From the Editor
What happened to the predicted bad year for hurricanes? Somehow it didn’t quite happen

On the Wind
Disastrous start to the Velux 5-Oceans solo round the world race as storm force winds decimate the fleet; Challenge Business goes under; draconian punishment for pirates

The Walrus
It takes all sorts to cross an ocean, from the Good Lifers to the Party Boys

Letters
Unfair to Trinidad – crime not rife here; keeping out of date flares; Metre Class regatta

Robin Knox-Johnston
Rope tales – the downside of synthetics

Gear
Batteryless torch; watch waterproof to 600m; tested: the Tiki Navigator chartplotter

Leading Edge
Brush up on your DR, because the next burst of solar flare activity in 2012 could knock out GPS, scientists are warning

Yachts
From Moodys to superyachts, how Bill Dixon Design has gone from strength to strength. Plus the daysailer phenomenon at the Annapolis Boat Show

On test: sports cruisers
This new type of cruiser-with-a-kick relies on good looks as well as performance for its appeal. But is it just a case of style over substance? Matthew Sheahan tests three examples: the Dehler 44, Grand Soleil 43 and Maxi 1300

Big day out in St Tropez
Fantastic conditions, spectacular yachts, stunning photographs – this nine-page picture feature shows the world’s classics in their element at this year’s Les Voiles de St Tropez regatta

True Spirit of Bond
When Mick Newman of Spirit Yachts was asked to supply one of his lovely yachts to star in the new Bond movie, he was shaken but not stirred. How to get a 54-footer to the Bahamas and then into the Grand Canal in Venice for filming . . .

In the shadow of the tsunami
On the surface all seems back to normal in the islands off Phuket in Thailand, but a charter yacht can get to places other tourists cannot reach, where evidence of the devastating Boxing Day tsunami of two years ago is still visible. Elaine Bunting explores

Cruising on the level
When one of the world’s top naval architects creates his own yacht you have to take note. We sail a version of Gerry Dijkstra’s design, the Efes 56

Practical cruising
Downwind sails for cruising. If spinnakers give you the shivers and Code sails leave you cold, this guide from Andrew Roberts to the best sails for downwind cruising will help you learn to love them

Cruising
Runaway boat thieves found shot dead off West Africa; coastal sports boost RNLI rescue figures; engine failure skipper praised by Coastguard for timely call. Plus: avoiding piracy hotspots – Jimmy Cornell advocates the long route home via the Cape of Good Hope

Great Seamanship
Bailing for their lives. When novice sailor David Mercy joined a 27-footer heading for Antarctica, he found himself up to his knees in icy water

Racing
It’s expensive but it’s worth it – the TP52 class is where the hottest racing has been happening and an owner-driver beat the pros at their own game. Plus: fighting for 4th – the America’s Cup teams in the running for a place in the semi-finals

Inside Alinghi
Tour over and it’s off to Dubai for winter training

SuperSail
From the Superyacht Cup Palma where David Glenn is initiated into the pleasures of pursuit racing from the deck of the 41m Scheherazade

One Amazing Day
Fear and fun in equal measures for Nigel Musto in the Round Britain and Ireland Race