FREE with this issue: The Essential Weather Rail Handbook – all you need to do to succeed on the water at Skandia Life Cowes Week. This vital guide includes: tips and tricks from Solent sailing gurus Peter Bruce, Ian Lallow and Chris Hill former Met Office boss David Houghton on Solent weather strategy Cowes Week social diary, a guide to the daily tides in the Solent a useful table for comparing handicaps with the competition.

Cover story: Ellen MacArthur wins the Europe 1 New Man STAR. Britain’s 23 year old solo sailing starlette tells Assistant Editor James Boyd how she won the first race sailed in her new Open 60 Kingfisher. Plus we profile the race’s unexpected overall winner Francis Joyon.

Force 12 off Shetland. Dogwatch correspondent John Passmore recounts how he survived after his Heavenly Twins catamaran was flipped during one of the most severe north Atlantic depressions on record midways through his non-stop circumnavigation of the British Isles

After eight years touring the world by motorbike, Keith Kimber describes how he and girlfriend Tania were forced to take to the high seas on a wooden boat they bought for $2,500.

The engineless society: David Glenn reports on three sailing classics from Antigua

On Test: we sail Moody’s new flagship, the 54

Yachting World ARC Europe: David Glenn caught up with the fleet as they arrived in Horta from Bermuda.

Leading Edge – Matt Sheahan looks at Victron’s revolutionary new generator

What’s New: we review the latest Fleming self steering; Raytheon ST40, Poly-Planar waterproof loudspeakers, Oakley shaded and wear, Swiftech handheld VHF, lightweight Westerbeke generator PLUS a focus on crew jackets.

New Yachts: Gib’Sea 43; Chuck Paine Firefly; Solaris 52, 84ft carbon Reichel-Pugh maxi; Jutson cruiser for Kay Cottee; Gran Turismo 35, Farr Pilot House 56 and Attol 37.

Cruising Log: Fijian coup; Galapagos tax permit relaxed; high level of Caribbean hurricanes forecast; 200 entries in next ARC; technical focus on Boom Breaks

PLUS Letter from the Dodecanese by Tony Collingridge.

Racing Round up – Andrew Preece asks will the performance of Ellen and Mike Golding spur on the French? PLUS: Stars sail the Corel 45s, Dennis Conner signs with NYYC, reports from the Scottish Series, World March Racing Championships and Star Worlds and Andy Rice profiles British Olympic contenders Ian Walker and Mark Covell.

Extreme Sailing: after signing up Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth for his America’s Cup campaign, Ernesto Bertarelli has now launched one of the fastest light weather boats in the world – a catamaran for Lake Geneva.

Columns: Bob Fisher on the speed of Britannia, while Robin Knox-Johnston on the history and spirit behind solo sailing across the north Atlantic

Letters: Tom Perkins on modifications to Mariette; Velsheda crew’s cork test; Koch comments criticised; salvage law; selective availability

Supersail: recreating Britannia; Olin Stephen to consult for new J Ranger; will Australia II make it to next year’s America’s Cup Jubilee?; yacht for Prada boss; PLUS Designer Butch Dalrymple-Smith on his ground breaking giant, the 159ft Georgia.