Cruising
Cover story: GRATIS CRUISING SPECIAL
SAIL FOR FREE
Can you get afloat without splashing the cash? Ben Meakins keeps his hands in his pockets and heads for the dock to find out
Cover story: SAIL THE SOLWAY FIRTH
HARD HEADLANDS AND SOFT VALLEYS
Ken Endean breaks for the border and discovers some of the wonders of Scotland’s south-west coast
CROWNED THE ISLAND RACE
Along with 18,000 other sailors, Chris Beeson takes part in the world’s biggest yacht race, around the Isle of Wight
Cover story: SIAMESE CATS
TWIN HULLS IN THAI WATERS
Tom Cunliffe goes bareboating the Wharram way in Phuket
A CENTURY UNDER SAIL
With a hundred years of history hanging from her frames, the classic yawl Thalassa makes a big impression on Kieran Flatt
JOURNEY’S END
Ben Meakins joins Glasgow for the last leg of the Clipper Round the World Race, from Cork to Liverpool
BLUE WATER LETTER
Annie Hill rattles the chains of Tasmania’s convict past

Sailing skills
Cover story: MED MOORING MADE EASY
Bring her in backwards – step-by-step lessons in the art of mooring stern-to
A QUESTION OF SEAMANSHIP
The Channel’s busy but the crew’s asleep, something’s got to give
THE LOSS OF TAHITI BELLE
Nick Barham relives his wrecking and rescue in the Atlantic
ANY QUESTIONS
Ground tackle for cats, blockade protocol and jelly-jammed logs

Boats and gear
Cover story: BAVARIA 34 CRUISER
NEW BOAT TEST: CREDIT CRUNCH CRUISER
Can she conquer the budget end of the market?
Cover story: WESTERLY FALCON
USED BOAT TEST: BLIND MAN’S LUFF
Dick Durham sails this spacious 34-footer in Portsmouth with partially-sighted sailing instructor Julian Mandiwall
Cover story: SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW
SOUTHAMPTON SHOWSTOPPERS
Shortcut the show with our 11-page highlights guide
NEW GEAR
Budget radar, mini-multitools, floating hand-held VHF radios…
NEW boats
A first look at more than 20 stars of the show, ashore and afloat
Cover story: GET YOUR BREAKS TESTED
THE GREAT BRITISH TEA & TOAST TEST
YM embarks on a kettle and toaster-testing odyssey
A-Z OF USED BOATS
Catalinas, Comets, Centurions, Cobras Colvics and more

Regulars
EDITOR’S LOG
The view from the helm
OPENING SHOT
The Morbihan, South Brittany
NEWS
Pirates open fire on cruising couple
READERS’ LETTERS
The vagaries of the British weather
LIBBY PURVES
The little things mean a lot
CUNLIFFE ON CRUISING
Thoughts beneath a Q-flag
NIGEL CALDER’S TECH TALK
Hulls grow wings to boost power
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
Save pounds with our latest subscription offers
AROUND THE COAST
Will you have one of 11 new wind farms in your cruising ground?
CONFESSIONAL
Yachtsmen confess their sailing sins