Forthcoming events

Materials
All training materials are included in the course fee unless stated otherwise.  For the Dayskipper and Yachtmaster courses you will need a course plotter and divider which can be purchased from the CA at a discounted price of £19.95 (RYA cost £21.97).

Refreshments
Refreshments are not included in course fees, but drinks and meals can be purchased from the bar, or there are shops in the area where lunch can be purchased.  However, students attending the 2-Day Shorebased First Aid courses will receive refreshments, and students attending the Shorebased Sea Survival course will be provided with refreshments and a suitable meal prior to the visit to the pool.

Cancellation policy
Full refund if places are cancelled up to one month prior to the course start date.  If cancelled within a month, a 10% Cancellation Fee will be incurred.  If places are cancelled within 14 days of the start date, there will be no refund of fees paid.  In the unlikely event that courses are cancelled by the Cruising Association, a full refund will be applied.

This is intended as an annual event in which members of the section give much shorter presentations than usual, describing and illustrating their own sailing experiences, both in local waters and further afield, “near and far”, in fact! Contributors this year are:

Faith Tippet               Mersea Week

Vic Stephens             The Restoration of a Boat and its Demise in the Red Sea

Roy Hart                   The Scilly Isles and Back in a Small Boat”

Judith Grimwade        South from the Gironde

We are pleased to announce the date for the first meeting of the Thames Valley Section of the Cruising Association. 

Date: Tuesday 16th March

Time: 7.30pm (Bar will be open from 7.00pm)

Venue: Harleyford Golf Club, Marlow, SL7 2SP

The club is situated off the Marlow to Henley Road, roughly 1 mile from Marlow. For those of you who don't know it, it is on the river and as well as the golf club it has a marina and chandlery. 

Directions can be found at www.harleyfordgolf.co.uk. 

We are in the early stages of forming this group so the aim of this first meeting is to get to know one another, gauge what you would like to get from your group and to share ideas for future meets. 

We hope that as many of you as possible can make it and to give us an idea of numbers we would appreciate an RSVP either by: 

Email: thames_valley@cruising.org.uk  

or phone: 

David Kench, 01628 531805, Jim Smith, 01491 628349, 

We look forward to meeting you all.  

David Kench & Jim SmithJoint Secretaries CA Thames Valley Section

Professor Noel Dilly is paying us a return visit to talk about this topic of particular importance to those who cruise long-distance. 

Drinks at the bar from 6pm.

If you would like to attend this meeting please use the Booking Form below

Directions to the RAF Yacht Club (PDF)

Full Details of Winter programme. (PDF)

From Saltings and Swatchways to Rocks and Pines - An East Coast Sailor's impressions of living and sailing in the Stockholm archipelago by Graham Howat 

Graham is a CA Member currently living and working in Stockholm.  He keeps his boat in the Stockholm area and sails in Sweden during the summers.  Graham has taken part in several Swedish races - particularly the annual race around Gotland.  He will tell us about living and sailing in Sweden (not just racing) based on two seasons' experience.  A unique opportunity to see this popular sailing and cruising ground through the eyes of a "semi-native".    Maybe some of the lessons learned could be helpful to others.

Admission free to members, non-members £7.00.    Regret season tickets not valid.  

Materials
All training materials are included in the course fee unless stated otherwise. 

Refreshments
Refreshments are not included in course fees, but drinks and meals can be purchased from the bar, or there are shops in the area where lunch can be purchased.  However, students attending the 2-Day Shorebased First Aid courses will receive refreshments, and students attending the Shorebased Sea Survival course will be provided with refreshments and a suitable meal prior to the visit to the pool.

Cancellation policy
Full refund if places are cancelled up to one month prior to the course start date.  If cancelled within a month, a 10% Cancellation Fee will be incurred.  If places are cancelled within 14 days of the start date, there will be no refund of fees paid.  In the unlikely event that courses are cancelled by the Cruising Association, a full refund will be applied.

Materials
All training materials are included in the course fee unless stated otherwise. 

Refreshments
Refreshments are not included in course fees, but drinks and meals can be purchased from the bar, or there are shops in the area where lunch can be purchased.  However, students attending the 2-Day Shorebased First Aid courses will receive refreshments, and students attending the Shorebased Sea Survival course will be provided with refreshments and a suitable meal prior to the visit to the pool.

Cancellation policy
Full refund if places are cancelled up to one month prior to the course start date.  If cancelled within a month, a 10% Cancellation Fee will be incurred.  If places are cancelled within 14 days of the start date, there will be no refund of fees paid.  In the unlikely event that courses are cancelled by the Cruising Association, a full refund will be applied.

The Hanson Lecture, by James Wharram

In the mid 50's, based on his research into ancient Polynesian boat design, James Wharram built the first off-shore catamaran in Britain and sailed it out into the Atlantic. 50 years and many successful catamaran designs later, James set off on another historic voyage with his partner, Hanneke, a cameraman, a couple of scientists and some Polynesian crew members. Their mission was to sail 4,000 miles to Tikopia and Anuta, along the ancient Polynesian migration route, in two craft whose design was inspired by the unique hull shape of the original Tikopian/Anutan canoes. Come and hear the magical story of the Lapita Voyage.

The evening will aslo include the presentations of this year's Log Competition winners. 

Tickets at £15 include a buffet supper and must be booked in advance from the Secretariat.

Lecture starts at 7.00pm, the Bar will be open from 6.00pm

In the last three decades Jimmy has sailed 200,000 miles in all oceans of the world, including three circumnavigations and two voyages to Antarctica. 

He has a wealth of practical advice to offer anyone contemplating a trip whether to the Mediterranean or right around the world. His seminars have sold out in the US.  Jimmy has run two very successful masterclasses for CA members thinking of undertaking an offshore voyage; one in London in 2008 and one more recently in Falmouth last November.  We are delighted that he has agreed to come again to CA House to run another session for those who missed out last time round. 

The class, on Saturday 27 March at CA House, is in five parts, and should take around six hours with a break for lunch.  Coffee available from 9.30am, prompt start at 10am. 

Planning your dream voyage: planning an offshore voyage starting from Europe and sailing to the Mediterranean, to the Eastern Caribbean (and back), to Panama, and all the way around the world. Routing suggestions, weather routing, prevailing winds, tropical storm areas and seasons, climate change and its possible effects. 

Main planning considerations: heavy weather, safety concerns and piracy, common breakages, dealing with emergencies, essential spares. 

Practical aspects of long distance offshore cruising: formalities and documents, communications, downwind sails, cruising in stages, yacht transport. 

Offshore routines: life on board, daily routine including maintenance, meals, selfsteering gears and autopilots, provisions, fuel and water, electricity consumption and generation, watch systems, fishing, diving and photography. 

Main factors that can affect the outcome of a voyage: essential features on an offshore cruising boat, financial aspects, crew. 

All sections are well illustrated and Jimmy is happy to take questions. Tickets will be £25 for members, £30 non members.

Please book in advance with the office on 0207 537 2828. 

Saturday 13 November 2010

CA Suffolk Section

Long Distance Cruising Masterclass

If you can't make it to CA House, or the date is not suitable, note that Jimmy will be repeating his Masterclass for CA members at the RHYC, Woolverstone, Ipswich on 13 November 2010.

Contact David Sadler: david-sadler@lineone.net for details.