Benny Donovan Square

Benedict Donovan

—Deputy Editor

A journalist and writer with years of experience in sailing, Bene cut his teeth marketing to the Olympic crowd before moving to reporting at the sharp end of the sport. We’re talking America’s Cup, SailGP, The Ocean Race… and a stint as in-house writer for Alinghi Red Bull Racing during the 37th America’s Cup, which means he saw all the stuff the rest of us didn’t. Beyond sailing, he’s a regular contributor to Red Bull, covering their wider world of stunts and general lunacy. With a background spanning journalism, copywriting, marketing and press comms, Bene brings a versatile, energetic approach to his role as deputy editor of The Foil.

ETNZ AC40s

Who’s racing for ETNZ in Cagliari – and who’s not

When Emirates Team New Zealand turns up to the preliminary regatta in Cagliari on 21–24 May, they'll be doing so with two AC40s, and if the crew lists announced earlier today are anything to go by, they're treating this as...

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The week in racing - 11 May '26

This week we lost one of the most colourful characters yachting has ever produced, watched a British skipper announce himself as a serious Vendée Globe contender, and seen the next generation of foilers set Lake Garda alight,...

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Spain on a roll, GBR back in business – the early read from Bermuda SailGP

Practice day on the Great Sound delivered the kind of conditions everyone had been hoping for – flat water, breeze gusting around 20 knots, small wings fitted, and enough action to see how this weekend could play out. With the...

37AC_240824_RP1_4731 Ricardo Pinto : America's Cup

The week in racing - 4 May '26

It's been a busy week off the water... Court documents have peeled back the cover on the Ineos v Athena dispute, the Australian AC38 challenge all but slipped out into the open, and Paul Cayard adds another prize to a year...

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Rising Stars: Nathan Berger, the 17-year-old wingfoiler beating his heroes

This is the first in our Rising Stars series, on the young athletes in sailing and foiling who are making the rest of the field sit up and take notice. Last week in Leucate, at the season-opening stop of the GWA Wing Foil World...

44cup2 Nico Martinez : 44Cup

The week in racing - 27 April '26

Antigua went around the island, the 44Cup in Sardinia went down to the wire, and Italy went home with three golds from Hyères. Here's what's been happening in sailing this week, and what you should keep an eye out for next… The...

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No safe leads: Semaine Olympique Française 2026 final results

Italy stamped their authority all over the Bay of Hyères this week, finishing the 57th Semaine Olympique Française with three golds and two silvers – a step up on last year's joint-top haul with China, and a strong statement of...

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Four down, six to go: State of play at the 2026 Semaine Olympique Française

Four champions crowned in Hyères on Friday afternoon, six to come on Saturday, and a week of weather that ran from light-air chess to 20-knot chop leaves the 57th Semaine Olympique Française set up for a pivotal final day. Here’s...

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Podcast Ep. 16 - Why Ferrari Hypersail “could redefine” sailing

Click here to listen on Spotify and other platforms Neil Cole, Andy Rice and Freddie Carr return for the latest episode of The Foil podcast with a range of subjects to discuss. Andy has just returned from Milan where he witnessed...

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Tudor Team Alinghi name their sailors for AC38

Tudor Team Alinghi have confirmed the core of their sailing squad for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup in Naples, and the list makes for interesting reading. Leading the group is Paul Goodison – Olympic gold medallist,...

M32 World

The week in racing - 20 April ‘26

The Kiwis continue to gather AC75 intel while their rivals are yet to launch, Ben Ainslie's British challenge is heading to the courts, and Alinghi are about to break months of silence. Here's what’s happening in the America’s...

CreditMutuel

Crédit Mutuel hold off Belgian rivals to win Globe40

Ian Lipinski and Antoine Carpentier crossed the finish line off Lorient on Wednesday morning to clinch overall victory in the Globe40, ending a seven-month duel with their Belgian rivals that had come down to the final 48 hours.

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The week in racing - 13 April '26

A clean sweep in Rio, a teenager crowned European champion in Naples, and the Caribbean racing season winding down. Here's what's been happening in the sailing world this week… Rio SailGP took centre stage this week – read Andy...

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Quantum Pacific acquires Los Gallos as SailGP nears full private ownership

Los Gallos have been acquired by Quantum Pacific Group in what SailGP describes as the largest-ever investment in a Spanish sailing team. The deal brings the Spanish outfit into a sports portfolio that includes Atlético de...

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America is back in the America's Cup – with American Magic's boat

Last week Riptide Racing confirmed they were out of the running for the 38th America's Cup. Now we know who's stepping in. American Racing Challenger Team USA has been announced as the American challenger for AC38, having...

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