High above the Pillars of Hercules, the magnificent international fleet of yachts enjoyed a sparkling start of warm trade winds, Caribbean swell and brilliant sunshine. Ahead of the yachts lies a breath-taking course around 11 islands with more twists and turns than the Monte Carlo race track.

The IRC Rating Authority has published revised rules for the Endorsement of IRC certificates recognising sail measurement by ISAF In-House Certified (IHC) sail lofts. This change will apply from 24 March 2014 and recognises the convenience and reduced cost to owners buying new sails.

In its 22nd edition year, 2014 marked another successful Sail the Gulf regatta with great racing conditions on the first three days, ensuring everything went down to the final day of racing.

The Yachting Australia Board has officially confirmed the 2014 Australian Sailing Youth Team to contest the 44th edition of the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Portugal this July.

Maximo Nores led an American 1-2-3 at the Techno 293 North American Championship in Cancun, Mexico with brother Geronimo taking second and Steven Cramer taking third.

The opening Act of the Extreme Sailing Series more than lived up to all the pre-season hype and expectation, where the new teams got stuck in on the Singapore stadium racecourse - but couldn't quite topple the old order - with three returning teams from 2013 taking honours.

The boys from the USA are hammering the competition with brothers Geronimo and Maximo Nores in first and second and Steven Cramer in third at the Techno 293 North Americans.

The pressure turned up a notch on the second day of racing at the Extreme Sailing Series 2014 curtain raiser in Singapore, with the wind, and the heat from the city, cranking up.