Sailing News for Cruisers — Log of the Week (14 February 2026)

A quick hello from the dock

This week felt like a classic “pre-season shift.” You can almost hear it in the background: marinas changing hands, boat show docks filling up again, electronics brands launching the next shiny screens, and cruising organisations quietly issuing the kind of alerts you only appreciate after you needed them. And in the bigger picture, ocean protection news is moving from “nice idea” into real frameworks that could shape how we use remote waters over time.

Here are the 9 stories worth knowing this week.

1) Mallorca: Sasga Yachts takes over Nautic Center Mallorca (now “Sasga Palma”)

Mallorca is one of those islands where the marine industry never really sleeps — it just changes rhythm. This week, Sasga Yachts announced the takeover of Nautic Center Mallorca, with the facility now operating as Sasga Palma (as their official sales and service base on the island). For owners and cruisers, this kind of move matters because it can change how easy it is to get aftersales support, maintenance slots, and local help during the busy months. It’s also another reminder that the Med service landscape is becoming more “brand network” and less “one independent yard you’ve always used.” If you’re doing spring or summer Balearics planning, it’s worth noting who runs what — because it often shapes your options when something breaks at the wrong time.

If you’re cruising the Balearics this season, our 2025 update on what’s changed (and what’s enforced) is worth a quick read before you drop the hook: https://www.sailoscope.com/post/balearic-anchoring-rules-2025

2) Miami International Boat Show is back on the beachfront (and it’s very “tech-forward” this year)

The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show (11–15 Feb) is always a temperature check for the industry. This year, the vibe is clearly: more tech, more automation, and more “user-friendly boating” — with electronics and integrated control systems getting just as much attention as hulls and interiors. Even if you’re not buying anything, boat shows matter to cruisers because what launches here often becomes what shows up in yard recommendations, refit conversations, and next season’s “must-have upgrades.”

It’s also where you see what manufacturers think owners want: easier docking, simpler systems, and less friction between navigation, monitoring, and comfort onboard. That’s not a bad direction — as long as we don’t forget the basics still matter when screens go dark.

3) B&G introduces the Zeus SRX chartplotter (big screen, big processing power)

One of the more cruiser-relevant tech launches tied to Miami is B&G’s Zeus SRX chartplotter, positioned as a high-end sailing display with a faster processor, updated interface, and support for newer chart features (including hazard-style alerts and easier chart management).

For sailors, the interesting part isn’t “bigger screen = better sailor.” It’s what these systems are aiming for: faster redraws, smoother routing tools, and better integration across instruments and sensors — especially when you’re short-handed and you want clarity at a glance.

If you’ve ever felt your navigation workflow get messy (weather + AIS + route + instruments), you understand why manufacturers keep pushing in this direction. And if you want the human side of sail numbers again, here’s your internal refresher: https://www.sailoscope.com/post/tws-twa-vmg-explained 

4) A reminder: software updates matter (B&G Vulcan/Zeus update)

This is the kind of story that never feels exciting — until it saves you. B&G also highlights ongoing software updates for Vulcan and Zeus chartplotters, including feature additions and improvements across supported models. On paper, it’s “new features.” In real life, it’s often: fewer weird glitches, smoother performance, and less of that feeling where you don’t fully trust what your plotter is showing you.

If you’re commissioning for the season soon, this is one of those boring-but-smart tasks: update at the dock, test at the dock, and make sure you still know how to do the basics without it. Cruising confidence is built from small things like this, not just big gear purchases.

5) ORC 2026 Rules and Sailor Services are now online

If you race — even casually — ORC updates are worth a look because they influence measurement, certificates, and how fair your boat feels against others. ORC announced that the 2026 editions of ORC rules and sailor services are now online, which is the kind of update that quietly shapes a whole season of racing admin and prep. Even for cruisers, I think racing news matters more than people admit: racing is where a lot of safety culture and seamanship habits are kept alive (and where gear standards often get tested first). If you’ve ever sailed with a “race crew” and thought, wow, these people check everything, that’s part of the same ecosystem.

6) ORC Double-Handed Europeans: focus on safety checks and pre-inspection

The ORC Double-Handed Europeans continue to show something I really love in the sailing world: the normalisation of safety prep. ORC shared details around a technical presentation about pre-inspection procedures and required safety items, which is exactly the kind of thing that keeps offshore sailing from becoming casual in the wrong ways. Double-handed sailing isn’t just “less crew.” It’s more responsibility per person, more fatigue risk, and fewer hands when something goes wrong at 3am. Even if you’re not racing, these checklists and safety conversations are useful — because the sea doesn’t care if your passage is a regatta or a holiday.

7) Geographe Bay Race Week kicks off today (14–20 Feb)

If you love sailing culture, Geographe Bay Race Week starting today (14 Feb) is a reminder that not all racing is pressure and perfection. This event has a reputation for being both competitive and social — the kind of week where serious sailors and “we’re just here for a good time” crews can share the same water and still enjoy it. For cruisers, it’s also a reminder that yacht clubs and local race weeks often shape marina energy in a good way: extra services, extra community, and a reason to be in a place beyond just “we needed diesel.” If anyone reading is in Western Australia, this is a lovely one to catch — even as a spectator.

8) Chagos Islands: uncertainty alert for cruising sailors

This is the kind of notice cruisers really need early — before you’ve built a route around it. The Ocean Cruising Club highlighted an alert (via Noonsite reporting) about uncertainty for cruisers planning to visit the Chagos Islands in the coming months. Even when details are still evolving, the value of these alerts is simple: you can adjust before it becomes stressful, expensive, or impossible. The Indian Ocean is full of routes where paperwork and permissions matter as much as weather windows. If you’re heading that direction in 2026, this is one to keep on your radar and revisit as updates come in.

9) High Seas Treaty enters into force — a big ocean milestone with long-term implications

Zooming out: the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) entering into force is one of the biggest ocean governance shifts in years. For sailors, it won’t feel immediate day-to-day — but over time, it could shape how marine protected areas are created beyond national waters, how environmental impact is assessed, and how high-seas biodiversity is managed.

The reason I include this in a cruiser log is simple: sailors are often the first to notice changes offshore, and we’re also the ones who pass through sensitive places quietly and repeatedly.

If you care about anchoring rules, seagrass protection, and why more areas are being regulated, this connects to the same “bigger picture” conversation. And here is an example: https://www.sailoscope.com/post/posidonia-anchoring-rules

From the Helm

Reading this week’s stories together, I keep coming back to one thought: cruising life is a mix of freedom and structure. We dream about quiet bays — but marinas change, rules evolve, tech updates roll out, and ocean protection becomes real policy. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just part of modern sailing. The calm comes from staying gently informed — not obsessively online, just… ready.

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