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Log of the Week: Sailing News September 2025 (26 Sept)

  • Writer: Editor
    Editor
  • Sep 26, 2025
  • 4 min read

This week the sailing world gave us a mix of big shows, new technology, racing stories, and even market shifts. It’s another reminder of how wide this community really is: from small keelboats racing in Sardinia to billion-dollar yachts on display in Monaco, and from solar panels built into hulls to futuristic docking systems. Here’s your sailing news September 2025 roundup, told with the cruiser’s eye on what really matters.


1) RS21 World Championship kicks off in Sardinia


The RS21 World Championship began this week in Porto Rotondo, Sardinia, and it’s bigger than ever. Sailors from 13 countries joined, making it the largest RS21 fleet so far. The RS21 class has been gaining momentum because it’s affordable, strictly one-design, and designed for easy handling with small crews. For many, it’s the sweet spot between dinghies and bigger keelboats: technical enough to be exciting, but not out of reach for amateurs. This year’s Worlds show how much people still love true Corinthian racing, where skill and teamwork matter more than budgets. The growth of the RS21 scene is proof that sailing is alive at the grassroots level.



2) Sunreef Yachts puts solar into the structure itself


Polish catamaran builder Sunreef Yachts is once again pushing boundaries. Their latest innovation is embedding solar panels directly into the yacht’s hulls, mast, and superstructure. Unlike traditional deck-mounted panels, this approach integrates energy generation seamlessly into the boat’s design. The benefits go beyond looks: the panels are lighter, more efficient, and resistant to damage because they are part of the structure itself. For long-range cruisers, this could mean a big step forward in silent, emission-free energy at sea. Sunreef has long promoted “eco-luxury” yachts, but now the technology is moving closer to mainstream reality. It’s a glimpse of where liveaboard energy systems could go in the next decade.



3) Superyacht market splits: big boats up, mid-size down


A new market report this month shows how uneven the yacht market has become. On one side, sales of yachts above 30 meters continue to climb, with shipyards reporting strong demand for eco-friendly and hybrid designs. Ultra-wealthy clients are still willing to spend, and they want the latest in technology and efficiency. On the other side, sales of mid-size yachts are slowing. Families and regular owners are holding back, especially with uncertain economic conditions and rising costs of ownership. This split is reshaping the industry: builders are pouring energy into large custom projects, while brokerage houses note slower turnover in the middle market. For everyday sailors, it’s another sign that the entry point into yachting feels tougher than it used to.


Luxury superyachts moored at a marina

4) Monaco Yacht Show 2025 opens with a $2.9B fleet


The Monaco Yacht Show 2025 opened this week with 115 superyachts on display in Port Hercule. The combined value of the fleet is estimated at nearly $3 billion, making it one of the richest shows ever staged. Beyond the spectacle, the show’s theme this year is sustainability. Builders are highlighting hybrid propulsion, recyclable materials, and advanced energy management systems. The message is clear: even in the world of billionaires, greener choices are becoming the norm. For sailors and smaller yacht owners, Monaco can feel like another universe. But trends that appear here often filter down, from battery tech to interior materials. Watching the Monaco headlines is one way to guess what might reach our own boats in the coming years.


5) Garmin launches new tech for cruisers


Electronics giant Garmin used the Southampton International Boat Show to reveal several new products. The most eye-catching was the quatix 8 watch, a smartwatch designed for sailors and powerboaters. It connects directly with chartplotters, autopilot systems, and even onboard audio, allowing sailors to monitor and control key functions from their wrist. Garmin also showed new chartplotters with sharper displays and better networking, plus upgraded marine audio gear. For liveaboards, integration is the real news: fewer devices to juggle, more control in one place. Many cruisers already rely on Garmin autopilots or chartplotters; this update shows the brand is doubling down on making their ecosystem smoother and more connected.



6) Autonomous docking closer to reality


Docking in crosswinds or tight marinas is one of the most stressful parts of sailing. Now, new autonomous docking systems are being tested that use sensors, cameras, and thrusters to bring yachts safely to the pier. The idea is similar to driver-assist technology in cars: the system analyzes surroundings, adjusts for wind and current, and guides the boat in with minimal human input. It’s not science fiction — prototypes are already being shown in Europe. For cruisers, this could mean fewer stressful mooring moments and more confidence when short-handed. Still, traditional seamanship matters, and many sailors will see this tech as a backup rather than a replacement. But like autopilots decades ago, autonomous docking may soon move from “luxury toy” to everyday tool.


marina with sailing yachts and powerboats moored side by side

7) Volvo Penta + Sabre Yachts team up


This week, Volvo Penta announced a partnership with Sabre Yachts, an American builder known for its elegant, semi-custom cruising yachts. The goal is to blend Sabre’s classic craftsmanship with Volvo Penta’s modern IPS propulsion and digital system integration. For cruisers, this could mean yachts that look traditional on the outside but offer joystick docking, advanced fuel management, and seamless connectivity below decks. It’s another example of the industry trend: heritage builders linking up with tech leaders to create boats that appeal to both traditionalists and modern buyers. While this news is from the motor-yacht side, the design lessons often spill over into sailing yachts, too. Expect more crossovers in the years to come.

Sailing Into What’s Next


This week’s sailing news September 2025 shows how wide the horizon really is. From a growing amateur class in Sardinia to the billion-dollar fleets in Monaco, sailing today balances tradition with innovation. Solar panels hidden in hulls, watches that steer your autopilot, and even self-docking yachts all point to a future where technology supports more freedom on the water. At the same time, grassroots racing proves that the heart of sailing is still teamwork, skill, and wind.


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