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Stuart Alexander

Stuart Alexander is Sailing Correspondent for The Independent.

Both over 100 years old and both designed by William Fife, the 1912 The lady Anne (left) and the 1908 Mariska race in the Voiles de St. Tropez
Sailing

Millionaires imprisoned in St. Tropez as the wind gods take charge

Team Land Rover BAR Britain, skippered by Ben Ainslie, competes in the 35th America's Cup World Series, in Gothenburg, western Sweden
Sailing

One bad result knocks Ainslie's team off America's Cup top spot

Doing battle on the River Neva, the Extreme 40 fleet has the Hermitage as an inspiring backdrop
Sailing

Spectacular second day of Extreme Sailing Series

Spindrift 2's co-owner Dona Bertarelli
Sailing

Rolex Fastnet Race 2015: Spindrift 2 triumphs in Plymouth

Sailing

Patience and guile the keys for record fleet in Fastnet Race

Team Pindar of Great Britain competes during the Extreme Sailing Series
Sailing

America's Cup World Series: High winds, angry seas and driving rain

Sir Ben Ainslie skippered the Land Rover BAR catamaran in Saturday’s first race in Southsea for the America’s Cup
Sailing

America's Cup 2017: Ainslie and crew's heartening performance cashes

Les parapluies de Portsmoutb. Umbrellas raised as a crowd on the sea wall at Southsea watches the six boats in the America’s Cup World Series go through their paces.
Sailing

America's Cup World Series: Up and down day as six put in final

Les parapluies de Portsmoutb. Umbrellas raised as a crowd on the sea wall at Southsea watches the six boats in the America’s Cup World Series go through their paces.
Sailing

America's Cup World Series: Up and down day as six put in final

Ben Ainslie, the ruthless victor of the America’s Cup
Sailing

America's Cup 2017: Sir Ben Ainslie - Olympian charts course for Great

Green Berets deliver the America's Cup to the beach at Southsea ahead of the World Series racing to be staged on Saturday and Sunday with Britain’s Land Rover BAR team sitting in the favourite's chair
Sailing

America's Cup World Series: Personal rivalries rising to the surface

Sir Ben Ainslie, now skipper of his own Land Rover BAR America’s Cup challenger team, trains in the Solent against his former team mates, Emirates Team New Zealand, on the 45-foot cats that will be used in the warm-up regattas for 2017
Sailing

Sir Ben Ainslie leads British major charge as start gun fires for

Sir Ben Ainslie, now skipper of his own Land Rover BAR America’s Cup challenger team, trains in the Solent against his former team mates, Emirates Team New Zealand, on the 45-foot cats that will be used in the warm-up regattas for 2017
Sailing

Sir Ben Ainslie leads British major charge as start gun fires for

Sailing

Sir Ben Ainslie leads British major charge as start gun fires for

Sir Ben Ainslie, now skipper of his own Land Rover BAR America’s Cup challenger team, trains in the Solent against his former team mates, Emirates Team New Zealand, on the 45-foot cats that will be used in the warm-up regattas for 2017
The M32 catamaran, which becomes the weapon of choice for the World Match Racing Tour, shows of its paces in Gothenberg
Sailing

Grandstand sailing inspires all change in the fast cat sailing world

Sailing

World Match Racing Tour 2015: Ian Williams on track for Swedish

Alan Roberts scored the best British finish in 40 years with ninth overall
Sailing

America's Cup: Team France announces €5m sponsorship deal with

Sailing

Ian Walker and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing win Volvo Ocean Race in

Sailing

Ian Walker and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing win Volvo Ocean Race in

Hey-ho and up she rises but Red Bull managed to avoid capsizing when caught by a gust on the final day of the Extreme Sailing Series in Cardiff
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series: Leigh McMillan storms home to win fourth

Hey-ho and up she rises but Red Bull managed to avoid capsizing when caught by a gust on the final day of the Extreme Sailing Series in Cardiff
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series: Leigh McMillan storms home to win fourth

At 25, Henry Bomby is almost a veteran of the Solitaire du Figaro, France's classic nursery for singlehanded racers, and was fourth on the second leg of this year's event
Sailing

Solitaire du Figaro 2015: Yann Eliès takes 22-minute lead into

Jes Gram-Hansen’s SAP is testing former double Extreme Sailing Series champion Leigh McMillan’s The Wave Muscat on the second day of the Extreme Sailing Series regatta in Cardiff.
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series set for multimillion-pound revamp to give

Stevie Morrison turned in a series of satisfying first day results on Oman Air at the Extreme Sailing Series regatta in Cardiff
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series 2015: Oman Sail team boats end the day in first

Dona Bertarelli smiles onboard of the D35 Ladycat powered by Spindrift Racing
Sailing

One of Europe’s richest women Dona Bertarelli aboard boat involved

Hannah Mills (left) and Saskia Clark beat their main Kiwi 470 rivals Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie to take gold at the ISAF World Cup regatta in Weymouth
Sailing

ISAF World Cup 2015: British sailing squad grabs more medals as it

Hannah Mills (left) and Saskia Clark beat their main Kiwi 470 rivals Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie to take gold at the ISAF World Cup regatta in Weymouth
Sailing

ISAF World Cup 2015: British sailing squad grabs more medals as it

Dona Bertarelli smiles onboard of the D35 Ladycat powered by Spindrift Racing
Sailing

One of Europe’s richest women Dona Bertarelli aboard boat involved

Hannah Mills (left) and Saskia Clark beat their main Kiwi 470 rivals Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie to take gold at the ISAF World Cup regatta in Weymouth
Sailing

ISAF World Cup 2015: British sailing squad grabs more medals as it

Hannah Mills (left) and Saskia Clark beat their main Kiwi 470 rivals Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie to take gold at the ISAF World Cup regatta in Weymouth
Sailing

ISAF World Cup 2015: British sailing squad grabs more medals as it

Sailing

Americas Cup: Louis Vuitton may return for the first time since 2013

Sailing

Americas Cup: Louis Vuitton may return for the first time since 2013

Giles Scott was an impressive winner of the Finn class gold medal at the opening 2015 regatta of the Sailing World Cup in Hyeres, France
Sailing

Giles Scott wins gold at the Sailing World Cup

Ben Ainslie collects the mammoth Americas Cup trophy
Sailing

America's Cup: Japan to launch team to challenge Oracle

Prada's Patrizio Bertelli
Sailing

America's Cup 2017: Prada boss pulls Italy and his team out

Prada's Patrizio Bertelli
Sailing

America's Cup 2017: Prada boss pulls Italy and his team out

Prada's Patrizio Bertelli
Sailing

America's Cup 2017: Prada boss pulls Italy and his team out

Sailing

Further upheaval in America’s Cup format could benefit Britain but

Sailing

Further upheaval in America’s Cup format could benefit Britain but

The all-woman team of SCA from Sweden led the Volvo inshore race to victory in Auckland.
Sailing

Volvo Race 2015: Women lead the way ahead of delayed leg through the

First sighting of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing during sunrise, 100nm from the finish line
Sailing

Volvo Ocean Race 2015: Mapfre records its first victory in Auckland

Ian Williams (centre) has won back his crown as match racing champion of the world and for a record fifth time at the World Match Racing Tour Monsoon Cup finale in Johor, Malaysia
Sailing

World Match Racing Tour: Ian Williams takes title for a record fifth

Bowman Pete Nicholas plays peek-a-boo for skipper David Gilmour on a spinnaker run in the World Match Racing Tour Monsoon Cup in Johpr.
Sailing

World Match Racing Series 2015: Williams leads at Monsoon Cup finale

A generic shot of the Volvo Ocean Race earlier this month
Sailing

Sailing’s top events navigate turbulent financial waters

They have been trying for the last five years but Roman Hagara’s Red Bull team finally topped the podium at the Singapore 2015 opener of the Extreme Sailing Series.
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series 2015: Double first for Austria's Olympic

A bit of fun prior to the third day of the Extreme Sailing Series in Singapore saw some of the crews banging the drum for the dragon boat racers, including Pete Greenhalgh, long-standing right hand man to Leigh McMillan on The Wave, Muscat
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series 2015: Olympic gold medallist Roman Hagara holds

British Olympian Stevie Morrison has switched his attentions to the Extreme Sailing Series, taking over from Rob Greenhalgh at the helm of Oman Air, one of two Oman Sail challengers
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series 2015: Old guard lay down marker

Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series 2015: New season sees new line-up

Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series 2015: New season sees new line-up

Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series 2015: Reigning champions Alinghi will not

Sailing

Sydney to Hobart: Old boy Wild Oats and newcomer Comanche duke it out

J.P. Morgan BAR team skippered by Ben Ainslie
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series 2014: Ben Ainslie forced into emergency repairs

Lively conditions and spectacular backdrops as racing began in the Extreme Sailing Series finale in Sydney, Australia
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series 2014: Sydney sunshine masks testing conditions

Lively conditions and spectacular backdrops as racing began in the Extreme Sailing Series finale in Sydney, Australia
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series 2014: Sydney sunshine masks testing conditions

Sailing

Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15: Team Vestas Wind ready to abandon ship after

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston celebrates his third place finish
Sailing

Route du Rhum 2014: Powerful finish sees Sir Robin Knox-Johnston claim

Britain's Sir Ben Ainslie celebrates victory in last year's race
Sailing

America's Cup 2017: San Diego set to lose out to Bermuda in race to

Ian Walker skippering Abu Dhabi
Sailing

Volvo Round the World race 2014: Dongfeng twice recovers from major

In this handout image provided by the Volvo Ocean Race, Skipper Ian Walker, Adil Khalid and Luke Parkinson on stage for the prize giving
Sailing

Volvo Round the World race 2014: Ian Walker skippers Abu Dhabi team to

Sir Ben Ainslie played a role in Oracle Team USA's victory last year
Sailing

America's Cup 2015: Sixth challenger expected to be announced

At 75, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is the oldest competitor by age in the Route du Rhum, but age has yet to weary his enthusiasm and appetite for sailing across oceans
Sailing

Route du Rhum 2014: 250,000 set to line the banks of Brittany to wave

Sidney Gavignet will be happy to complete the course of the Route du Rhum on his 70-foot trimaran Musandam-Oman Sail
Sailing

Yoga and onions calm alarm bells for Atlantic warriors

Carlos "el canario" Hernandez attaching the tack line to the A3, just before the pilling
Sailing

Alicante to Cape Town: The Volvo Ocean Race begins

Skipper Ian Walker (right) directs operation on Abu Dhabi’s Azzam in the build-up to the Volvo Ocean Race
Sailing

Volvo Ocean Race 2014: Luck, guile and fitness will be key to

Bouwe Bekking is looking forward to his seventh round the world races as skipper of Brunel in the Volvo Ocean Race
Sailing

Bouwe Bekking prepares to race around the world... yet again

Sailing

Bouwe Bekking prepares to race around the world... yet again

Bouwe Bekking is looking forward to his seventh round the world races as skipper of Brunel in the Volvo Ocean Race
Morgan Larson and Switzerland’s Alinghi won the Extreme Sailing Series regatta in Nice, extended his lead for the 2014 season, and goes into the final round in Sydney in December strongly tipped to lift the championship.
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series: Ben Ainslie claims third behind Ernesto

The Extreme Sailing Series fleet has enjoyed late summer sunshine racing the seventh of its eight regatta, 2014 programme in Nice.
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series 2014: Morgan Larson powers Switzerland’s

Defending Extreme Sailing Series champion Leigh McMillan and his The Wave, Muscat crew are still in touch but needing to recover strongly in the final two days of the Nice regatta.
Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series Nice: Denmark’s Realteam lead at the halfway

Altair leads the traditional fleet off the start line
Sailing

St. Tropez swaps brash for beauty and the classical power of sail

Altair leads the traditional fleet off the start line
Sailing

St. Tropez swaps brash for beauty and the classical power of sail

The pre-war kings of America's Cup yacht racing, the mighty J-Class monsters, live on at the Voiles de St. Tropez this week
Sailing

Alpari World Match Racing: Ian Williams takes second place

Ian Williams (left) and his reshuffled GAC Pindar crew, made short work of reaching the semi-finals of the Chicago Match Cup in the Alpari series
Sailing

Rio 2016 Olympics: GB sailing squad book places in all 10 of the

Leigh McMillan skipper of The Wave, Muscat, and a crew which includes double gold Olympic medallist Sarah Ayton had to fight all the way to win the Extreme Sailing Series
Sailing

Sailing: The Wave on top again as they win fifth event in Extreme

Dona you toucha my boat! Franck Cammas is not happy as rival GAC Pindar pierces his boat, Groupama, at the Extreme Sailing Series regatta in Cardiff, forcing the French skipper to sit out the second day for repairs
Sailing

Sailing: Ben Ainslie's BAR team still in third at the halfway point

J.P. Morgan BAR team skippered by Ben Ainslie competes in a match race during the America's Cup World Series on August 24, 2012
Sailing

Ben Ainslie shuffles his crew, but maintains lead

J.P. Morgan BAR team skippered by Ben Ainslie competes in a match race during the America's Cup World Series on August 24, 2012
Sailing

America's Cup 2017: Challengers announced for the 'Auld Mug'

Iain Percy (left) and Torbjörn Törnqvist with the America’s Cup in the home they would like it to have, Stockholm
Sailing

America's Cup 2017: Torbjorn Tornqvist praises 'natural leader' Iain

A sunset shot of the late finish to the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland
Sailing

Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014: British Olympic silver

Musandam-Sail Oman roars through the finish line off Cowes to grab a record-breaking win in the Sevenstars Round Britain and Ireland Race
Sailing

Trimaran sets new record for Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race

Skippered by Ian Walker, Abu Dhabi’s Azzam has led new crop of Volvo 65s in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race
Sailing

Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race: Musandam-Oman Sail on target

All quiet on the northern front as Musandam-Oman Sail team rounds Muckle Flugga- Shetlands, chasing the Sevenstars Round Britain and Ireland record
Sailing

Sidney Gavignet sets pace in Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race

A silver for the 2012 silver medallists Hannah Mills (right) and Saskia Clark contributed to a haul of eight medals for the British Olympic squad at the test event in Rio
Sailing

Aquece Rio International Regatta 2014: Giles Scott takes gold for

Ben Ainslie collects the mammoth Americas Cup trophy last year
Sailing

Sailing: Americas Cup announcement gives little away

Sailing

Team NZ confirm America's Cup challenge

Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall have revealed the name of their newborn baby daughter for the first time.
Sailing

Sailing: Sevenstar could be hit by frightening Hurricane Bertha winds

Ian Williams (centre) on his way to a GAC Pindar victory on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour in Poland
Sailing

Alpari World Match Racing Tour: Ian Williams prevails in Poland

Sailing

Team NZ confirm America's Cup challenge

Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall have revealed the name of their newborn baby daughter for the first time.
Sailing

Sailing: Sevenstar could be hit by frightening Hurricane Bertha winds

Ian Williams (centre) on his way to a GAC Pindar victory on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour in Poland
Sailing

Alpari World Match Racing Tour: Ian Williams prevails in Poland

A shot of the start of a race at Cowes Week
Sailing

Alpari World Match Racing Tour: Ian Williams triumphs in quarter

Sir Ben Ainslie played a role in Oracle Team USA's victory last year
Sailing

America's Cup 2015: Long-term planning to be discussed in London

Sir Ben Ainslie played a role in Oracle Team USA's victory last year
Sailing

Oracle boss Sir Russell Coutts bars former Kiwi team-mate from

Luna Rossa said: Following the announcement of Team Australia its intention to withdraw from the competition
Sailing

America’s Cup challengers support way forward for 2017 regatta

Team Australia's new AC45 catamaran speeds over the water during its first outing on Sydney Harbour
Sailing

America's Cup: Team Australia pull out of the running for the 35th

Tension on board as Ben Ainslie (right) and Paul Goodison suffer a disappointing final day of the Extreme Sailing Series in Muscat, Oman, on the 40-foot catamaran J.P.Morgan/BAR
Sailing

Sailing: Sir Ben Ainslie faces a struggle as America's Cup venue is

Sir Ben Ainslie played a role in Oracle Team USA's victory last year
Sailing

America’s Cup 2017: Summit sees Sir Ben Ainslie join US talks

Bjorn Hansen on his way to the Alpari World Match Racing Series
Sailing

Alpari World Match Racing Series 2014: Bjorn Hansen wins the Stena

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