CRUISING
COVER STORY: CARIBBEAN CRUISING
SAN BLAS CHRISTMAS
Susan Payne and her family make friends with native
communities in Panama’s unspoiled San Blas islands

COVER STORY: A TRIP DOWN THE THAMES
WATERWORLD 2007
Dick Durham set out with his son to fulfil a long-held ambition
to sail the length of the Thames… but they fell foul of the floods!

A STRONG SOUTHERLY
What’s the recipe for a British boatbuilding success? Chris
Beeson gets under the skin at Northshore Yachts

COVER STORY: RITE OF PASSAGE
CONTESSA ROUND THE HORN
John Kretschmer goes the ‘wrong way’ round Cape Horn

RECORDS BREAKER
A look back on the life of multihill pioneer Nobby Clarke

THOUGHTS AT ANCHOR
Mike Peyton on the thrill of snugging down in a winter gale

BLUE WATER LETTER
Annie Hill discovers a perfect marriage of old and new

COVER STORY: BOAT SHOW PREVIEW
THE LOWDOWN ON EARL’S COURT
YM’s essential guide to the newest boat show on the block

SAILING SKILLS
COVER STORY: PLAN THE PERFECT CRUISE
THE BEST-LAID PLANS
Plan ahead to ensure a successful summer cruise in 2008

SKIPPER’S TIPS
Going alongside in a blow and clever communications

A QUESTION OF SEAMANSHIP
Recover a MOB under sail PLUS the latest book reviews

COVER STORY: COLLISION AVOIDANCE TIP
A TURN FOR THE WORSE?
If a ship’s bearing changes then you’re safe. Right? Maybe not!

LEARNING CURVE: TROUBLE IN PARADISE
A father and son face a Pacific gale to respond to a MAYDAY

ANY QUESTIONS
COGs, SOGs, ‘egg heads’ and fine wines on board

BOATS AND GEAR
COVER STORY: THE GO-ANYWHERE YACHT
NEW BOAT TEST: FINNGULF 33
Lots of modern boats are fashion victims, but Chris Beeson
discovers that ‘some Finns never change’

NEW BOAT TEST: MAHÉ 36
James Jermain test a ‘family cat’ that’s in a class of her own

SECONDHAND BOAT TEST: SWAN 47
Jeremy Evans savours a test-sail on a rare
cruising version of this timeless classic racer

NEW BOATS
Three of the most innovative interiors on the water

NEW GEAR
A solar phone charger, a microchip medic-alert, a neat stern
anchor system and more…

LASER-SHARP PILOTAGE
YM’s Mike Shepherd says goodbye to sailing with glasses

COVER STORY: FRIENDLY FIRE
GROUP TEST: DISTRESS FLARES
Two manufacturers’ distress flares and rockets go head-to-
head. Which would you trust?

REGULARS
EDITOR’S LOG
Rite of passage

OPENING SHOT
Slow pace race

NEWS
Freedom of the seas under threat!

READERS’ LETTERS
Your views and opinions

LIBBY PURVES
A plague of virtually absent sailors

CUNLIFFE ON CRUISING
Does size count, wonders Tom

NIGEL CALDER’S TECH TALK
Sheet lightening

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AROUND THE COAST
Ramsgate sailors’ anger plus the rest of your local news

CONFESSIONAL
Yachtsmen confess their sailing sins