Features

• Victory for Essex Man
  Cruising man Dick Durham joins his countymen and women aboard the 12 Metre Victory for a place in the Americaís Cup Jubilee.
  
  
• Cruising to Ireland
  Adrian Morgan sails to Emerald Isle where, among other things, they discover a bar which sells charts as well as Guinness!

• The lost art of heaving-to
  Simon Jinks explains the finer points of heaving-to, a skill that enables you to stop underway to ride out heavy weather or just have a cup of tea.

• Bumbling to Bembridge
  A family sailing weekend with two daughters, a neurotic dog, foul tide, and peverse wind reveals hidden depths for Miranda Delmar-Morgan

• Secure for Sea
  Nigel Calder puts all things under lock and key on board hanging loose they can become deadly missiles.

• Charm has a ball
  Martin Thomas was at the Portsmouth Festival of the Sea in his classic Fife, Charm of Rhu. Read his participantís eye-view of the maritime spectacle
  
  
• Destinations with free pull-out chart
  Morbihan is a fascinating inland sea, dotted with islands and anchorages and rich in Breton charm.

• Dark Encounter
  A ëmaritime Ramboí gives Alastair Buchan a scare during a rough night near Cuba.
  
  
• Could you sail blind?
  Dick Durham blindfolded himself with a galley tea-towel to discover the problems faced by the increasing number of blind people who go cruising
  
  
• Shadowfax in the Arabian Gulf
  Our gallant duo continue their cruise from Hong Kong to London in part five from Yemen into the Red Sea.
  
  
• Azores Graffiti
  Yachts from all over the world get to leave their calling card in paint on the harbour wall of Horta. Annie Hill leaves hers too.
  
  
• Southampton Show Review
  All the latest on new gear, boats and equipment from the YM team at the 33rd Southampton Boat Show

On Test

• Grand Soleil 43
  James Jermain makes a wake in the Medway with a boat from the Med.

• Invicta 26
  This sea-kindly boat still cuts a dash with pretty lines, as Simon Jinks discovers

• A-Z Second-hand boats all about Dehlers well-built, innovative cruisers from Germany plus cruising Drascombes

Regulars

• Editorial
  
• On watch
  
• Subscriptions & Next Month
  
• Readers’ letters
  
• Any questions?
  
• YM books
  
• Libby Purves-a sauna with Antarctic ice
  
• Blue Water Letter-Niki Perryman discovering Maine
  
• Blue Water Postscript
  
• New Gear
• Boat buyers’ guide