On the Wind
Mystery of Channel deaths and a Force 9 tragedy; keeping track of RORC races; crimewave in the Caribbean ; an 18-year-old sails in Ellen’s wake; records tumble in August; WIN £3,000-worth of PC kit and nav software

The Walrus
From traditional Isabelle to Cunning Stunts today, what’s in a name?

Letters
Why the Vendée beats the Volvo; the taxes and terrors of Mediterranean cruising; and a hot new cure for seasickness

Robin Knox-Johnston
‘”We’ve hit something!” yelled the watch.’ The
perils of a whale strike at night in mid-Atlantic

Gear
Lowrance radar, meals on keels, better boat security, WiFi afloat, Musto and Helly-Hansen deck shoes, racing tracking devices for hire

Tested: offshore clothing
Gill’s Atlantic oilies, base-layers from Musto, Helly Hansen and Henri-Lloyd plus Dubarry Ultima boots, all put to the test on the transatlantic Clipper race

Leading Edge
Forget boat speed, velocity made good is the figure to watch on a new battery-powered GPS

Yachts
Swan songs: can the new 66 match the classic 65 it will replace? Plus Rustler on a roll

The solo revolution
The class that pits Corinthian against pro, the boat to sail solo in the Southern Ocean or with the family, we give you the amazing Class 40

On test: Pogo 40
“Demanding, rewarding, intimidating, affordable.” Matt Sheahan is smitten by
Groupe Finot’s off-the-peg Class 40 design

Making Mischief
Adventurer HW Tilman’s favourite Bristol Channel pilot cutter, taking shape again in Bristol. Plus the rebuild of Kindly Light, 1911 speed machine

Nightmare under Midnight Sun
When the charter goes wrong – why Midnight Sun Sailing is not one of Elaine Bunting’s favourite Finns

An Atlantic of ups and downs
David Pugh expected the squalls on his first transatlantic, as crew aboard raceboat Liverpool Clipper. The suntan was a bit of a surprise, though

In God’s pocket
Mists, moose and the warmest of welcomes await those who explore the isolated north-east coast of Newfoundland. Phyllis Nickel is enchanted

Cruising
Adventurers in the Arctic; new fronts in the red diesel war; and Britain wants your historic boat

Back on the high road
Even without the whiskies, the Classic Malts Cruise in the Scottish Highlands is still one of sailing’s best gigs, reckons Elaine Bunting

Great Seamanship
The learning curve. Eric Newby experiences the power of the Southern Ocean on a square-rigger

Racing
Holy Cowes! Strong winds made Skandia Cowes Week one for the photo album. Plus Jo Cackett discovers why the Laser SB3 is ‘better than sex’ and Matthew Sheahan blushes aboard a new X-35

Last word
This month, Olympic sailor and coach Ian Walker

Inside Alinghi
Downtime number-crunching, Ave Maria and
a roadshow in Switzerland

SuperSail
Just when everyone thought she was ready for launch, royal replica Britannia remains on ice in Russia due to a fractious dispute between the owner and yard. David Glenn investigates

One Amazing Day
Nick Moloney is humbled and inspired