with FEBRUARY 2026 £5.75
SWEDE SENSATION The new Linjett 36 on test
THE POWER AND THE GLORY Brits triumph in SailGP final PERFECT PLAN Passage planning masterclass
BLUE WATER BEAST The Balance 580 put through its paces
TENDER LOVING CARE Which dinghy is right for you and your yacht?
Show me Leven It takes a brave soul to venture out to sea during the winter months but the rewards can be spectacular. This is Loch Leven on the west coast of Scotland on a somewhat chilly day. Photo: Adobe Stock
Boat test – Linjett 36
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FEBRUARY 2026 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting
SWEDE SENSATION Linjett Yachts was, for a long time, Sweden’s best kept secret. Now that is changing and its new 36 footer looks set to turn heads as Sam Jefferson found out
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Boat test – Balance 580
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FEBRUARY 2026 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting
Balance catamarans specialises in producing innovative high performance bluewater catamarans. Its new 580 is an impressive addition to its portfolio
PERFECT EQUILIBRIUM? Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting FEBRUARY 2026
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Skills – winter maintenance
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FEBRUARY 2026 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting
WINTERLUDE The winter months are a time for dealing with maintenance issues. That applies on a huge scale when dealing with a Greek charter fleet as Sail Ionian’s Tom Fletcher explains
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he end of the Ionian charter season does not mean our team can take a break. On the contrary, the boat yards around Vliho bay are alive with private owners, contractors and winter staff. It’s a busy time – essential for keeping our yachts in top condition. It’s when a lot of effort goes into ensuring our fleet – and our company – stay at the top of the charter market. The winter work is essential to prevent problems during the season and to keep yachts in the best possible condition. These long days of work, often in a cold wet boat yard, are vital. Our engineers, skippers and maintenance team work away unseen whilst the island sleeps. Right after the last charter finishes, the winter preparation starts immediately. At Sail Ionian, this process is highly organised and thorough. It isn’t just quick cleaning but deep and methodical maintenance. Before the yachts leave the pontoon for hauling, safety equipment must be removed to be inspected and certified by contractors. Every yacht is stripped of fire extinguishers. EPIRBS are removed and boxed. Bulky, 50kg life rafts are removed from cradles and carefully carried over passerelles. Hydrostatic releases boxed and stored indoors. The stack of safety gear from 40 charter yachts is considerable, and aching backs and trapped fingers are common! Sails are first cleaned, raised to dry on calm mornings, then removed from the rig, inspected, and sent for repair if necessary. Running rigging and lines are rinsed of salt to prevent deterioration. Winches, blocks and jammers inspected and lubricated. Shackle pins tightened and moused. Every cushion, mattress, and locker is aired out and cleaned to prevent damp. Chart tables contents are replaced and checked off. First aid kits checked, torch batteries, hand-bearing compasses and binoculars inspected. Fenders are counted, cleaned, and have new lines cut. Anchor chain markers are reviewed and replaced whilst the chains are power-washed and the lockers cleaned with acid. Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting FEBRUARY 2026
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Keelboat racing introduction
KEEL SESSIONS Jon Emmett looks at making the transition from dinghy racing to keelboats using the case study of Olympic champion Lijia ‘Lily’ Xu
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ailing might not be for everybody, but there is certainly something for anyone who wants to try it. With so many clubs and classes, there really is something out there for all, regardless of age, size, fitness
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and physical ability. There is no doubt that sailing has, in recent years, become more and more inclusive. Whilst every class will have an optimum weight, and some classes may have a weight limit, there are so many classes out there that there’s plenty of choice for everyone. The
FEBRUARY 2026 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting
ABOVE Learning the ropes in keelboats
beautiful thing about sailing is that it is a sport for life and while the boats we sail may change as we age from Junior to Youth to Senior to Master, the enjoyment never goes away. Whilst elite sailing, as with any sport, is mostly the domain of the young and fit, much like