A must-visit event this spring is the Plymouth Sail and Power Show, being staged for its 5th year at Queen Anne's Battery marina, between Saturday 25th - Sunday 26th April. The weekend event is all set to showcase yet another fantastic collection of new and used boats as well as host numerous exciting on-water displays and demonstrations. What's more, the event is FREE entry to all visitors.

A highlight in the Plymouth spring boating calendar, the Plymouth Sail and Power Show offers a top weekend for boating and watersports enthusiasts and their families to enjoy. On-water entertainment at this year's Show includes a charity raft race, which is taking place on the Saturday (25th April). On-land there will be superb exhibits, competitions as well as other attractions for adults and children alike. Competitions at this year's event include the chance to win a day's sailing, courtesy of fractional boating specialist, SailTime®.

Somali pirates have seized a British-owned cargo ship and a Taiwanese ship, maritime officials say, after capturing three other vessels over the weekend.

The UK-owned Malaspina Castle was boarded in the Gulf of Aden, while the Taiwanese ship was seized near the Seychelles, according to reports.

A French yacht, a Yemeni tugboat and a German ship were also captured in the pirate-plagued waterway at the weekend.

The region is heavily patrolled by a growing international naval coalition.

Large Solent fleet kick starts busy RORC Season in Fastnet year

Watch out for lots of action on the Solent this coming Easter! Starting on Good Friday, up to 60 yachts will battle it out over three days of racing for the Red Funnel Easter Challenge on tight Solent courses run by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

A diverse fleet, comprising international as well as local sailors, will open a packed 2009 schedule, culminating in the RORC’s Season’s Points Championship and this year headlined by the classic race – The Rolex Fastnet in August.

The Dutch tall ship Loth Loriën will be sporting a new sail rig when she arrives in Portsmouth in May 2009.  This beautiful ship has undergone a transformation over the winter to convert what was a three-mast schooner into a three-mast barquentine.

The ship’s owner, Jaap van der Rest, has spent the last few months working hard to replace the foremast and adding four new yard arms and square sails in time for the summer season. 

The change in rig will give the ship a totally different appearance and will also change her dynamics under sail. “The changes have made a lot of work for the team” says Van der Rest “but the transformation is astonishing – she looks fantastic!” 

The International Jury has denied the Telefonica Blue claim for redress.

The Jury convened in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday afternoon to hear the case. Within two hours, they came back to tell Telefonica Blue its claim had been denied.

"(I'm) a little bit disappointed...They dismissed the protest, which is unfortunate for us and fortunate for the race committee and race authorities," said Bouwe Bekking, skipper of Telefonica Blue. "That's it, that's how yacht racing is. No bad feelings, we gave it our best shot."