Dear readers,
A special magic emanates from small boats. The magic of simple, uncomplicated sailing. On 17, 20 or even 25-footers, you can always find a spot somewhere in the harbour, even if it's full to bursting. Costs for equipment, mooring fees, simply everything, are kept within limits. The small boat follows us faithfully on the trailer behind the car to any sailing area and spends the winter frugally on the trailer behind the house.
It's no wonder that the small cruiser fan community is huge, whether among regatta and after-work sailors, cruising sailors or even circumnavigators. Last week, the news spread that 2025 a regatta around the world on self-built plywood minis is to be organised. The response, both among potentially interested parties and among readers, is great: there are even two German candidates on the provisional starting list.
It certainly sounds like a daring endeavour. On the other hand, skippers of much smaller boats have already proven that it is possible to make it around the world. The Frenchman Yann Quenet recently completed a set off on his second circumnavigation of the world in a small boat he built himself, which was only four metres(!) long. On the plywood minis there was already a transatlantic raceand experienced sailors like the Pole Szymon Kuczynski have also shown that it is possible, sailing around the world in a small production boat like the Maxus 22. And even non-stop.
It would probably be wise to stay in sheltered areas with all these small boats, whether self-built or series-produced, whether made of plywood or GRP. On inland lakes or on the coast. But then many exciting sailing trips would never have taken place, let alone extreme journeys such as those of the Habeck family, who even sailed around the world in an Etap 21i. An email recently received by the editorial team shows the impact such trips can have and their potential to inspire others, especially young sailors. A young sailor from southern Germany, just in his mid-twenties, described how much the trip, the book and the boat described had inspired him - even though the adventure took place several years ago.
In the end, he also bought an Etap 21i. Not to sail around the world, but to fulfil his own big sailing dream after completing his bachelor's degree: a tour of the Mediterranean. The interview with this young man, which will soon be published about his trip on yacht.de and in YACHT, makes it clear once again what the great attraction of small boats is. The skipper decided to chug across France from Heidelberg on his own keel instead of bringing the boat there on a trailer. However, he can determine the end point of his Mediterranean voyage - which is still ongoing - flexibly by bringing his boat back on the trailer after all.
This example shows once again that you have a choice with small cruisers. This gives you freedom and flexibility - and makes the small ones the real big ones.
Kristina Müller,
YACHT editor
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The week in pictures
Recommended reading from the editorial team
Malizia 4
First the damage to the foil, now the mainsail has torn
First the damage to the foil, then broken hull reinforcements, and now a tear in the mainsail. Two new videos show how Team Malizia is repairing and further developing the IMOCA ahead of the Route du Rhum.
Silting up of the Elbe
Small ports are fighting for every metre of water depth
The Lower Elbe is silting up, time windows are shrinking and ports are becoming difficult to reach. With flat-bottomed boats and homemade dredgers, sailors are fighting to preserve their fishing grounds.
Propulsion
Max Bianchi variable-pitch propeller, which adjusts its pitch whilst the aircraft is in flight
A variable-pitch propeller that automatically adjusts its pitch whilst in flight: this is what Max Prop’s Max Bianchi model is designed to achieve in powered flight and motor-sailing.
Interview
What is it like to work on board the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’?
The ‘Thor Heyerdahl’ has been sailing the world’s oceans for more than 40 years. YACHT editor Fabian Boerger explains why this historic vessel remains relevant.
Hurricanes 2026
Dramatic rescue off the coast of California – El Niño shapes the storm season
A lifeguard rescues a sailor from a partially flooded yacht off the coast of California. Why the 2026 hurricane season is turning out so differently between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Blue-water yachts
These five are heading to the ends of the earth
Five blue-water yachts, five designs: the Boréal 56, Kraken 58, Pure 49, Stem 50 and Breehorn 55 demonstrate their strengths and weaknesses on a long-distance voyage.
Record low water level in Lake Zurich
Sailing yacht flown by helicopter to its winter storage facility
Water levels in Lake Zurich are below the previous record low. Because his sailing yacht was stuck in the shallow water and in danger of capsizing, a 65-year-old owner had his boat airlifted out by helicopter. The operation cost around 2,000 francs and highlights just how much the exceptionally low water level is now affecting navigation.
Series of thefts continues
Thieves make off with two 300 PS outboard motors from Wieltsee
Thieves have struck again at Wieltsee: they have stolen two boats and removed heavy outboard motors. This is already the fourth such incident in three months.
Second-hand boat of the week
Arietta 31 – the dawn of an era
A narrow waist, mahogany hull and elegant overhangs: the Arietta 31, designed by Olle Enderlein, prioritises balanced lines and seaworthiness over maximum living space. As a forerunner of later Scandinavian cruising yachts, it is now an interesting classic for sailors seeking a traditional, compact cruising yacht.
Breehorn 55 review
Is it the ideal home at sea?
A pilothouse, teak fittings and an unusually accessible service tunnel: this is how the Breehorn 55 works below deck, and these compromises remain.
Newsletter: YACHT-Woche
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