Leader
Disasters in high winds may get the press coverage but something more dangerous often catches us unawares
Preece comments
In his new-look column, racing correspondent Andrew Preece considers new departures in Open 60 sailing
Letters to the Editor
The responsibilities of Mini sailors, more on container danger and a discussion on the firing of parachute flares
Dogwatch
John Passmore has the perfect boat for his family sailing. Should it matter that it?s the wrong colour?
The Great Atlantic Gear Test
We announce the winners of our awards for the best bluewater equipment, as revealed by our survey of 197 skippers in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. In Part 2 of Elaine Bunting?s analysis of the results, she lists the top 30 overall performers and focuses on generators, watermakers and refrigeration
Cruising Log
RNLI awards, Red Sea pirates still a threat, Cowes events, interesting craft in the 2001 ARC
Letter from the northern isles
Beth Leonard and Evans Starzinger taste the salt on the south and west coasts of Ireland in early spring
Fishtales
Tracing the history of the Dragon Bluebottle, once owned by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and now in the Falmouth National Maritime Museum
New British crack at the Auld Mug
They?re young, they?re keen and they?re bursting with gratitude for being given the chance to put Britain back in the America?s Cup after 15 years? absence. Young British talent is at the heart of GBR Challenge but how are they gearing up for the event?
Green?s Machines
What do yachts such as Ocean Leopard, Stealth and Prada have in common with lifeboats? Bill Green, maestro composite boatbuilder91 Firefly
Bottoms up! So far the antifouling on the Editor?s new boat is working a treat
Xtreme Sailing
Introducing a new design for the Bénéteau Figaro Class, the immensely popular solo racer
Leading Edge
Smart as paint ? how about a hull coating that can change colour to absorb heat in winter, reflect it in summer and maybe measure hull stress?
What?s New
Budget GPS from Garmin, a portable weather station, waterproof jackets for your handheld VHF, breathable version of the Henri-Lloyd Deck Coat. Plus the video of Ellen MacArthur?s Vendée triumph
New Yachts
Maxi Dophin, a 65ft Mediterranean-style cruiser-racer, a high speed cruiser modelled on the Sydney-Hobart winner and the IMX 45, big sister to the 40
On test ? Contest 44CS
A radical wing keel makes a world of difference to this high-quality Dutch cruiser. Matthew Sheahan visits the factory and takes a spin in the North Sea
Witch craft
Named Strega, or ?witch? in Italian, this new version of the Spirit 37 lives up to her name. Matthew Sheahan falls under the spell
SuperSail
Camper & Nicholson (Yachts) undergo a management buy-out. Meanwhile, C&N International is bought by the Rodrigues Group. Plus a Dutch 55m project and new designs from New Zealand-based Alan Warwick
Poms and Prisoners
A pair of identical 76ft W-Class yachts, two crews of enthusiastic young sailors mostly from the UK and the Antipodes, a scattering of attractive female crew and an owner keen to establish a one-design class. All are out to have fun in Antigua Classic Week David Glenn was there
Yachts for sale
1000s of yachts in our brokerage pages
Classified ads
Summer bargains and sailing schools