SAILING SKILLS

Expert On Board: Safer sailing made easy
Tom Cunliffe shares his 60-minute checklist to make sure any yacht you sail is seaworthy

What first time catamaran skippers need to know
Chris Beeson find out whether chartering a catamaran requires a new set of skills

A question of seamanship
‘What do you do if a day-sail goes wrong?

Any questions?
• Why have I got gelcoat blisters?
• Why are boats so fat?

Skipper’s tips
• Non-Flemish eye
• Smart antifouling
• A helping hand

CRUISING

‘How I tackled 8-knot tides in the Bristol Channel’
Jonty Pearce sails from Sharpness to Cardiff, riding strong currents and tidal gates

Vodka and visas on a cruise to St Petersburg
With friends betting against his success, Paul Baker sets out across the Baltic for Russia’s coast

Cruising log
Readers cruising experiences, including sailing from Poole to Dartmouth and navigating the locks of the French canals

Pilotage: Cruising guide to the British Virgin Islands
Could the British Virgin Islands be close to the perfect cruising destination?

Cowes Week
A look ahead to one of the world’s oldest sailing regattas

Review: New Swallows and Amazons film
Dick Durham gives his verdict on the adaptation of of this classic children’s sailing story

Piracy hotspots on the high seas
Sailor and former anti-piracy commander Gerry Northwood OBE explains why piracy is on the rise

GEAR & BOAT REVIEWS

Group gear test: Digital radar revolution
Which digital radar is best? Duncan Kent tests the four of the latest high-resolution scanners

Where is the best place to stow your lifearaft?
Wherever you sail, a liferaft is important but where you keep it is key, says Duncan Kent

Anatomy of a lifearaft
How does ISO 9650 affect your liferaft’s design?

New gear
• WiFi NMEA multiplexer
• SAR LED light
• Fast-dry sailing shorts

New boat test: Bavaria Cruiser 34
Bavaria’s new cruiser might look familiar, but there are changes you can’t see, says Graham Snook

Tried and tested
• Chatham waterproof leather boots
• Gul softshell jacket