CRUISING
ATLANTIC VIRGINS
IN FOR THE LONG HAUL
How does the reality of an Atlantic crossing live up to the expectations? Miles Kendall meets the ARC crews to find out

BOAT SHOW VERDICT
SHOWDOWN AT EXCEL
Did the new look London Boat Show draw in the crowds?
JAILBIRDS OF THE AMAZON
Cruising up the Amazon, the Payne family encounter tarantulas spiders and a have brush with the law

SCOTLAND’S SAILING MECCA
CRUISING COMPANION: OBAN
Oban is at the heart of Scottish sailing, says Mike Balmforth
BLUE WATER LETTER: ANNIE HILL
Annie anchors in the middle of the Pacific

SAIL LIKE 007
BOATING LIKE BOND
David Fairhall cruises to Venice ahead of James Bond
EAST COAST EXPLORATIONS
SHALLOW SEAS AND SWATCHWAYS
The magic of the Essex estuaries has not faded, says Ken Endean
OCEAN PIONEERS: HELL IN THE PACIFIC
A solo ocean crossing in an 18ft dayboat almost ends in disaster

SAILING SKILLS
COULD YOUR WIFE SAVE YOUR LIFE?
IN NEED OF A LIFT
A cruising couple test simple and fast MOB recovery techniques
LEARNING CURVE: KNOCKDOWN!
A daysail in the Med turns into a fight against monster waves
SKIPPER’S TIPS
The secret of predicting fog, quick plots and more
QUESTION OF SEAMANSHIP
A berthing manoeuvre’s gone wrong – what would you do next?
ANY QUESTIONS?
What size lifejacket? Should I import a boat from the US?
BOATWORKS: FITTING A HEATER
Graham Snook is shown how to fit a heater by the experts

BOATS AND GEAR
LONDON BOAT SHOW
NEW GEAR
All the latest gear and equipment from ExCel
NEW BOATS
The newest boat designs straight from the show stands
NEW BOAT TEST: NORDSHIP 40DS
This high quality Danish cruiser has a tough, go-anywhere hull and custom-designed interior

ALL POWERED UP
Sixteen inverters are lab tested. Which is the best buy?
USED BOATS: PEDIGREE CRUISERS
Six 35ft-40ft offshore family cruisers from the 1990s
READERS’ BOATS: LEGEND 44
They may have a sailing Olympic gold medallist in the family but David and Gillian Percy enjoy cruising, says Sam Brunner

REGULARS
EDITOR’S LOG
Escaping the rat race
OPENING SHOT
Container chaos…
NEWS
New show for Earl’s Court?
READERS’ LETTERS
Your views and opinions
LIBBY PURVES
Turn the world into a boat show!
CUNLIFFE ON CRUISING
Comfort and safety is a question of balance, says Tom Cunliffe

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AROUND THE COAST
What’s been happening in your home waters?
CONFESSIONAL
Yachtsmen confess their sailing sins