Dear readers,
In the north, wintertime is also a non-sailing time. The boats are high and dry. But the winter storage period also marks the start of the trade fair season. Instead of actually casting off the lines, the sails are only set in the imagination, winter work is planned and beautiful future sailing days are imagined. And the best trade fair for this has just taken place in Amsterdam: The Maritime Equipment Trade Show, or Mets for short.
It is the world's largest equipment fair for water sports. That's right, no boats, just Equipment. Instead of huge stands with yachts, most manufacturers limit themselves to a box measuring two by two metres as exhibition space. Around 1,600 of these fit into the 12 halls of the exhibition centre in the Dutch capital. Some well-known manufacturers also have larger stands. But there is no comparison with the huge areas at boot in Düsseldorf, for example. Another major difference is that Mets is only open to trade visitors. Representatives of manufacturers, dealers, shipyards and the trade press fill the aisles.
And although there are no normal visitors, the aisles are very well filled on the three days of the fair. Because there are plenty of products to see. The timing is not only good because it provides ideas for winter work and inspires daydreaming about trips in the coming sailing season, but also because many new products are about to be launched in autumn for 2026. And they are being presented for the first time here at the world's largest equipment trade fair. For my colleagues and I, this means many kilometres travelled and countless conversations and discoveries of new products. The trade fair offers so much material that every year a large section of the magazine is filled with new pieces of equipment.
It was my 10th visit to the Mets this year. Actually, it would have been the 11th if the fair hadn't been cancelled due to the pandemic. And I have the feeling that the trade fair is growing every year. More and more halls have been added, more exhibitors and more products. The programme is correspondingly tight (you can easily fill the 10,000 steps) and the list of new products fills up quickly. Professional interest plays a major role in the selection for the magazine, but of course I always think in the back of my mind whether this fitting or that electronic wouldn't also be something for my boat.
However, it soon becomes clear that even people with a large boat equipment budget quickly reach their financial limits here. What's more, the fittings also have to be screwed on, the electronics wired and the new lines sheared in. The time in winter storage alone would be tight if even a fraction of the many new products were to find their way on board. For me, the list of winter work only consists of a small part, if any, of new purchases. Most of the time is spent on maintaining and repairing existing technology.
A visit to Mets in particular quickly makes it clear how complex a sailing yacht actually is. How many different product groups such as fittings, electronics, electrics, drive components, ropes, sails, safety equipment and clothing come together with countless products in each of these areas. The only thing that helps here is a structured to-do list so that you don't lose track. Nevertheless, I enjoy the work in winter and spring, because the goal is always in sight: A great sailing season.
And the more care you put into maintaining the on-board technology in winter, the less you have to think about it during the season. It simply works. The instruments deliver the desired values, the sails can be easily trimmed, the cabin can be comfortably lit in the evening and clear, odourless water comes out of the tap in the galley. For the last point alone, there is a whole truckload of pumps, hoses, filters, tank cleaners, antifreeze, taps and shower heads at the trade fair.
Every year, my colleagues and I discover between 60 and 80 new items of equipment. Not all of them are usually available for presentation in the magazine, but they can already be seen at boot in Düsseldorf, for example. The Mets' new products offer a small glimpse into the future of the trade fair season and hopefully increase your anticipation for the coming season.
Michael Rinck
YACHT editor
Recommended reading from the editorial team
New podcast episode
How women are taking the lead – with Annette Kilch
He at the helm, she at the sheets: on many yachts, this division of roles is still the norm. Not because women aren’t capable of it, but because they rarely have the confidence to do so. In episode 92 of YACHT – the sailing podcast, Annette Kilch talks to host Timm Kruse about what actually prevents women from taking on responsibility on board and how scepticism can turn into genuine enthusiasm at the helm.
Severe weather
Several yachts have sunk – storm wreaks havoc on ports in the US
On Sunday (27 September), a storm tore boats from their moorings in the harbour of Marblehead in the USA. Several boats ran aground or sank.
Oyster 36M
New flagship with Frers lines
Oyster Yachts is expanding its model range at the top end: the new Oyster 36M is a 36-metre sloop designed by Frers Naval Architecture. Designed to combine the comfort of a superyacht with the demands of long blue-water voyages, the flagship model offers owners plenty of flexibility in terms of layout, equipment and sail plan.
MOB at the Silverrudder 2026
Almost too late – what emerged after the rescue
During the Silverrudder 2026, a sailor went overboard at night. Here’s what has since emerged about the dramatic rescue: fellow sailors and sea rescue workers tell their stories.
Distress at sea
Steel sailing yacht runs aground off Skagen
Three nautical miles off Skagen, a steel sailing boat is stuck in the sand, with the surf crashing against its side. What follows is a race against time involving pumps, tow ropes and a helicopter.
Route du Rhum
A star-studded line-up and Herrmann’s first solo race on ‘Malizia 4’
The next countdown is underway for Boris Herrmann and the new “Malizia 4”. The Route du Rhum gets underway on 1 November, with many prominent figures from the offshore sailing world in attendance.
Electrics
Firmware update for the Victron Orion XS – it now charges in reverse in an emergency
Firmware 1.15 turns the Victron Orion XS into a stopgap solution when the starter battery is flat. What the recharge function can do and where its limitations lie.
First 36 Spirit
Sail fast, live more comfortably and save money
Beneteau is adding a third variant to the First 36 range: the new Spirit features a simpler interior layout and a lower entry-level price. The planing sailing yacht will make its world debut in January 2027 at the Düsseldorf Boat Show.
America’s Cup
Luna Rossa dominate – the Azzurri get into the Cup spirit
The Red Moon is shining brightly on the road to the America’s Cup: the Italian team Luna Rossa has also won the second pre-regatta, setting the standard in Naples.
Second-hand boat of the week
Regatta fever with the X-79
The X-79 is a lightweight racer with cult status. Fast on downwind legs, responsive at the helm and surprisingly practical below deck. What buyers should look out for, and whether it’s worth buying second-hand.
Newsletter: YACHT-Woche
Der Yacht Newsletter fasst die wichtigsten Themen der Woche zusammen, alle Top-Themen kompakt und direkt in deiner Mail-Box. Einfach anmelden: