Dear readers,

The changes are noticeable: the days are getting noticeably longer, the birds are chirping cheerfully again in the mornings and the first delicate flowers are emerging in the garden, tentatively heralding the approach of spring. And; when the ubiquitous high fog on Lake Constance occasionally lifts and gives way to the sun, you can even casually fiddle around on the boat in front of the house in a T-shirt - without catching your death. The signs are clear: spring is fast approaching. At last! The gloomy, cold days are gradually giving way and the time between sunrise and sunset is currently increasing by almost four minutes every day. Marvellous!

I look forward to this time like a child looks forward to Christmas. Winter jackets in the box, sailing gear and shorts out of the box. And thinking about how to plan the season. The first regattas have already been announced. And, training is the order of the day to get up to operating temperature. There's also a lot of work to be done on our own boats before we can get going again. I'm already really excited - as I am every year at this time.

So much for the freestyle. And what about the duty? Everyday working life as a Test editor of YACHT is currently characterised by anticipation and excitement. This year in particular, we can expect numerous interesting new launches. This was already emphasised at the trade fair boat in Düsseldorf where many innovative new-build projects with unusual concepts, bold design and creative solutions caused a stir.

An outstanding example of this is the new Wauquiez 55which soon became the number one topic of conversation in Düsseldorf. It remains to be seen whether their innovative concept will live up to the high expectations. We will try it out as soon as possible. But other shipyards are also venturing into new territory. Saffier Yachts from the Netherlands, previously known for its smart daysailers and weekenders, presents a large luxury cruiser with a 46-foot hull length for the first time in 2025 thus opening up a completely new market line. The Italians from Cantiere del Pardo are taking the opposite approach and are launching the Grand Soleil Blue a genuine weekender as a novelty for the brand and at the same time the smallest boat in its portfolio to date. X-Yachts from Denmark is also self-confident: the shipyard has invested a great deal in the development of the new XR 41 invested. The exciting racer is set to become a big hit on the regatta courses this year.

Of course, these are just a few of many examples. What is clear is that the world of sailing boats and yachts is facing a particularly exciting year full of innovations and new trends. In my opinion, these developments show that the industry as a whole is still full of dynamism and innovation. Bold reforms and new market strategies prove that things are still moving forward, even in the current economically challenging times.

It seems to me to be a good sign that progress in the yacht building industry is currently being driven by many smaller or medium-sized shipyards in particular, while the large serial manufacturers are currently tending to stand still. Brands that focus on progress and quality can learn from these examples and take inspiration from them. It is probably a clear sign that it pays to invest in creativity and technological development.

Michael Good

YACHT editor

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