Yachting Monthly and Musto have teamed up to encourage you to put pen to paper and share the stories of your adventures afloat. The very first issue of Yachting Monthly in 1906 opened with an invitation for readers to send in accounts of their cruises and the advice still stands:
‘We shall be glad to receive the best cruising stories,’ wrote editor Herbert Reiach. ‘We want the actual experience of our writers, but we require them to be transmittable to others.’
So send us your cruising stories. We’re not after detailed logs or navigation notes, but an entertaining account illustrated with photographs, sketches or paintings.
Trips around the bay with the family will be considered as equally meritorious as solo voyages around the Great Capes.
The winner will be kitted out from head to toe in £1,500 of Musto Performance Clothing and a leading marine artist will be commissioned to paint a watercolour of their boat. The authors of shortlisted nominations will receive a plaque for their boat and the winning entry will be published in YM. Two runners-up will receive £750 and £500 of Musto Performance Clothing.
The winners will be picked by a judging panel including Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, YM’s editor Paul Gelder and Janet Murphy of Adlard Coles. Accounts should be no longer than 1,800 words. Entries can be submitted as hard copy or on CD or DVD by post, or via email.
Please send copies, not originals where possible. Only original artwork will be returned. No responsibility will be accepted for lost or damaged entries. The author’s name, address and telephone number should be included.
Entries must be received by 31 October 2006. The winner will be announced at the London Boat Show.

Post your entries to: Musto Magic of Cruising Awards, Yachting Monthly, King’s Reach Tower, Stamford St, London SE1 9LS. Or email your text (Word or .pdf) to yachting_monthly@ipcmedia.com