Cruising
COVER STORY LESSONS FROM THE 1979 FASTNET
Tales of courage and extreme seamanship from Britain’s worst-ever yachting disaster. Could it happen again?

WHY SELLING YOUR BOAT IS WORSE THAN DIVORCE
Michael Buerk describes the pain of parting with his floating mistress after being seduced by a younger Swedish model

BEYOND BRITTANY
Island-hopping along the coast of the Vendée and Charente
Maritime in western France

THE 2009 OSTAR
Mark Fishwick meets the intrepid cruisers sailing alongside the
pros in the 13th edition of the world’s first ocean race

COVER STORY 20FT BOAT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
Sixty years on, Elizabeth Watson tells the story of the Smith
brothers’ intrepid 43-day voyage aboard Nova Espero

BLUE WATER RALLY
What’s it like to sail around the world in 20 months? Chris
Beeson met the crews at the end of their 26,000-mile voyage

Sailing Skills
COVER STORY EXPERT ON BOARD
Can your boat cope with 30 knots? Expert advice on
weathering a summer storm

SKIPPER’S TIPS
Predicting sea breezes, electronic beacons, rafting up, height of
eye and checking for anchor drag

A QUESTION OF SEAMANSHIP
The forecast is ‘sea state very rough’. But does it mean breaking
waves or big swell? PLUS: Sailing skills library

ANY QUESTIONS?
Spin or lock the prop? Which engine oil to use? Choosing a lifejacket and repairing teak decks

COVER STORY LEARNING CURVE
WRECKED! 60 MILES SHORT OF GLOBAL TRIUMPH
Jeanne Socrates sailed round the world solo, but lost her boat
after an autopilot glitch 60 miles from her final landfall

Boats and Gear
COVER STORY NEW BOAT TEST
We spent 24 hours putting the Regina 40 through her paces.
Does this bulletproof, luxury cruiser merit her reputation?

SECOND-HAND BOAT TEST
Sadler 25: the pocket cruiser which began the Sadler story

COVER STORY HI-TECH SAFETY
Stewart Campbell tests the laser beam ‘fl are’. Is this a safer,
more reliable alternative to our dangerous pyrotechnics?

NEW BOATS
Dragonfly’s new 28ft trailable trimaran alongside a pair
of 31ft cruisers from Hallberg-Rassy and Legend

NEW GEAR
Latest from the chandlery shelves: a stove for under £40, a barograph worth over £700, an AIS antenna, and more

A-Z OF SECOND-HAND BOATS
The famous Folkboat and some of her variants, Fisher and Fjord motor-sailers, fleet-footed Finngulfs, Flica cruising cat…

EDITOR’S LOG
The view from the helm

OPENING SHOT
Wonders of the sailing world

NEWS
Yacht sinks on dream cruise

READERS’ LETTERS
Your views and opinions

LIBBY PURVES
Birch, Borstal and sacred boats

CUNLIFFE ON CRUISING
Sail without stress

NIGEL CALDER
From ‘wet snails’ to torpedo keels

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AROUND THE COAST
Fuel from seaweed in Scotland, power from tides in Northern
Ireland, a new pier in Kent, and the rest of your local news

THE CONFESSIONAL
Yachtsmen confess their sailing sins