Contents: February

Motor Boat of the Year
The shortlist for this year's eagerly anticipated awards.

New Boats
Bénéteau Swift Trawler 52; Fairline Squadron 55; Atlantis 48; Windy Chinook 44; Grand Banks Heritage 41; Pershing 64.

Mega Test
47ft Hardtop Sportscruisers
The contenders:
Sunseeker Portofino 47
Absolute 47
Fairline Targa 47
Sessa C46
Jeanneau Prestige 50S
The Verdict

The Beaujolais run
Could a high-powered RIB give us an edge in the famous cross-Channel Beaujolais Nouveau challenge?

A stuffing in the Swinge
It was the sunny-day cruise from hell: a mellow-looking Swinge turned out to be a nightmare of overfalls and white water. When a windscreen shattered, they knew they were in deep trouble.

Cumberlidge on Cruising
Why every visiting boat in Brittany should carry their own lobster pot.

Route planner East Channel
From the eastern end of the Solent to the Kent coast, all the routes and waypoints you need for a stress-free crossing to those fine French ports.

Knowledge
Waves
The science behind the bumps, swells and white horses that play a part in every cruise we take.

What Now, Skip?
What shall we do with the runaway RIB?

Tried and Tested
Walker Bay Genesis 310FTL; Crocs; AquaScribe notebook; Honda BF15.

Our boats
Greg discovers his bargain Sunseeker has something of a bite lurking under the transom, while Hugo finds that petrol and fresh water don't mix.

Editorial
The work-in-progress that is the Earls Court Boat Show.

MBY News
Top stories
Brave Ben; Earthrace skipper fires green salvo; Scottish seaplane; Birmingham show; Ouzo trial latest.
Around the Med
Italy's green marina; Menorca; jellyfish; Croatia; Lanzarote; Turkey.
Around the Globe
Why you should be careful of the red lights on Dubai's shoreline.
People & Events
In the Spotlight this month:
Alex Savelli
The CEO of CMD quizzed on the arrival of Zeus.

Tech Talk
LPG is back - but is it here to stay?; small-boat gyro stabilisers.

Sight & Soundings
Two-way heads; Earls Court; restoring Rivas; Dano Lux.

Bull's-Eye
The master mariner who couldn't hack a Thames Estuary cruise.

Letters
Sealine similarities; Menorca's best cala unveiled; a floating Holy Grail?; boatbuilders could help save the planet; Woodpecker of Poole.

A Day in My Life
Jack Haines recalls the family quest to find their dreamboat at ExCeL.

News Italcraft 105, Sanlorenzo 40 Alloy, Azimut 95, Benetti Legend
Custom Line Navetta 26 How will this beauty cope with a big swell?
Dutch Classic What happened when a designer was given carte blanche
Confessions of a Skipper Buyer beware - and don't try the lager test

Top 10: Catamarans
You might be surprised at this diverse array of fine boats.

The Used Boat File
Sealine T46/T47.

In Brief: Buying a New Boat
How to make sure your purchase goes smoothly.

Motor Boat and Yachting , 3 January 2008