This month

CRUISING
COVER STORY: BOAT SHOW BONANZA
EARL’S COURT BOAT SHOW – THE VERDICT
Did the new boat show in London live up to the hype?

BLUE WATER OR HOMEWATERS?
Far-flung anchorages draw some sailors across oceans but living the blue-water dream isn’t for everyone, says Mike Peyton

PITCHPOLED!
The epic tale of cruising pioneers Miles and Beryl Smeeton and their attempts to sail through the fearful Southern Ocean

COVER STORY: EXPLORE BRITAIN’S WEST COAST
WESTWARD HO!
The west coast of Britain provides a varied, unspoilt and sometimes stunning cruising ground, says Ken Endean

CROATIA LAID BARE
A week’s sailing among the Dalmatian islands of Croatia is revealing in more ways than one for Miles Kendall

THE ULTIMATE CRUISE
The crews of the latest Blue Water Rally yachts prove that there’s no such thing as a typical circumnavigator

CRUISING 30,000 ISLANDS
Andy O’Grady’s last Blue water letter from the Baltic

SHRIMPERS IN SCOTLAND
Trailer-sailer adventures in the highlands with Sam Llewellyn

LONDON BOAT SHOW PREVIEW
All you need to know about January’s show at ExCel

SAILING SKILLS
COVER STORY: CRUISING CHUTES
EASY RUNNING
Adopt a step-by-step approach and make use of the mainsail’s wind shadow when flying your cruising chute, says Tom Cunliffe

A QUESTION OF SEAMANSHIP
Do you dare dodge the rocks or should you turn and run?

SKIPPER’S TIPS AND QUICK QUIZ
Hoisting the main, tidal tables and fender foul-ups

SUPERYACHTS TO AERIAL SHOTS
Boat biographies, pilot books and more

SAILING SKILLS LIBRARY
Nautical calculations, seamanship manual and catamaran guide

LEARNING CURVE:
WE’RE SINKING!
The shaft’s gone and water’s flooding in?

ANY QUESTIONS?
Lightning strikes, Med cruising and AIS improvements

BOATS AND GEAR
COVER STORY: GO OFFSHORE
NEW BOAT TEST: MALÖ 37
She’s very well built and extremely capable but she’s also somewhat staid and very expensive, says James Jermain

COVER STORY: GO OFFSHORE
USED BOAT TEST – 28ft TWISTER
Kim Holman’s 1963 design is a capable, affordable offshore cruiser that’s still a joy to sail, reports Jeremy Evans

NEW BOATS
The latest designs from Bénéteau, Nautiner, RM and Delphia

NEW GEAR
Pocket rockets, a flopper-stopper and a portable safe!

COVER STORY: 10 CHART PLOTTERS TESTED
PICKING UP THE PLOT
The new generation of chartplotters are simple to use and increasingly affordable. Chris Beeson gives his verdict

REGULARS
EDITOR’S LOG
View from the helm
OPENING SHOT
Swan 391 in the groove
NEWS
EU tax loophole to close?
READERS’ LETTERS
Your views and opinions
LIBBY PURVES
The sea inspires good writing
CUNLIFFE ON CRUISING
When good decisions go bad…
NIGEL CALDER
The hardships of hand-steering
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
Save pounds with our latest subscription offers
AROUND THE COAST
A stunning copycat pilot cutter and the rest of your local news
CONFESSIONAL
Yachtsmen confess their sailing sins