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
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