The sailor's guide to 2008

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Hurricane Ike, the credit crunch, a bloom of algae in China and the surge of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden threatened to make 2008 a forgettable year for yachties all over the world.

However, among the stories of hostage-taking and bank-breaking, remarkable performances by many of the world's top sailors and a successful 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing helped make the year a memorable one despite the challenges facing yachties. See the year in pictures »

Tell us if we've missed any highlights or low lights from the year in the Sound Off box below. We'll publish the best comments.