Sailing News for Cruisers: Log of the Week (07 February 2026)

From marina developments and sailing events to safety reminders and ocean-focused initiatives, this week’s Log is all about the things that quietly shape everyday life afloat. If you’re a sailing yacht owner, cruiser, or liveaboard preparing for the season ahead, these are the updates worth knowing — practical, relevant, and firmly rooted in the real yachting world.

1) 🌊 2026 Miami International Boat Show Returns — With Sailing Focus

The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is back 11–15 Feb 2026 with new features that matter to cruising sailors and yacht owners alike. Beyond the usual luxury motor yacht displays, this year introduces Sailor’s Cove at IGY Yacht Haven Grande Miami — a dedicated zone for sailboats, catamarans, sailing gear, and marine services alongside interactive educational seminars. The show runs across multiple venues including Miami Beach, Collins Avenue, and the Miami Beach Convention Center, with free shuttles and Brightline train access making it easy to navigate between exhibits.

For owner-skippers and serious cruisers, this event is a rare chance to see the latest rigs, electronics, and sailboat support services in person — and meet manufacturers, advisors, and charter professionals all in one place. It’s also a reminder of how vital these major industry gatherings are for tech adoption, crew training, and networking before the spring season begins.

Official site: https://www.miamiboatshow.com/en/home.html

2) 🦺 Sea Tow Foundation Offers Free Life Jacket Loaner Kits

Safety on the water matters to every recreational sailor and cruiser — and this week the Sea Tow Foundation opened applications for its 2026 Life Jacket Loaner Program. Local organisations, marinas, yacht clubs, harbormasters, and community groups across the United States can now apply (before 28 Feb) to receive free U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets and loaner stand materials to support safe boating.

This programme has already placed more than 1,300 life jacket loaner stations nationwide, providing easy access to life jackets of all sizes for visiting boaters and family outings. For yacht owners operating charter or hosting guests, partnering with or promoting local life jacket stations shows leadership in safety culture — and can strengthen ties with the cruising community.

3) 🔥 Major Marina Fire in British Columbia Sinks Three Yachts

A serious incident this week at Van Isle Marina in Sidney, British Columbia highlights the risks every yacht owner should never forget. A large fire broke out in the marina early Sunday morning, and despite rapid emergency response, three sizeable yachts were sunk and several others damaged or threatened by smoke and heat. The marina’s fire chief described it as one of the largest yacht fire events in recent local memory.

From a cruising and liveaboard perspective, this is a stark reminder of fire safety and marina infrastructure preparedness. Electric systems, galley areas, heaters, and fuel vapour can all be contributors — and yacht owners should use incidents like this to review their own safety plans, insurance coverage, and emergency contacts at home ports and destinations alike.

4) 🛥️ Sasga Yachts Takes Over Nautic Center Mallorca

In industry news with real implications for Mediterranean cruisers and boat owners, Sasga Yachts announced the acquisition of Nautic Center Mallorca, one of the busiest yachting service and brokerage facilities in the Balearics. Under the new name Sasga Palma, the marina and service centre will expand its offerings — including maintenance, berthing, support services, and refit facilities — all under the brand of a respected sailboat manufacturer.

This type of consolidation between builders and marina services can provide owners with more integrated support, but it also means shifts in management, pricing models, and service culture — something to watch if you keep Mallorca on your cruising itinerary.

If Mallorca is on your cruising plan, it’s also worth keeping anchoring rules in mind, as regulations in the Balearics have tightened significantly in recent years — especially around protected seabeds. Our guide to the Balearic anchoring rules for 2025 breaks it down clearly.

5) 🛠️ Feadship 829 Superyacht Hull Emerges — Build Watch

Although not a direct cruising product, the emergence of the 82.5 m Feadship 829 hull from the shipyard offers a fascinating glimpse into where large-scale sailing and exploration boats are heading. Large-yacht builds like this can influence rig design trends, onboard systems, and luxury cruising innovations that eventually trickle down to bluewater sailing yachts.

6) ⛵ ORC Europeans 2026 Announces Hospitality Offers

For offshore and performance cruisers planning their season, the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) revealed special hospitality and accommodation offers for the ORC European Championship 2026, set for 7-15 Aug 2026 in Klaipėda, Lithuania. Registrants benefit from discounted crew lodging, local dining experiences, and a welcome gift for early overseas teams.

This is good news for cruising crews who balance racing with passage planning — and it reinforces how events around the Baltic and North Sea continue to develop strong infrastructure and social networks for sailors.

7) 🛶 Historic Boats Confirmed for 2026 Auckland Wooden Boat Festival

The 2026 Auckland Wooden Boat Festival (March 13-15) has finalised its fleet — including classic scows like Jane Gifford and the activist vessel Vega. More than 110 boats on the water and extensive on-land displays make it a standout cultural celebration for wooden boat lovers and classic yacht enthusiasts.

For cruisers who appreciate maritime heritage, this festival is a reminder of the deep roots of sailing culture — and a potential seasonal stop if you’re cruising in the South Pacific.

8) ⛵ Sail Peninsula 2026 Regatta Kicks Off Crew Buzz

Australia’s Sail Peninsula 2026 regatta is shaping up as a big weekend on the water, with organisers encouraging entries and celebrating the core spirit of racing and community that makes small boat regattas so much fun.

Whether you race seriously or just enjoy trimming sails properly on passage, understanding wind angles and performance makes a huge difference on the water. We recently broke this down in Understanding Your TWS, TWA, and VMG.

9) 📅 International Boat Event Calendar: Europe & Global Shows

Finally, the 2026 global boating events calendar shows a packed season ahead — including the Helsinki International Boat Show (6-15 Feb), Miami Boat Show (11-15 Feb), Palma International Boat Show (29 Apr-2 May), and more. These events matter for yacht owners and cruisers because they influence charter markets, broker activity, equipment launches, and cruising season readiness across regions.

🗺️ Weekly Wrap from the Helm

This week’s log highlights transition moments — pre-season boat shows springing to life, safety programmes expanding, marina business shifts in Europe, and the ever-present reminders that cruising isn’t just about passages, but about preparedness on shore, community events, and long-term planning.

Press events like Miami remind us that the boating lifestyle starts before you leave the dock. Safety initiatives, marina changes, and festival confirmations show that the broader “saltwater world” is moving even in mid-winter.

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