TECHNICAL CHECK YOUR DECK FITTINGS

What’s really going on under your deck fittings? Ben Sutcliffe-Davies investigates the hidden weaknesses

ADVENTURE HELL OR HIGH SEAS

Taylor Grieger and Stephen O’Shea faced pirates, navigated the Furious Fifties and came to blows during a life-changing voyage from Florida around Cape Horn

Why motor-sailing is good seamanship

Pete Goss looks at the times it can pay to switch on the engine, making life easier and allowing for better sailing

A WEEK AFLOAT SCOTLAND

Breathtaking scenery, a plethora of cruising grounds and friendly locals make cruising the West Coast from Oban round the Isle of Mull an unforgettable experience, says Norman Kean

HOME WATERS - RECAPTURING AN EAST COAST CHILDHOOD

Nick Ardley helps a New Zealand expat relive some of his memories of sailing along the Thames Estuary as a boy

A dream fulfilled

Peter Kersey experiences a lively channel crossing aboard the Brixham trawler Provident

Southampton Water to Shamrock Quay

Southampton Water, what could be easier? A wide, almost straight, well-mapped route to the city, a bit like the M3. In daylight it is straightforward but at night the navigation marks, so obvious on the chart, get lost amongst the multitude of shore lights. To port is another blaze of lights from Fawley, one of the biggest oil refineries in Europe.

TECHNICAL DON'T FLOOD YOUR ENGINE!

Water in the cylinders is enough to destroy an engine, but it's easy to do by mistake, says Vyv Cox

Night sailing top tips

Toby Heppell is sailing editor of Yachting Monthly. He has been sailing his whole life and writing about it for many years

FIRST TEST X49

A stylish performance cruiser that is manageable short-handed and gets you to your destination fast

HOME WATERS - SECRET IRELAND

Armed with a new drone, Norman Kean and his wife Geraldine explore some of the lesser-known cruising grounds as they circumnavigate Ireland

Entering harbour at night

James Stevens looks at how best to prepare for arriving at an unfamilar harbour after dark and what to be aware of

Dealing with isolation

Solo yachtsman Conrad Humphreys shares the lessons he learned while competing in the 2004-05 Vendée Globe

Channel crossing mishaps

Rob Jordan tells Janet Floyer about a rough passage and a fouled prop while sailing from Dartmouth to Guernsey with young offenders

ADVENTURE - THE LANDS OF GIANTS & LEGENDS

Ben Kemp shares the delights of exploring Northern Ireland, the Hebrides and St Kilda by sail with his young family

A WEEK AFLOAT THE IONIAN, GREECE

A friendly welcome awaits Lu Heikell as she explores the picturesque bays and coves of the Ionian’s Inland Sea

What Would You Do In A Spinnaker Situation?

Q Penny and a group of friends are racing her Sigma 33 in the Autumn Series. Penny and two of the crew are regulars along with two beginners who, while keen, are losing valuable seconds in the race by making up sheets the wrong way round the winches and other basic mistakes.

12 Anchoring Problems Solved

Yachting Monthly's experts share the problems they have most often faced when anchoring, and how they troubleshoot their way out

STAGNES, ISLES OF SCILLY

Dag Pike explores one of the gems of the Isles of Scilly, discovering wildlife and gastronomic delights

OSTAR 60 & STILL GOING STRONG

Blondie Hasler’s biographer Ewen Southby-Tailyour looks at the origins of the Corinthian race and its enduring legacy

‘A putrid smell of burnt oil, fuel and resin...'

When a neighbouring yacht caught fire Michael Roberts’ beloved Tern didn’t stand a chance. Here he recounts the devastating scene awaiting him...

HOME WATERS MAGICAL MULL

Wildlife encounters, unrivalled scenery and challenging pilotage await Brian Black as he circumnavigates the second largest island in the Inner Herbrides

FIRST TEST BTC-22

As the first sporty 22-footer we have seen from a British builder in a long time, the BTC-22 is set to fill a significant gap in the market

PIERRE HUGLO - A LONELY WILD VOYAGE

Pierre Huglo took 221 days to race his engineless Contessa 32 round the world non-stop and single-handed. He told Jessie Rogers why he can’t wait to return

A WEEK AFLOAT THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

Lu Heikell discovers picturesque anchorages and buzzing cultural hubs while sailing between Toulon, Marseille and St. Tropez

PACIFIC SEACRAFT 40

Double-enders might not be fashionable, but they make excellent seaboats for long-term cruising, as Duncan Kent discovers...

‘No one else would hear the transmission'

In stormy weather during the AZAB Race, Phil Pryor and his skipper James Moore found themselves needing to respond to a dismasting

Keeping warm

Summer may be on its way but springtime and night sailing can still be cold affairs. Toby Heppell looks at how best to stay warm on board whether you are sailing in spring, summer, autumn or winter

TECHNICAL START YOUR ENGINES

Dennison Berwick gives you a complete guide to getting your engine fired up and ready for the new season

From sail to summit

Sam Griffiths reveals the highs and lows of Shrewsbury School Hunt Running Club’s debut in the twoday Scottish Islands Peaks Race