You can now browse the Wiley Nautical catalogue from the comfort of your computer. Click HERE to try it for yourself.

We are all now leading increasingly busy lives, and although we always make time for the things that are really important to us it can be hard sometimes to make the opportunity to sail. At the time you have set aside there may be either too much or no wind, or the amount of time you can spend on the water may be restricted by finances. Perhaps you can not go sailing because of illness or injury, and maybe when you want to train there is no coach available!

So was Earls Court Boat Show, the upstart, the face of winter shows in London? The jury will probably remain out for another twelve months once we have seen Excel in January and Earls Court have had another, more organised stab at it. Amongst exhibitors the feeling for the show was positive with many already committed to next year.

Our huge stand took days to lovingly construct:

...and was dimantled in about 35 minutes.

Thanks to all who worked on the stand, helped us out, bought a book, drank some beer, downloaded a weather forecast, dropped in to say hello or otherwise made it a fun 10 days in Earls Court.

Saturday 1st December saw us climbing and scrabbling and wobbling over a national treasure as we launched Paul Gelder's new book, Gipsy Moth IV A Legend Sails Again from on board the grand lady herself at the Earls Court Boatshow.