THE MATTHEW - How do you recreate a 15th century vessel from just its tonnage and number of crew? Colin Mudie, the designer of the Bristol '96 flagship, explains

FESTIVALS GUIDE - Cruise to the top trad boat events with our indispensable guide to the classics of '96

ROYAL WESTERN - The tenth RWYC single-handed transatlantic race starts next month. Ian Dear heads west to find out where it all began

A SYDNEY SURVIVOR - Sixty years ago they worked the city's harbour. Today they come in GRP with teak trim

BROOKE'S OF LOWESTOFT (Pt 3) - The war years were boom years for the East Coast's best-known boat yard, says Brooke archivist Peter Hansford

BARBARY - Eroll Rynn had a string of leading ladies, one of them was the Colin Archer Barbary. Anthony Dalton meets her in New Zealand

SHIPWRIGHT'S NOTES - John Teale discusses the benefits of timber vs carbon fibre masts, and Steven Reynolds sorts out the dry rot in his sitka mizzen

BUILDING A FLATTIE - With the hull of our 9ft dinghy all planked up, it's time to get caulking and fitting out

EDITORIAL - Stop burning our boats
TELL TALES - Tools and varnish for boatbuilders
LETTERS - Spotting the Eights; Vertual twin
NEXT MONTH - Putting the Fastnet on canvas
SOUNDING OFF - Robin Gates is all for heritage
CALENDAR - A full spread of events
JOHN TEALE...on the Jubilee Trust's Tall Ship

PROFILE - Lord Brab's paid hand Bowley Russel

CHARTER & BROKERAGE

WOODWISE - Using salt for timber preservation

SUBSCRIPTIONS - Get your free chart for the season
VIDEO OFFER - Gaffers and hookers aplenty
LAZARETTE - Kit, bits, books and Ex Libris
USEFUL ADDRESSES
ARCHIVES
STERNPOST - Hirta's life before Tom Cunliffe