Features

• West Country hotspots
  Far from the Madding Crowd. Mark Fishwick picks his top 10 West Country hideaways for your summer cruise

• Bikes aboard
  The freedom of travel when cruising can be extended ashore by shipping a
  bicycle on board. Christine Tout reports

• Rally Portugal
  Yachting Monthly?s Rally Portugal may be a popular and well-organised way of crossing Biscay, but as Dick Durham discovered, no one can schedule favourable winds

• How to read sea breezes
  A sailor?s summer-time blessing, Tom Cunliffe analyses how and when they happen and the ways to read them

• Cross-country cruising
  In part two of his short-cut from the Med, Andrew Smyth takes his Moody Eclipse 43 through the Canal du Midi

• Group test: two-way radios
  Toby Hodges and Mike Kopman test 16 pairs of walky-talkies and find they can be a real social saviour to have on board

• Green for Galicia
  Some Galician delights welcome Mike and Alison Balmforth as they sail their Dawn 39 along Spain?s dramatic north-west coastline

• Destinations: Sark
  The smallest of the four main Channel Islands, and devoid of cars, Sark is a timeless , unspoilt sanctuary, writes Peter Cumberlidge

• Westcoasting
  In part six of his Westcoasting passage to Scotland, Ken Endean finds a rich maritime history and relaxed lifestyle on the Isle of Man

• AZAB report
  James Jermain was at Falmouth to witness an incident-packed start to this year?s Azores and Back Race

• Hatches and portlights
  Simon Jinks offers some handy tips from experts on how to replace old portlights and hatcheson a 14-year-old
  production cruiser
  

Sailing Skills

• A Question of Seamanship
• Learning curve ? ?catsize!?
  Skipper Claire Toohey and her four crew spend 12 hours on a capsized catamaran in the Solent

• Yachtmaster class
  Tom Cunliffe discusses the weather?s influence on tidal heights

• Sailing Quiz
  Win one of Transas Nautic?s NaviGator Pro chart-software packages

• Better Boat Handling
  Simon Jinks offers some Med mooring tips

• Knots
  A pole hitch helps to carry awkward items

• Sea sense Des Sleightholme
  Fenderly does it against the quay wall
  

On Test

• Sweden Yachts 42
  Force 9 winds and 9m waves during a delivery trip from Sweden provide ample conditions for James Jermain to test this latest fast cruiser

• Dufour 34
  James Jermain reports on a sparkling performer that is difficult to steer badly and has a finger-light touch
  on the helm, giving instant feedback

Every Month

• Editorial

• On Watch
  The best sailing news pages
  
  
• Readers? letters

• YM Books

• YM subscriptions

• Any Questions?

• Next month

• Libby Purves
  
• Blue Water Letter
  Niki Perryman reports from the ?sawdust zone? in New Zealand
  
• New Gear

• A-Z of second-hand boats
  Rivals and Rustlers finish the Rs as we move onto the Sadler saga
  
• Around the coast

• Property

• The Confessional