January 2013

On the Wind Vestas Sailrocket 2 smashes record; Vendée designs - 'major failures not tackled'; London Boat Show feature aims to inspire ocean cruising, Plus: six new books reviewed

Letters When is a sailing speed record not really sailing?; Vendée collisions tough on fishermen; solid view about America's Cup wings

Matthew Sheahan enters the world of Augmented Reality to find out if it could help solve his repair problems

Elaine Bunting wonders who might want a vasectomy before the ARC

Robin Knox-Johnston reminds us of the best techniques for anchoring

Made to measure Each skipper in the Vendée Globe designs their boat to fit their physical ability and attack style. Elaine Bunting finds out how four skippers have customised their steed for this toughest of races

Welcome party in Japan Kakihara San waited in his boat for three hours in fresh winds to greet Tom and Vicky Jackson in Tannowa. It was the first of many such welcomes they received while cruising in Japan

It's all in the telling Elaine Bunting visits the Cape Clear International Story Telling Festival to combine great cruising and good food with a bit of blarney in south-west Ireland

Great Seamanship Sailing in Helen - an inexperienced young sailor dithers about setting out in a gale from Calais in an untried old boat

On test: Hanse 575 With her huge volume and impressive interior, this German cruiser offers extraordinary home-from-home comfort. But Toby Hodges is more struck by the yacht's alarming freeboard

The best in Europe? Matthew Sheahan and Toby Hodges sail the shortlisted boats in this year?s European Yacht of the Year. They discuss design trends and pick a few favourites

New Yachts Sailing the beautiful new Spirit 60DH, the latest in that range of distinctive modern classics. Plus: a new cruising Dragon

New Gear: DAME award winners Every year the Marine Equipment Trade Show makes awards for the best-designed new products. Toby Hodges looks at some of the most interesting

Gear Focus: firm favourites What did Yachting World staff have in their kitbags last year? Matthew Sheahan, Toby Hodges and David Glenn report on how their gear performed over a testing British summer

Cruising The perennial issue of boat registration raises its head again, this time as part of an EU directive; pirate attacks decline in Indian Ocean; two solo sailors set off on round the world adventures

Sail Faster Sail Safer In the final part of our advanced techniques series coach Pip Hare has tips on spinnaker problems

Performance RORC Yacht of the Year Diablo-J sails two-up yet still beats many fully crewed racers. How does she do it? Plus: 5 tips for asymmetrics - how dinghy techniques can be adapted for keelboats

Supersail A new academy in Warsash is offering a clearer career path for budding deckhands and electrical technical officers

One Amazing Day Rocka Romcke sails Mirabella V for the first time