FEATURES

Eclipse guide

Where’s the best place to view the Eclipse? And it’s not Cornwall!

Small wonder

This classic Laurent Giles cruiser could be your perfect boat.

On test:

compass binoculars Which are best value? And which won the YM Award of Excellence?

Destinations

Our exciting new pull-out chart series casts off with two favourite yachtsmen’s haunts – Lymington, the picturesque New Forest port. Taste the oysters and wine in snug St Vaast, just round the corner from Cherbourg

Space – the final frontier
YM’s Starter Boat 20000 competition winners

Point higher, sail faster
Headsail trim explained in Sailpower part four

On test: Dehler 29
How does this sporty cruiser perform?

Atlantic hitchhiker
Crossing the pond the easy way

Fitting out special

Electronic rig testing, Copperbot – the verdict, masthead checks, look after your engine. PLUS 24 vital safety checks

Idle odyssey
Days of wine and barbeques in the Greek Peloponnese

REGULARS

• On watch
• Readers’ letters
• Charter news: The ultimate charter yacht. PLUS, quack sailing team
• Waterside property
• Blue water letter
• New gear
• Tried and tested: Collision Avoidance Radar Detector, Charger for alkaline batteries
• Any questions? YM’s experts answer your questions; rewiring, using your calorifier at anchor, Navtex for Med weather
• Libby Purves switches on to TV’s new watery soap
• Sailing skills: Question of seamanship, Learning curve, Des Sleightholme on the skipper’s thankless task, Tom Cunliffe’s Yachtmaster class, Skippers’ tips, Making a weather chart, Crew class: your new step-by-step guide to crewing skills. PLUS, Win a sailing weekend with the British Offshore Sailing School.
• Around the coast: Latest news from around the British Isles
• Around Europe Second-hand focus: Miles Kendall sails the Westerly Conway, PLUS, second-hand snapshots, over 1,500 boats for sale.
• The Confessional: Readers own up to their sailing sins