London’s More Important River

Jeremy Batch

Jeremy returns following his talk last year on the historical importance of Limehouse Basin, where he is a lock keeper. He will extend this theme with what we know will be a polished, humorous and enlightening evening delving into the background and history of London’s more important river. 
It’s not the Thames!

Beneath the Stars at the North Pole

Eric Brossier

Eric Brossier, distinguished high latitude sailor, visits from La Rochelle to describe five winters spent in Spitsbergen aboard “Vagabond” to study Arctic Ocean sea ice and its future. His 2008 book “Circumpolaris” won the Prix de l’Académie Marine award.

The Dance of the Little Green Dots

Alan Watson

Alan Watson will demonstrate how to identify potential collision situations on the radar using both traditional methods and MARPA (Mini Automatic Radar Plotting Aid). The talk will be illustrated with computer simulations as well as screen shots from the radar on his own boat in the Solent and Channel.

Le Four to La Rochelle

Liz and Mick Wigfield

A Personal Pilot of the Ports of North Biscay and the passages between them compiled from the logs of Kemari, Liz and Mick Wigfield’s Westerly Fulmar.

Two Summers in the Baltic

James and Carol Littlewood

James and Carol spent the summers of 2008 and 2009 in their Moody Eclipse 38 “Paddington Bear”. Their trip covered the East Coast of Sweden, the Gota and Trollhaten canals, Poland and the Baltic States. Their illustrated talk will cover all aspects of their trips, including some things that weren’t meant to happen!

The Moody Story

David Moody

In 2005 the family business of AH Moody and Son was sold after 175 years of trading from the same site at Swanwick on the River Hamble. David Moody has documented the Yachts that were built by the Company, initially for his own family, and has produced a successful book of the whole Moody story.

Saturday Special – Boat Electrics
A Day with Art Butler

Art is the owner and “hands-on” specialist of a yacht electrics and electronics company based on the East Coast. He will bring us right up to date on current issues and give some guidance on choosing equipment as well as doing our own installation, fault finding, wiring maintenance and repairs.

History of Royal Flying

Graham Laurie

As an RAF pilot, Graham flew members of the Royal Family and VIPs, completing over 2200 Royal Flights. The talk, given in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund, with many personal reminiscences will cover the early days of Royal Flying, the Kings and Queens Flights, right up to the present day.

Polynesian Catamaran Design and the Lapita Voyage. 
James Wharram

In the mid 1950’s James Wharram built the first offshore catamaran in Britain, based on ancient Polynesian boat design, and sailed it out into the Atlantic. Fifty years later, James set off with his partner, Hanneke, a cameraman, a couple of scientists and some Polynesian crew members to sail 4,000 miles along the ancient Polynesian migration route to Tikopia and Anuta, in two craft inspired by the unique, original hull shape of their canoes. Come and hear the magical story of the Lapita Voyage.

Round the Big Island

John Rugg and John Gorrie

Members John Gorrie and John Rugg give will tell us about their UK circumnavigation this summer, a taste of which was available on their blog. Their contrasting individual perspectives will be fascinating – assuming of course that they are still speaking to each other!

Cast off for Christmas

Our traditional members’ evening of yarns, light entertainment and mince pies ahead of the Christmas break.