Sailors, boats, accessories and technology. It’s SAIL of February

Why get on board with us for the February issue of the Sailing Journal? For many good reasons. Read on, we already reveal ten previews, starting with the event that all fans are waiting for: the 2016 Sailor of the Year is back, and we present the 100 candidates in the running. Then we show you the top 60 boats of 2016, and we explain why, your fiberglass boat, may already be a “cult” hull. And much, much more…

1. HERE ARE THE MAGNIFICENT 100 SAILORS OF THE YEAR
It’s election time! It is you readers, fans, and enthusiasts who choose the 2016 TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year from the one hundred nominees (sailors, designers, and boats) that we have selected and that you can vote for on our website giornaledellavela.com. Let’s find out all the nominees, their careers, and why we decided to nominate them!

2. THE STUNNING 60 QUEENS OF 2016
From four to twenty-four meters, sporty or classic, here are all the boats “named” in the various rankings compiled by European and American trade magazines. Like an Academy Award, sixty boats entered the nominations, which we have divided into four categories for convenience: daysailers, cruising cabin cruisers, cruising-racing cabin cruisers, and multihulls.

3. #PLASTICFANTASTIC
2016 marks an exceptional anniversary: fifty years ago mass-produced fiberglass boats were born, a momentous revolution that changed the history of boating. Celebrate this event with us at VElaFestival May 5-8 where #plasticfantastic from the golden age, from the early 1960s until 1995, will be on display-your historic boat could be an honored guest. A boat to be called #plasticfantastic must be built of fiberglass and be at least 20 years old, so if it was built in 1995 or earlier. Just go to the website giornale dellavela.com and velafestival.com to register a boat as #plasticfantastic and thus enter the world of historic boats, icons of yachting…

4. 1,500 MILES WITHOUT A RUDDER
Losing the rudder blade in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Still have 1,500 miles ahead before touching down. Here’s how to steer the boat with a “drag rudder” and proper trim of headsails: our report–from a more-than-true story!

5. FOUR MEN ON A BOAT AROUND THE WORLD
Lifelong friends, somewhat ignorant about sailing but with a dream: to travel the world before entering the working world. To do this, they transformed a Jeanneau into a completely environmentally friendly and self-sufficient boat. We tell you their, beautiful story!

6. WILL THIS BE WHAT THE MAINSAILS OF THE FUTURE WILL LOOK LIKE?
We met with Doriano Del Monaco (he is an aeronautical engineer, who has also worked with MIT in his long career), who introduces us to his innovative mainsail design, conceived to optimize performance in every gait by taking advantage of a second boom at the masthead.

7. ACCESSORIES – THE TOP 2016
In this feature, we bring you a selection of products from our 2016 Accessories Yearbook: not only the most interesting solutions, but also many tips for equipping your boat!

8. FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO SAIL “LONG”
Enrico Malingri recently outfitted an X-562 for the Atlantic crossing-who better to tell us how to best prepare his boat to grind out miles in total safety? From onboard electronics to satellites, from galley to rigging, advice from one of the members of Italy’s most famous sailing “dynasty”.

9. GIULIA CONTI: “GOLD MEDAL, IT’S NOW OR NEVER…”
Giulia Conti, along with Francesca Clapcich, is back from an incredible season, culminating with the “hat trick”: World, European and Italian championships. Now it’s time to think about Rio: our interview with the strongest drifter of the moment.

10. BOATS OF THE MONTH
Two boats at the antipodes this month: one is the Ice 52, which we tested. Two days aboard the Italian shipyard’s new 52-footer, the latest in design and performance without sacrificing its qualities as a great sailing boat. The other is a small dinghy, the Melges 14: easy to rig, fast and stable in sailing, equipped with a carbon rigging and square-top mainsail, and designed by Reichel-Pugh, it is poised to become the single-design monotype of the future. Will it really be the anti-Laser?

Remember, there are also many other good reasons not to miss the new February issue of the Sailing Journal. On newsstands, on iPad, iPhone and all Android tablets and smartphones.