The May issue of Soundings has arrived in subscriber’s mailboxes, and it’s a doozy. Just look at this cover.

If you’re not a Soundings subscriber, you’re missing out, and you’ll have to wait until all the content is released on SoundingsOnline.com over the next month or so. But because we’re nice, we’ll give you a a sneak preview and a story to whet your appetite.

For the May issue, Soundings Deputy Editor Pim Van Hemmen joined the crew of the Maine Seacoast Mission aboard the M/V Sunbeam as they headed to Frenchboro to support the residents of that Maine island. You can read that story here.

What else is in the May issue? Soundings contributor Gary Caputi writes about the great fishing you’ll find in Point Judith, Rhode Island; Charles Doane tells the unbelievable story of sailor, gun smuggler and novelist Erskine Childers; and Kim Kavin interviews Maine photographer Benjamin Williamson about his fantastic coastal photographs. There’s also boatbuilder Sam Devlin who tested different deck paints, a new gyroscopic stabilization system, how to pass a marine training test, a review of the new Scout 670, and much, much more.

If you can’t wait to get stories like this before they trickle out on the web and see all the great photography in its full glory, you can get it all much sooner by subscribing. It’s only $27.97 a year for 12 issues, including shipping and handling. So join today to get the best stories about real boats and real boaters from Soundings magazine.

You can subscribe here.