Dear readers,
you are a cruising sailor, over 45 years old and sail boats between 30 and 45 feet in length - mostly in the Baltic and North Sea, but also on our inland waterways. If you charter, you are drawn to the classic Mediterranean areas of Greece, the Balearic Islands or Croatia. You are interested in all the latest innovations the industry has to offer - be it boats, oilskins, lifejackets and hardware. We know you, dear readers, well from regular surveys - but we always want to learn more.
Our editorial team is made up of passionate sailors who have their ear to the ground and are deeply rooted in the scene. As owners and charter skippers, we have the same concerns as you. We are annoyed by the price increases for berths, crane fees and visitor's tax in the harbour. Our season is also - every year anew - simply too short and winter storage awaits us. Phew! Who has - apart from my colleague Hauke Schmidt - already fancy the cold hours in the cold hall?
Our expertise and passion for sailing helps us to provide you with plenty of reading material. These are stories and news that we hope will captivate, entertain and inform you. Of course, in addition to cruising sailing - your favourite subject - we can't ignore all other aspects. We want to make the opti sailor as happy as the Boris Herrmann fan, circumnavigator and solo skipper. In addition, we have an exciting variety of boats and passionate people to write about.
Personally, the magazine section "the special boat" is close to my heart, because here we have the opportunity to present the most unusual boats in the world. From the gaff-rigged Z dinghy, about beautiful retro classics up to the Superyacht. I am inspired by the variety of designs and the technology behind the constructions. Years ago, we used to receive criticism from readers for publishing the odd sailing superyacht, but now we regularly find words of praise for our coverage of the giants. And why not? Don't you get your binoculars out of your locker when a large sailing yacht sails into the bay and drops anchor? Who is the owner, which shipyard built it and which designer drew it? Even if these luxury yachts are unaffordable for the majority of YACHT readers, looking through the keyhole into this world is exciting and the technology behind the individual constructions is fascinating. Especially as we mere mortals benefit from the transfer of innovation from superyachts to series boatbuilding. This ranges from deck hardware and sails to construction methods and on-board electronics.
As the current market shows, some shipyards are orientating themselves towards the ultra-rich clientele anyway. Fortunately, without neglecting the smaller lines, such as Hallberg-Rassy with their new 370 shows. An exciting boat that we will soon be testing for you in Ellös.
One example of the drive towards superyachting comes from shipyard boss Magnus Rassy with his 20.96 metre long flagship Hallberg-Rassy 69, the "Queen of the cruising yachts". Nautor also recently caused a sensation and is targeting a new clientele with its new 44-metre SwanAlloy 44 model. The Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot catamaran shipyards are also expanding their portfolio upwards with the eight million euro Lagoon Eighty 2recently presented at the Monaco Yacht Show and the 35 metre long FPY 110 Swhich will depart from La Rochelle from 2018. Cost: 18 million euros.
Yes, these models do not appeal to our core readership, and yet they secure the existence of the shipyards whose smaller models we appreciate and sail. They help boat builders to utilise their capacity and invest in more compact models.
A lot is currently happening in the series boat segment. After a meagre 2025 with few new products, the jury of "Europe's Yachts of the Year" nominate 23 candidates this year - three from German production. Our editor Jochen Rieker sums it up as follows: "Whether from large or small series, whether performance cruisers, cruising boats or aluminium explorers - a fresh breeze is blowing again in all areas of yacht building." So it remains exciting.
Which topics are you particularly interested in, which areas of sailing do you think we should focus on more? Please write to us: mail@yacht.de.
Martin Hager
YACHT Editor-in-Chief
You have voted - the result of last week:
Recommended reading from the editorial team
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.
Interview
Fabian Boerger and Ole Puls on their bitter exit from the Vegvisir Race
For six months, YACHT editors Ole Puls and Fabian Boerger prepared their 54-year-old Erria 25 for the Vegvisir Race. But even on the way to the start, the boat began taking on water. In this interview, the pair talk about the nerve-wracking hunt for the leak, the decision to pull out of the storm race – and why they’ll definitely be back on the starting line next year.
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