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. 
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