From the Editor
After what happened in the last Vendée Globe, when 20 per cent of the fleet suffered keel failures, are canting keels too big a risk for the Volvo Open 70s as they are driven hard round the world?

On the Wind
The legacy of Tracy Edwards’s much-publicised bankruptcy; all-star billings in the French double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre; Ben Ainslie wins an unprecedented fourth Finn Gold Cup; getting close to the action on the America’s Cup ‘Big Buoy’

The Walrus
Yachts have had the minimalist Wally look, the metro loft treatment, could the next trend be beach hut chic? The Walrus has some suggestions

Letters
Alternative ideas for the treatment of seasickness; film stars on the Tofinou daysailer; compatibility problems with charting software; and why can’t you climb onto the decks of yachts at the Show ?

Robin Knox-Johnston
Robin is turned back by unusually heavy ice this summer along the coast of Greenland

Gear – tools or toys?
Do handheld chartplotters offer a viable alternative to their full-scale cousins, or are they gadgets for those who like everything in miniature? Elaine Bunting investigates

Coutts turns yacht designer
A light-displacement flyer with a cloud of sail marks the debut of Russell Coutts, yacht designer. Tim Jeffery talks to the America’s Cup legend about the RC 44 and his new career path

Autumn showcase
This year’s Southampton Boat Show had an embarrassment of new yachts on offer. The Editorial team pounded the aisles to hunt out the most interesting of them for this eight-page review

Leading Edge
Video technology has come a long way since those black and white games of TV tennis we used to play. Now you can receive real-time sailing animation on your mobile phone
ARC 20: Setting our sights on the Caribbean
This year marks the 20th running of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, the event that has done more than anything to encourage people to cross to the Caribbean. Elaine Bunting traces the milestones

Transatlantic top 10
With 200 boats crossing each year, the ARC offers a fascinating insight into the types of boats people sail. Matthew Sheahan highlights the top ten favourite models chosen for the crossing

Luscious St Lucia
When participants reach St Lucia, they often rush off before they see what the island has to offer, says Mike Kopman – and there are some surprises in store

Planning a Caribbean season
Caribbean pilot guru Chris Doyle offers his personal top ten of places to visit in the islands – and his choice of restaurants not to be missed

Short circuit
Elaine Bunting sets out to circumnavigate Antigua, but gets sidetracked . . .

Va-va-Volvo!
The new VO70s are bigger, faster and more powerful than their predecessors, so although only seven are taking part, the Volvo Ocean Race has the potential for high drama. Matthew Sheahan takes a close look at the new boat and Ed Gorman talks to Paul Cayard

Fife preservers
The craftsmen at Fairlie Restorations built their reputation on Fife classics, but their latest offering is a new design inspired by Alfred Mylne

Cruising
Arctic to Antarctic in a Hobie 21; locals are dismayed by the decommissioning of UK lighthouses; plus the advantages of sharing your cruising with friends – and how to persuade them to come!

Great Seamanship
If ever there were a tale to highlight the fact that the most dangerous part of a voyage is the landfall, this is it! David Lewis approaches ice-bound Anvers Island under jury rig after a solo passage to Antarctica

Racing
Action at Acts 6 and 7 of the America’s Cup in Sweden; Matthew Sheahan talks to the youngest billionaire syndicate head, who is still at university . . .

SuperSail
The new 130ft Wally is claimed to be the ‘fastest upwind monohull’; Maximus gets in trouble at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup; and two canters from Castro

Yachts for sale
1,000s of boats in our Brokerage pages

Classified Ads
End of season bargains in our classified pages

Last word
. . . from top female navigator Adrienne Cahalan