Programme Spring 2018
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
Shackleton – The greatest story ever toldGeoff SelleyGeoff Selley will recreate the original lantern slide lecture given by a member of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 – 17 Antarctic Expedition. His presentation tells the extraordinary story of the survival of the ill-fated expedition using original words. More details |
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Disaster Waiting – the Severn Bridge DisasterPaul BarnettThe tragic tail of the 1960 destruction of the Severn Bridge by two run away tankers. The talk will unravel several bridge myths and present recently unearthed documentary evidence relating to the bridge. More details |
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Sailing the BalticJohn RuggJohn Rugg will tell how he and two other GXSA members brought his new boat home via the Kiel Canal, Friesian Islands and Netherlands inland waterways standing mast route. This was through the Ijsselmeer, down to the Westerscheld and back home via Dunkirk and the Channel in what became a F7. More details |
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Sailing the Indian OceanBob and Elaine HazellBob and Elaine return from their successful circumnavigation to tell us about crossing the Indian ocean. The talk will focus on the sailing aspects, their chosen route, some of the many high points together with what went wrong and how they recovered – and the lessons learnt! More details |
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First Aid at SeaTom SowerbyAccessible Sailing for AllPeter MayBoth from Bisham Abbey Sailing School, Tom and Peter will update us on nautical First Aid and tell us about current efforts to provide opportunities for people with a wide range of disabilities to enjoy sailing and other activities on the water. More details |
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What your Navy is doing – and why it matters !Royal NavyA team of Officers, sailors and royal Marines, all of whom have been on active service, will explain what they do, how they do it, where they do it and what the future holds. They will be willing to answer any questions you may have. This will be followed by a short presentation by Saved from the RNLIJohn AppsEntering the Western Approaches with salt water in your engine fuel system, why would you call out the RNLI just because it is blowing a gale? All you have to do is find a quiet anchorage to fix the problem. Why put the Penlee lifeboat at risk again? More details for both talks |
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The Mutiny on the Bounty and the Loss of the Vergulde DraeckChris TarrattChris will describe how these famous events happened and the survival of some of the crews. Although more than 100 years apart, both these events are about getting to safety in an open boat over a large tract of sea. More details |
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Old Father Thames: Cruising the non-tidal ThamesDavid HornBased in Marlow, GXSA members Marion and David have explored the noble river from Teddington to the limit of navigation in their 27’ motor cruiser ‘Naiad’. David will delve into history, literature, locks, bridges, boats and wildlife while ‘cruising’ along. More details |
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Battle of the Atlantic – Convoys and CorvettesDavid BrayCaptain David Bray, a Master mariner, tells the story of the desperate struggle to defeat the menace of the U-boats to Atlantic Convoys in World War 2 and preserve the essential supply of food and fuel. It is a tribute to the Merchant Seamen who gave their lives manning this lifeline. More details |
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AGM, followed byReview of the Year and a look forward to the coming sailing season and events. |