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
Vendée Globe
“Farewell to a giant” – Charlie Dalin has died
Charlie Dalin has died. The star of the Vendée Globe and devoted family man passed away on 11 June at the age of 42 following a serious illness.
Drink-driving
Cargo ship rams German yacht
Drink-driving: Russian officer wrecks a German couple’s yacht in Korsør harbour. Their final sailing trip ends in a nightmare.
Hanse 461
Further development with a beach club and staysail
Stool in the stern, flying staysail, eight cabin layouts: with the 461, Hanseyachts is already renewing the first model that was brought onto the production line with the designers from Berret/Racopeau.
Y7
When series yacht construction becomes high-end class
Its predecessor made YYachts avant-garde. The new Y7, designed by Judel/Vrolijk, goes one better. Impressions from on board the carbon cruiser
The Ocean Race
Heer and Herrmann – first in the team, then the Vendée Globe
First The Ocean Race, then the Vendée Globe: Oliver Heer and his team, Embrace the Challenge, are sailing a similar route to Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia.
Scow revolution
Why wide hangers are suddenly winning
For a long time, wide bows were considered something that took some getting used to. Now yachts such as the ‘Palanad 4’ are demonstrating why scows have become a major trend in offshore racing.
Swan 80
Maxi feeling just under 24 metres
Nautor Swan launched the first Swan 80, the new entry-level model in the maxi range. With the Frers design, the Finnish shipyard aims to combine the volume and operational advantages of a yacht just under 24 metres in length.
A classic
Impressions from the NRV wooden boat regatta
At the Julius Gahde Memorial Trophy, the Alsterschale and the Kobold Trophy, held at the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) over the weekend, it wasn’t just about beautiful boats; for the 28 wooden Dragons, 12ft dinghies and H-jolies, it was above all about clean regatta sailing in challenging wind conditions.
Zero
A fossil-free 69-metre ketch in the home stretch
The 69-metre ketch “Zero” aims to eliminate fossil fuels entirely and to stand out from conventional designs. The complex build at Vitters in the Netherlands is now in its final stages.
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455
Setting new standards in below-deck layout
In YACHT’s exclusive test, the new Sun Odyssey 455 – the new flagship of the Jeanneau cruising range – scores highly, particularly for its interior comfort and cosiness. And the French yacht builders have also made significant improvements in terms of quality.
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