After 24 years of Caribbean cruising in his much-loved Vancouver 32, Keelson II, Hugh Cownie recalls the night in December 1999 when he lost her on a reef off the paradise island of Nevis

  • Man overboard!

    The most feared cry in the yachtsman’s vocabulary. How can you improve your chances of survival? Our eight-page special examines search techniques, trials an array of retrieval systems and tells you how to make yourself more visible in the water

  • Jungle cruising

    Alastair Buchan sails into The Serpent’s Mouth, between Trinidad and Venezuela, and ventures up the Rio Macareo for a rare encounter with the shy Wareo Indians Shipwrecked! After 24 years of Caribbean cruising in his much-loved Vancouver 32, Keelson II, Hugh Cownie recalls the night in December 1999 when he lost her on a reef off the paradise island of Nevis

  • Small is beautiful

    We take two small British cruisers at opposite ends of the design spectrum and test tradition against innovation: James Jermain sails the Yarmouth 23, a long-keeled pocket gaffer as well as the shoal-draught Red Fox Vision with twin bilge boards designed by David Thomas

  • Free Poole Harbour chart

    The second biggest natural harbour in the world is the landfall for next month’s Destinations guide and free pull-out chart, including brand new information on all the major buoyage changes

  • Foul play

    Part One of YM’s Great Antifouling Test for the 2000 season. We’re putting eleven different antifoulings to the test. We’ve even painted zebra stripes on James Jermain’s Sweet Lucy to trial eight different brands

  • Thai break

    Miles Kendall and his lucky crew cast off in a 39ft catamaran to sail the sparkling blue waters south of Phuket in Thailand

  • PLUS:

    Jenny Snape and James McDonald (pictured left) arrested in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty; Sail Power examines in-mast furling; boat test on the Gib’Sea 33, and all your favourite Yachting Monthly regulars