What's in the April issue

From the Editor
Anticipating the Olympics effect

On the Wind
Cruisers in shock after Somalian pirate killings; collision at 37 knots aboard Banque Populaire ends Jules Verne record attempt; details of sailing tickets for Olympics 2012

The Walrus
Count your (very small) blessings afloat

Letters
Red Sea alternatives; Olympics 2012 for free

Robin Knox-Johnston
Sir Robin’s ‘Kate Middleton’ story

Gear
A £235 scrubbing brush; Boatranet’s wireless nav data hub; a mug-carrier with royal approval; and AIS on a chartplotter

Gear Focus: rope upgrades
High-tech ropes aren’t just for grand prix big boats. Toby Hodges sorts Dyneema from Vectran to find that cruisers can benefit too

Leading Edge
Genuine go-faster stripes for your sails

Yachts
Vorsprung durch terrific! Impressive launches from Elan, Hallberg-Rassy, Hanse, Delphia and Bavaria at the world’s biggest boat show in Düsseldorf. Plus a preview of Salona’s Jason Ker-designed 60-footer

On test: Gunboat 66
The Bahamas’ Exuma Cays provide the perfect testing ground for this 66-footer from the luxury catamaran stable: 22 knots without heel, shallow draught and acres of stylish space below convince Toby Hodges

A year aboard
It’s more than 12 months since the 2009 ARC set sail from Las Palmas – plenty of time for sailors to perfect systems of watch-keeping and cooking for long-term cruising comfort

Cuba libre?
Great locals, shame about the rules, finds Jill Schinas in the Caribbean’s lost cruising area

Downsizing
Never mind entry-level boats, what about craft for retirement? Andrew Bray looks at the options and is surprised by his own solution

Cruising
Search and rescue sell-off halted; Blue Water Rally cancelled; hope for Chagos exiles

Cruising Special Report
Three yachts hijacked and five tragic deaths in this year alone: despite naval patrols, Indian Ocean piracy is at crisis point, and it may be here to stay, learns Elaine Bunting

Great Seamanship
An account from 1911 celebrates the quiet pioneers of sailing in the Edwardian era

Performance World
Matthew Sheahan discovers how coaching can transform weekend wannabes into racecourse contenders. Plus the cost of
new technology on your IRC rating

SuperSail
A re-evaluation of insurance has seen Pantaenius include wear and tear

Yachts for sale

Classified ads

One Amazing Day
Ian Williams on a special World Match race