From the Editor
Beware when sailing on the west coast of Canada. OK, in northern Europe we have big tides and unpredictable weather but at least we don’t have rapids . . .

On the wind
America’s Cup rematch? Matthew Sheahan heads for San Francisco for the first of the planned events leading up to the next Cup. Plus, the Britons squaring up to the French in the Transat Jacques Vabre, Peter Harrison’s new 115ft cruiser, first leg finish of the Mini Transat and the launch of the new Ranger hits a snag

Win a ‘lifetime’ of Sunsail holidays!
A week’s Sunsail holiday for the next 25 years? It’s got to be one of the best competition prizes around

Andrew Preece
After Australia II won the America’s Cup everybody wanted a winged keel. Now we’re hearing the same noises about canting keels

Letters to the Editor
A plea for tolerance among sailors; design debate over the IMS600 boats; discussions on the standard of Yachtmaster qualifications

Leading Edge
Like the AA man, who comes to your car with a laptop, boat systems of the future could be making their own diagnosis of their needs

Dogwatch
Airs and disgraces – it should be a simple matter to get air flowing into your boat . . .

Ocean ready: to rally or not?
Many cruisers choose to take part in a rally or a cruise in company, especially for their first ocean crossing, but there can be great advantages in going it alone. Brian Savage and Colleen Ryan discuss the pros and cons

Robin Knox-Johnston
Scientists have now confirmed the existence of freak waves up to 30m, once dismissed as a mariner’s myth. But how do you deal with it when faced with such a monster out at sea?

Cruising Log
We publish a series of chilling pictures of a yacht lost in minutes as she entered a small harbour in settled weather – it could happen to anyone . . . Plus a preview of this year’s Atlantic Rally for Cruisers

Letter from the Red Sea
Brian Savage and Colleen Ryan were prepared for weeks of sailing on the wind, unhelpful officials, maybe even pirates, but they weren’t prepared for the breathtaking beauty of Red Sea anchorages

Golding’s great hope
Elaine Bunting sails from Belgium to Southampton with Mike Golding on the maiden voyage of his new turbocharged Open 60 Ecover, which he hopes will bring him glory in next year’s Vendée Globe

Avoid the rain in Spain
Cheap flights and low mooring costs have encouraged yachtsmen to escape the rain and head for the Med to keep their boats in the sun. Andrew Bray went to Spain to investigate ‘easyJet cruising’

In the heart of the Grenadines
Why has the biggest Caribbean charter company chosen as their new base a tiny, undeveloped island in the Grenadines? David Glenn flew to Canouan to find out

Hotshots
Two of the hottest racers in the Solent this summer were Aera and Wild Oats, which wowed the congnoscenti of Cowes. Just why were these new boats the talk of the yacht clubs? asks Matthew Sheahan

Sun shines on Southampton
We feature the best of the new boats and gear on show at one of the most successful Southampton Boat Shows in many a year

What’s New
A clever new alarm to warn of dragging anchors; snug undies for winter sailing; satcom for smaller yachts and a packaway passerelle

New Yachts
New Swan 601 one-design; two powerful cruisers from New Zealand; Solaris 36 ? is this the new Sigma 33? ? and debutantes from Dufour

On test: multiple choice
Three mid-50-footers from Europe’s top production builders: the Bénéteau 57, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54DS and the Grand Soleil 56

Supersail news
February launch set for 90ft Dubois canting keeler; Briand celebrates 30 years of design; a 38m aluminium sloop from Perini

Cracking the Code
And talking of Perini, David Glenn takes a close look at their largest ever yacht, the 210ft Felicità west, to see how they complied with the MCA Code of Practice, an issue which is currently causing headaches among superyacht designers

Ellen MacArthur
Ellen and partner Alain Gautier prepare for the Transat Jacques Vabre