SWS readers can hear a conversation from earlier this week with Tom Robinson, live from the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Each Day we lived in hope that we would discover a Contessa, that was within our budget, but such was their reputation, that they rarely came on the market, and when they did the instant demand spiralled the price right out of our reach.

Sal and Mark - Editors of SWS - walk you through what’s to be undertaken in the 8 weeks prior to departure.

The child of Cambodian refugees Rita found her way to boats via a ‘curiosity of floating’. This led her to questioning, how do boats work? Having just completed a three month introduction to boatbuilding, this young shipwright is looking for an apprenticeship. Can you help her?

Given the development of user friendly measurement handicap systems over the last few years I think the time has come for one of the Australian or New Zealand Classic Yacht fleets to trial a system based on actual data rather than performance.

The twist comes when the skipper early on brings his mistress aboard—a sanctimonious Bible-quoting woman named Carola—to join in the voyage. Though the two are living in sin, they seem always to be looking down their noses at their young libertine deckhand.

As a piper played and the crowd looked on, the cradle holding this perfect little craft, eased down the slipway gently returning the Huon Pine planks to the salty waters of the Bay

The SARIMANOK was entirely made of vegetal elements, not a single nail was used, and was modelled upon the Filipino Vinta. There were no modern navigational instruments on board and the sailors relied only on the sun and stars to guide them.

Discovered in the spectacular Dampier Marine Park, off the coast of Western Australia, the the Scottish-built cargo ship sank with more than 20 crew on board in 1911

Jock liked to remember WESTWARD as the only yacht with a fish well to win a Sydney to Hobart race. Her building virtually marked the start of Muir's Boatyard and her first race and handicap win kicked off Jock Muir's illustrious career as a blue water ocean racer.

But Freddie Mercury is not why I came to Zanzibar. Early childhood memories of holidays at Lamu on the Kenyan coast are filled with images of powerful Dhows plying their trade along the East African coast.

Les Voiles de Saint Tropez marks the last event on the Mediterranean racing calendar and is heralded as one of the most prestigious regattas in the world. In its 24th year, the regatta will take place across two weeks from September 24 to October 8

The relaunch of the 1894 Logan Gaff cutter on her 100th birthday, was a turning point in Australian perceptions, of what was possible, and more importantly worthwhile, when it came to the restoration of our sailing heritage.

The success of Foy’s plan was instant and has maintained its relevance to 18ft Skiff racing over the following 130 years with spectator ferries still following the Australian 18 Footers League’s ‘modern boat’ racing each Sunday during each Australian summer season.

Founder of Seacraft, Sheila takes us on an adventure - “We hardly turned in our horsehair bunks after a wonderful dinner of fish caught by nearby lads spearfishing off the rocks. The wind increased and became a full westerly stinker. The Tum was leaping like a fretful mare. We could have stayed on two anchors but the thought of my darling going up on the beach was too much.”

“I have always been a bit eccentric and done my own thing. My mother thought it would ruin my skin and make me unladylike, which it did, and I wasn’t encouraged. So that for me was a great challenge, I did it in spite of everybody.” From teaching sailing during WW2, to commissioning her own boats and founding a magazine - Sheila’s story remains an inspiration.

So a Knot is a Nautical Mile per hour, but it is much more than that! It links us humans to our Planet in a very unique way, plus of course it is the original decimal system.

The Yachting World Keelboat #1 ZEST was presented ‘on the pool’ at Earls Court Boat Show in 1961 and in an article by Yachting World as A-BUILD-HER-YOURSELF DESIGN BY JACK HOLT. In 1967 the boat was renamed the YW Diamond. Here’s Jack sporting hair a la Cosmo Kramer, writes Charlie Salter.

THE SHANK RETURNS for anyone who wishes to turn the pages of adventure on the high seas, or plans to visit Tasmania's wild South West Coast for themselves to write adventures of their own. 
If however the latter is your preference, make sure you heed Ian's warning, "Are you ready for this?”

Just by looking at him, one would hardly guess that once upon a time, Paul Johnson was a famous boat designer: an old man, he is now living on a diet of beer and vodka, his body giving out just like his vessel.