessions for children, schoolkids and students.

If you have the time and inclination, you can climb to one of the viewing platforms nearby. From the top of Chochur-Muran hill, you can take in the view through a binoscope. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the top by foot. 

There is another platform on a neighbouring hill, in the grounds of the Yakutsk GRES-2 power plant. It is better to get there by car - keep that in mind when planning an excursion. Entry to both places is free of charge.

Ethnographic estates

Valentina Atlasova in a Yakut national costume showing a restored shaman costume in Us-Kut, homestead of Atlasov family.

Two ethnographic complexes are located within walking distance of the Kingdom of Permafrost: Chochur-Muran and the Atlasov Estate. Both have restaurants where you can sampleYakut cuisine.

Chochur-Muran will be of interest to those who are fond of hunting, travel and nature. Entry into the complex is free, but a guided tour has to be arranged in advance. It costs around $4 (250 rubles) per person, takes between an hour and a half and two hours and, if necessary, can be conducted in English.

The restaurant is open daily, and you can have lunch or dinner without booking, but due to this it may be busy. Therefore, it is better to arrange a visit in advance - you will find the contact numbers and menu on the complex’s website . The average bill per person is around $23.50 (1,500 rubles) for lunch and around $31 (2,000 rubles) for dinner.

If you are interested in the traditional Yakut way of life and customs - visit the Atlasov Estate. Entry is also free, but a guided tour, or lunch or dinner, need to be booked in advance. An important note: Excursions here are conducted only in Russian, so if you don't speak Russian, you'd better bring someone who can interpret for you. A 40-minute tour, including traditional Yakut ceremonies, will cost you around $4 (250 rubles), and the average bill per person in the restaurant is around $23.50 (1,500 rubles). You can find the contact numbers on the complex’s website . 

Yakut cuisine

The local dishes are something without which your impression of Yukutia would be incomplete. Definitely try the local fish and the foal (horse) meat known as zherebyatina. The most popular fish dish - stroganina - is made of thin shavings of frozen fish. A restaurant version - Indigirka salad - is made of frozen cubed fish seasoned with salt, pepper, onion and vegetable oil. Stroganina is also made from zherebyatina, but in this case, the shavings are of meat or liver.

For those who find raw fish or meat dishes too exotic, the city’s restaurants offer a more conventional menu based on traditional foods. Definitely try salamat (a flour-based porridge with butter), seasoned boiled meat, fried crucian carp, khaan blood sausage and for dessert, kerchekh - whipped cream with berries. 

In Yakutsk, many restaurants include national dishes on their menu, both in classical or modern interpretations. Look for Tygyn Darkhan, Makhtal and Reka Ozero Les, that are all within walking distance from the center and the Old City and traditionally specialize in Yakutian cuisine.

Lena Pillars national park

Strictly speaking, the Lena Pillars are situated not on the territory of Yakutsk, but in the neighboring Khangalassky District. But it is quite easy to get there from the capital, so if you have a spare day, don't miss the chance to visit them.

The Lena Pillars are a monument of nature included in the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage List. These majestic rocks formed over 400,000 years ago as a result of weathering.

The summer season starts in the last ten days of May and ends in mid-September. During this time, you can reach the Lena Pillars only by water. Watercraft and motor boats leave from a pier in the Bulgunnyakhtakh settlement, about 114 km from Yakutsk.

In 2018, the Lena Pillars nature reserve was granted National Park status, so it is better to go there with a tourist voucher, which you can get at the park's administrative office. You will find all the contact numbers on the official website .

A one-day voucher (essentially it’s just a permit to enter the park premises, without which you may be fined by a security inspector) will cost around $4.60 (300 rubles) per person and, on request, they can provide an English-speaking guide.

If you decide to go there in one day, the administrative office will help you organize the transfer from Yakutsk to Bulgunnyakhtakh and from there to the Lena PIllars. The price can range from around $77 (5,000 rubles) to $154 (10,000 rubles) per person, depending on the cost of transport.

The Visit Yakutia tour operator also offers one-day trips to the Lena PIllars. The route can be either by water (on motor boats from Rechnoy Port, the river port in Yakutsk) or combined (by car to Bulgunnyakhtakh and from there by river). The first option will cost you around $154 (10,000 rubles) but on the condition that there is a group of 10-15 people, otherwise there is a risk of the trip being cancelled (you will get your money back). The second option is more reliable: You can go in a group or individually. For a group of four people the trip will cost around $100-$125 (6,500-8,000 rubles) per person, and an individual trip around $435-466 (28,000-30,000 rubles).

If you have at least two days at your disposal, you can book a cruise on a ship from Yakutsk's Rechnoy (River) Station. For example, Lenaturflot offers 36- and 48-hour cruises on its comfortable Demyan Bedny and Mikhail Svetlov passenger boats. The cost of a 36-hour trip varies from around $100 (6,500 rubles) per place in a four-berth cabin to $544 (35,000 rubles) for a deluxe room. The price includes visiting the park and going up to a viewing platform, relaxing on a sandy island, insurance and an entertainment program on board the ship. You will have to pay for meals separately and can choose from several options. On average, the price per adult will range between around $39 and $47 (2,500-3,500 rubles). Cruises are operated from mid-May to mid-September, and during the low season (the end of May and from the second half of August to the first half of September) they cost about 30 percent less.

All the aforementioned prices are seasonal and are subject to change every year.

The journey from Bulgunnyakhtakh to the area of Labydia, where you can disembark and climb to the viewing platform, takes about two hours. The climb is not easy and takes about an hour and a half to two hours, depending on how fit you are.

On the way to the Lena Pillars, ask your guide or driver to stop by the tulukans, as the Yakut sand dunes are called. These are huge sandy hills that appear unexpectedly in the middle of the Yakut taiga. There is still no single plausible explanation of their origin. According to the most popular version, the tulukans are the remnants of an ancient desert which existed here about 20,000 years ago during the Pleistocene geological period when the western part of the Verkhoyansk Ridge was subjected to glaciation. There are tukulans not only on the banks of the River Lena; one of the largest sand hills is located here - the Kysyl Elesin tulukan.

Buluus Glacier and Kyuryulyur Waterfalls

Another place to visit in the summer is the Buluus Glacier . It is called a miracle of nature because even on the hottest days it is covered by a mass of ice and snow. An enormous layer of ice forms during the winter from the ice-free underground sources of Lake Buluus. Over the summer, the glacier decreases slightly but it has not melted completely for many years. In summer, when the ice begins to melt, ice caves and tunnels are formed inside, in which an adult can stand upright in.

To get to the glacier, you will have to cross to the other bank of the Lena River and then, for about 100 km, follow the Lena federal highway to the Buluus tourist camp. Buses do not go there and the only option is to hire a car (you can find offers here or via the 2GIS App) or book a car tour. The car hire in Yakutsk will cost around $39-$70 (2,500-4,500 rubles) a day, depending on the type of car; you can also hire a car with a driver.

The Visit Yakutia company offers one-day tours to Buluus. The cost of a trip depends on the number of tourists: For a group of five it will amount to around $70 (4,500 rubles) and an individual tour will cost around $280 (18,000 rubles). The cost of the tour includes the car hire with a driver-cum-guide and the ferry crossing of the Lena. Entrance tickets and meals are not included in the price. You will have to pay an entrance fee at the Buluus tourist complex, which is about $3.10 (200 rubles) per person. The journey will take all day, so you'd better bring a packed lunch or a sandwich.

Before you reach Buluus, there is another place popular with visitors in summer - the Kyuryulyur Waterfalls. The name "waterfalls" is only an approximate description - in actual fact, it is a small forest river, the Menda, along the banks of which beautiful stone terraces have formed. You will have to pay for entry - about $3.10 (200 rubles) per person but, unlike Buluus, there is no infrastructure here.

The place itself is very picturesque, but it is not easy to take beautiful photographs here in summer - it’s very popular with the Yakuts and on hot days is packed with people.

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

The Yachting World hall of fame: 50 yachts that changed the way we sail

• Helen Fretter
• May 13, 2020

We asked historians, round the world race winners and legendary sailors to name the yachts that changed the sport for good. In no particular order, these are the 50 yachts that shifted how we sail...

Photo: Guido Cantini / Panerai / Sea&See.com

1. Mariquita

Built: 1911 Design: William Fife III

Mariquita is a living link between the ‘Big Class’ behemoths, such as Britannia , the J Class and all that went after, including the hugely popular 12-metres. The 125ft gaff cutter was launched as part of a new 19-metre class designed to pitch matched yachts against one another.

Just four were built. Mariquita performed well, particularly in light airs. She also, uniquely, survived. Having been used as a houseboat for many years, she was discovered in the mud in 1991 and lovingly restored to relaunch in 2003, and she still races today.

Photo: Oskar Kihlborg / Volvo Ocean Race

2. ABN Amro One

Built: 2005 Design: Juan Kouyoumdjian

Two Volvo Ocean Race -winning skippers nominated Juan Kouyoumdjian’s ABN Amro One , the 5.6m beam, aggressively chined winner of the 2005-06 race. Her skipper Mike Sanderson comments: “I am biased, but I think ABN Amro One was very special and really did change people’s thinking about what made a good offshore race boat.

“As this was the first generation of Volvo 70s it was always going to be an interesting time seeing how people translated the rule,” says Sanderson. The other factor was many of the team’s involvement in Open 60 sailing.

“We very much looked at the concept of the boat differently: no spinnaker pole, furling No.4 Jibs, twin rudders, lazyjacks, snuffers on spinnakers… They all went from being equipment that was only used on single-handed boats to our team thinking it could make us faster around the world, day in day out.”

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Ian Walker , winner of the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race, recalls: “This generation of boats smashed the previous 24-hour records and made the 600-mile day possible. ABN Amro was quite radical structurally but the key thing was she prioritised stability over anything else – such as wetted surface area.

“The Farr boats were lower wetted surface area and even started out with spinnaker poles! Asymmetric spinnakers meant sailing higher angles and more often needing righting moment.

“ABN Amro One also had twin rudders and more transom immersion, which meant it was slow in light winds but fast at high speed. There was some doubt when it was last in the first in-port races and because much of the race is in light winds, but it was so fast reaching that it negated any weaknesses.”

The black boat went on to win six of the nine offshore legs. Sanderson adds: “In all the Volvo 70s that where built – and to be honest in all the offshore boats that have followed ( Rambler , Comanche etc.) – you can see a bit of ‘Black Betty’ as we nicknamed her.”

Photo: Thierry Martinez

3. TP52 Patches

Built: 2007 Design: Reichel Pugh

Originally created to produce fast yachts for the Transpac Race, the TP52 class developed into an owner-driven inshore circuit which continues to attract the world’s best monohull sailors (these days as the Super Series). One development refined on the TP was the change to wide aft sections.

“We started off with quite narrow sterns and the working deck stopping well over one metre forward of the stern,” comments class manager Rob Weiland. “We now see an almost continuous width of the working deck from Beam Max aft and the working deck continuing to the stern.

“The ‘powerful stern’ is now the norm in offshore racing. I’m not sure whether we started it, but for sure, we were the test bed for how to refine that hull shape concept for windward leeward performance.”

First to have a working deck all the way aft was the 2007 Reichel Pugh Patches , a style then taken a stage further by ETNZ (2009), which added slab-sided topsides with a knuckle to create more hull stability when heeled. ETNZ also saw refinements in deck layout, elements of which have filtered down to more mainstream designs, such as transverse jib car tracks.

Photo: Ivor Wilkins Offshore Challenges / DPPI

4. B&Q Castorama

Built: 2004 Design: Nigel Irens

‘Mobi’, as she was affectionately known, was the 75ft trimaran designed by Nigel Irens specifically for Ellen MacArthur’s solo round the world record attempt in 2004.

B&Q Castorama was highly optimised, being longer, narrower, and with more freeboard than the ORMA 60s, reducing the risk of a pitchpole.

She was also, uniquely, custom built for a petite female skipper, with a full-scale mock up of the cockpit created at Offshore Challenges office. The trimaran took over a day off Francis Joyon’s record to finish in 71 days and 14 hours.

5. J/24 Ragtime

Built: 1976 Design: Rod Johnstone

It took 18 months for Rod Johnstone to build this 24-footer in his garage in Connecticut. It was designed to be simple to sail, with few rig adjustments, and light enough to be trailable. Rod’s family helped sand and finish the boat, and she was called  Ragtime . Competing at their local race series in the summer of ’76, Ragtime was so successful that many people asked Rod for a sistership. He quit his job, and with brother Bob Johnstone set up J-Boats.

Their confidence proved well placed. Just two years later the J/24 class had its own one-design fleet at Key West in 1978, with 20 boats on the line. Now over 5,500 boats have been built and sold worldwide.

The J-boat line expanded to include one-designs like the J/70, as well as cruiser-racers such as the J/109. It has since has become synonymous with asymmetric sailing, doing much to popularise the use of asymmetric spinnakers on big boats.

• 1. Introduction