See what's inside October's Yachting Monthly

Cruising

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*40 tips from yachtsmen for yachtsmen
Miles Kendall asks Rally Portugal skippers for their advice

*Marathon men
Hugh Marriott meets the ‘grumpy old men’ who sailed around Cape Horn in a 33ft yacht

*VILLAGE HAVENS
There are great overnight spots away from towns and harbours, says Ken Endean

*queenborough and the swale
This corner of the Garden of England is a potterer’s paradise, reports Dick Durham. PLUS: Free waypoint chart

*BLUE WATER LETTER
Andy O’Grady heads to Greenland from North America

*HEART SURGERY FOR YOUR BOAT
When it comes to diesel engines it’s vital to get the basic set up right from the start, explains Nigel Calder

*TAHITI OR OXFORD?
The fascinating story of the Wylo II design: a shoal-draught ocean yacht that has been cruised from pole to pole

*A DAY IN THE LIFE?
Miranda Delmar-Morgan spends a day with Southamton Harbour’s patrol boat

*GIPSY MOTH IV
Ellen MacArthur and Giles Chichester aboard GMIV

Boats and gear

*New boat test: Bénéteau cyclades 39
Bénéteau’s new cruiser is full of innovations, says James Jermain

*USED BOAT TEST: kingfisher 30
This bullet-proof, bilge-keeled cruiser won’t break the bank

*DIGITAL ENTRY
Eight budget DSC VHF radios on test

*new gear
The pick of new products

*HAVING A BLAst
Is sodablasting the best way to strip old antifoul, asks Toby Hodges
Sailing skills

*singlehanded sailor
Tom Cunliffe on successful solo sailing skills

*out of our depth
Evans Starzinger almost ends up on a reef

*skipper’s tips
Going aground, flapping leech lines and happy crew

*Question of seamanship
Leaving this anchorage poses a problem

*Any Questions
Is Ellen breaking the law? Plus solar showers

*THE TOOLS FOR THE JOB
Mark Corke opens his box of essential tools

Regulars

*Editor’S LOG
The view from the helm

*Opening shot
Gipsy Moth IV, Suhali and Lively Lady

*News
What you need to know

*Readers’ letters
Your right of reply

*LIBBY PURVES
Sailing and real life should mix, says Libby

*Cunliffe on Cruising
Tom Cunliffe considers marine manners

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*Around the coast
What’s been happening in your home waters?

*Next month
Sneak preview of what’s over the horizon

*Confessional
Yachtsmen share their sailing sins