| My $.02:
I currently subscribe to:
Cruising World - While I agree with those who say it's old and tired, I just renewed my subscription for one more (and likely the last) year. It's true that a full half (ok, maybe a third) of the magazine is devoted to getting the reader to charter with one of the many advertisers. It's also true that very few can afford the shiny new boats they review. Why renew? I know what to expect month to month. It's not great, but at least it's a constant OK.
Sailing - I don’t know how I came to subscribe to this magazine. Perhaps someone bought me a gift subscription and didn’t tell me. It was free to me and has pretty pictures, so I’ll keep getting it until it lapses. I don’t see anything useful in the fluff. In my opinion, it’s a sailing magazine for people who want others to think they’re into sailing. I’d put it on the level of a doctor’s waiting room magazine.
I previously subscribed to:
SAIL - I found SAIL to be too focused on racing and advertisement of gear and charters for my tastes. There was the occasional article I liked. The only regular feature I found useful was the "Voice of Experience". It describes an emergency situation on a sailboat and the steps the author took in that emergency then summarizes with specific "What I did wrong" and "What I did right" bullets. I used this section as practice. What would I have done in that situation?
Blue Water Sailing - At the time I subscribed, I found it to be all about those destinations others were visiting that I dreamed of eventually going. Reading about other people's adventures and destinations is bitter sweet for me. Depending on my mood, I either enjoy it or hate it. (That is, motivating or depressing that it's going to take so long to get there.) As a result, at the time, I felt that it offered little. Now that I'm closer to departure, perhaps I'll try an issue again, if I can find it. I haven’t seen it on the newsstand in years.
Practical Sailor - Practical Sailor is a Consumer Reports magazine for sailing. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I found their tests and reviews to be fair, balanced, and unbiased. They also offered maintenance and upgrade tips. At the time I subscribed, I didn’t own a boat. It wasn’t good for me at the time. I recommend it.
I’m considering subscribing to:
Latitudes & Attitudes – I’ve only read a couple issues. L&A seems to be “by cruisers, for cruisers.” This is the biggest selling point for me (as opposed to Cruising World which seems to be "by cruisers, for bored, young, well-to-do retirees and those who want to be"). I like what I’ve seen and I’ve given serious thought to subscribing. There’s something holding me back that I haven’t put my finger on yet. It’s a nebulous, lurking minor annoyance that in the end is probably just all in my head. I’ll buy single issues until I figure it out. |