From the Editor
It?s amazing what Ellen MacArthur has packed into just 26 years. Now she?s a household name in virtually every sailing nation in the world
On the wind
Kingfisher support Ellen for a further five years but she?ll skip the next Vendée Globe; Jules Verne Challengers line up for attempts on the record; another Millennium rig tumbles in Auckland and the end of the ?yellow boat?, best-known as Pete Goss?s Aqua Quorum
Countdown to the Cup
Kiwi Martin Tasker reports on the goings on along the Auckland waterfront as the syndicates warm up for the America?s Cup
Preece comment
The Admiral?s Cup goes west to Ireland but will the RORC?s new format be kill or cure for this once-prestigious international event?
Letters to the Editor
Tackling the emotive issue of carrying guns on boats; why insurance is set to rise; and advice to the Volvo boats on medical matters
Dogwatch
Fishy stories from our regular columnist John Passmore 36 White Christmas
On the Thursday before Christmas, towing a streamer of Cape petrels, the Mission Antarctica yacht 2041, with Elaine Bunting and crew aboard, headed out into the Drake Passage to sail to Antarctica. Under the leadership of ex-BT Challenge skipper Andy Dare, they found a place so impressively hostile it was like sailing on another planet
The Arctic is my Oyster
Taking a brand new Oyster 62 up to 80°N under sail seemed an ambitious plan for a summer cruise but when the crew hoped to bag all the Arctic?s natural marvels ? polar bears, reindeer, calving glaciers ? on the way, Claire Davies did not have high hopes. But among the islands of Svalbard there was a surprise in store
Cruising Log
Some outstanding cruises feature in this year?s Royal Cruising Club awards; Challenge Business take on Scottish whisky cruise; special report on piracy in the wake of Sir Peter Blake?s murder
Letter from the South Pacific
Brian Savage and Colleen Ryan sail in the wake of Captain Cook to the island of Vanuatu
Standing up to an Atlantic crossing
Andrew Bray reveals what worked and what didn?t during his yacht Firefly?s transatlantic crossing with the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. He considers how well the boat?s design and rig performed and assesses her equipment. Plus, Tim Thomas finds out how other ARC competitors fared and lists the full Rally results
Fishtales
As the America?s Cup hots up, Bob Fisher remembers the extraordinary 123ft New Zealand challenger KZ-1 of 198874 A twist in the tale
Headwinds, breakages ? even twisters ? hit the hard-pressed Volvo Ocean Race fleet on a punishing leg from Sydney to Auckland. Matthew Sheahan describes the intense action and Andy Rice looks at the toll this race is taking on the crews
Leading Edge
How can the building of domes for mosques have a spin-off in modern precision boatbuilding? It?s the tools involved, says Matthew Sheahan
London?s pride
There was less razzmatazz but more real action at this year?s London Boat Show. We bring you the best of the new boats and gear
Düsseldorf latest
News from Europe?s biggest show, Boot 2002
On test ? Grand Soleil 40
This yacht takes the Italian company one step further into performance cruiser territory. Matthew Sheahan tests her under sail while Tim Thomas looks at how she slots into an already crowded market
On test ? Laser SB3
A big dinghy or a small keelboat? Matthew Sheahan finds out
SuperSail