FREE: Vendee Globe 2000 CD-ROM preview in association with Mike Golding and Team Group 4. All you want to know about the non-stop singlehanded round the world race, from detailed studies of the 24 runners and riders, to a video tour of Team Group 4.

Vendee Globe 2000 preview. In the magazine James Boyd looks at the overall form of those taking part in the event, the design developments of the boats and the advent of the three top British campaigns of Mike Golding, Josh Hall and Ellen MacArthur. We talk to the British skippers about how they deal with the rigours of singlehanding and the thorny issues of capsize and sleep deprivation.

British Gold Rush in Sydney – racing correspondent and 49er sailor Andy Rice examines how British sailors managed to bring home the metalware from the Olympic Games

Alex Phillips wins the first leg of the BT Global Challenge. Elaine Bunting looks back at leg one which took the boats west across the north Atlantic to Boston.

Swan Cup, Sardinia – Matt Sheahan sails with Paul Cayard on the Swan 82RS Solleone

Cruising in the Bay of Fundy – John and Jane Gibb go beyond the Reversing Falls up the St Johns River in Canada.

Tenacious – Elaine Bunting sails on the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s new craft, the largest wooden sailing ship built in the UK in a century.

Offshore Essentials – watch keeping.

Southampton Boat Show report – we review the latest boats and gear from the show

Angostura/Yachting World Tobago regatta – Andrew Bray reports from the Caribbean’s hippest regatta and reviews the new Gib’Sea 43 charterers can sail there through the Moorings.

Maxi Worlds – Matt Sheahan sits on the weather rail on Wally B

Regulars:

News – Team Philips relaunched; RIB accident at Southampton Boat Show; The Race will go ahead; ‘350 million Portsmouth redevelopment; Alex Thomson takes over Millenium yachts; new Navtex services, weather on your WAP phone

Cruising Log – Army expedition to follow Shackleton’s voyage to the Antarctic; price of ARCS charts slashed; crowding in the Canaries; new marina in Medway; Detlef Jens on getting to Amsterdam without lowering your mast; ARC 2000 news Letter from the Mediterranean – from Gibraltar correspondent Tony Collingridge looks back at seven years spent cruising the Med

Xtreme Sailing – James Boyd profiles the latest offerings from designers Marc van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prevost, news from the 60ft trimaran circuit and a new British catamaran racing circuit

Supersail: J Class to race in Christchurch Bay next August; Le Grand Bleu in Dartmouth; Ed Dubois US$220 million worth of projects

Racing Round-Up – Andrew Preece on one design classes; Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup; One Ton Cup, Melges 24 Worlds; Swan World Cup 2000; Trophee Clairefontaine; Skiff Grand Prix

Robin Knox-Johnson – on his solo round Britain attempt

Leading Edge – Matt Sheahan sails an A-frame rig Etchell

Letters – Bill Cooper advocates less nannying; safety issues; comment on watermakers, Thorny Questions – why does prop walk happen?

Andrew Bray on watchkeeping and collision

Firefly: an update from the editor on progress with his new H42

Dogwatch: John Passmore on the gentleman’s era of yachting

Fishtales: Bob Fisher on Sir Alex Rose