Sailing Skills

Essential skills for rafting up
James Stevens offers advice on the benefits, pitfalls and etiquette of rafting alongside others

Stepping up to Day Skipper
Take the lead on board with confidence. Georgie Stocker takes charge and shares some lessons

Should I stay or should I go? Faced with deteriorating weather, would you leave the boat in harbour or get it home. With James Stevens

‘My boat was holed and nearly sank at her mooring’
In a hurricane-force squall in Poros, Richard Smith’s yacht suffered damage

Cruising

A mountaineering cruise to St Kilda
Climbing and wilderness sailing veteran Bob Shepton strikes out into the Atlantic

Great expectations
Having never sailed before, Holly Turner’s adventure took her across oceans and into motherhood afloat

Profile: Susie Goodall
With no GPS or modern electronics, next year’s Golden Globe Race will certainly be unusual. Sue Pelling went to meet 28-year-old Susie Goodall, one of its youngest entrants, to find out more

Conquer the Minkies under sail
Ken Endean explains how to explore the fearsome-looking rocks at the UK’s southern outpost

Anchorage: Hope Cove, South Devon
This unspoilt, often overlooked haven on Devon’s south coast can be a great anchorage, says Dag Pike

Gear & Boats

New Boat Test: Hanse 388
Graham Snook thinks this is one of the best coastal cruisers in her class. She offers excellent handling under sail as well as high levels of comfort, but how good is she?

Yacht stability and the misleading ballast ratio
Many things affect your yacht’s stability, but are you measuring it correctly?

New Gear Value deck glands • New cleaning materials • Weatherproof amplifier • A winter coat for the coldest of days on the water

Tried & tested
Imray’s new charting app offers the ease of modern navigation with the clarity of paper charts, but does it pass muster?

Used boat test: Wauquiez Centurion 48s
Dick Durham falls for the charm of this truly modern thoroughbred