CRUISING
COVER STORY: 10 PERFECT DAYSAILS
BRITAIN’S BEST SHORT HOPS AND MINI-CRUISES
Short sails around the UK from the Solent to Scotland

SHIVERING TIMBERS
Martin Thomas enjoys a low-tech transatlantic passage

HEAD TO OLD KINSALE
Graham Snook gets the lowdown on Ireland’s culinary cruising capital from local yachtsman Mick Loughnane

COVER STORY: KEEL FAILURE
WHY HOOLIGAN V LOST HER KEEL
Chris Beeson examines the official report into the keel loss and fatal capsize of Hooligan V. Could it have been avoided?

COLLISION IN THE DOVER STRAIT
Helming an offshore RNLI boat was a lot of fun for Dick Durham, until he hit a Russian aircraft carrier

WAVE WARRIOR
Bill King is a pioneering yachtsman whose ambition to sail solo around the world was finally frustrated by a shark

THE CORIOLIS EFFECT?
Dick Durham seeks help from the boatyard Zen masters when an engine problem delays his summer cruise

SWEDEN’S BLUE RIBBON
Blue Water Letter: Andy O’Grady explores Sweden’s heartland

GLORY OR DEATH?
Was it bravery or madness to cross an ocean in a sailing canoe?

SAILING SKILLS
COVER STORY: GREEN SAILING
GOING GREEN
Should sailors worry about their environmental impact? If so, what can they do to become eco-friendly? Tom Cunliffe finds out

RUDERLESS TO HOLLAND
When their rudder failed in the North Sea, Robin and Susan Scholes jury-rigged a replacement to steer them to safety

BOOK REVIEWS
A browse through the latest sailing titles, from practical weather forecasting to the ’79 Fastnet

SKIPPER’S TIPS
Tracking storm clouds, heaving lines, and why offshore wind farms may cause hidden hazards

A QUESTION OF SEAMANSHIP
The wind is dead astern and building – what should you do?
ANY QUESTIONS
When should you use an EPIRB? PLUS: dealing with keel damage

BOATS AND GEAR

ONE MAN AND HIS BOAT: DESIGNER SAILS
Christoph Rassy circumnavigated in a yacht from his own yard

NEW BOAT TEST: HANSE HEARTBREAK
The Hanse 430e has knock-out looks and is a lively performer but what’s she like to live with, wonders Chris Beeson

NEW BOAT TEST: CHEAP THRILLS
The New Classic 700 is a 24ft trailer-sailer that costs less than £20,000! Dick Durham tests her out in a Force 7

USED BOAT TEST: A PRINCELY KONSORT
The Westerly Konsort was a classic of her time

NEW BOATS
YM’s pick of cruisers, racers, trailer-sailers and trimarans

NEW GEAR
An anchor chain counter, bespoke fenders and a smart sounder

COVER STORY: ELECTRONIC RESCUE AIDS
ELECTRONIC LIFELINES
Buyer’s guide to EPIRBs, SARTs and MOB rescue beacons