Newport Jester Challenge 2022
John Apps set off on the Jester Challenge on Sunday 8th May. You can follow his progress (he is pink trace, Arelia) by clicking here.
Started off damp and grey but saw some dolphins. Then came under influence of deep low with SW F6-7 wind.
Blue trace boat got on the right side of the storm but the rest of the fleet experiencing head wind and big seas.
Tuesday 17th May, John reported Arelia 46 12 N 12 51 W.
Overwhelmed by 9 metre wave late yesterday, electrics shot; returning to UK.
Safe passage back, John.
Summer Lunch - 12.30hrs Tuesday 12th July
The Black Horse, Fulmer
The Lodge @ Black Horse Fulmer - https://www.theblackhorsefulmer.co.uk
Having a short break in your sailing summer, a chance to catch up with friends?
Then come and join us at this 17th Century Pub for a relaxing lunch.
Please let us know you are coming - RSVP - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ample off road parking, The Black Horse, Windmill Rd, Fulmer SL3 6HD
Aim to arrive at 12.30hrs, select your food from the menu on the day.
30 seats have been reserved within the Lodge
2022 Events
We're currently working on the extra-curricular events for 2022, but here are some dates for your diary:
| Date(s) | Event | Location |
| Now | Boat Survey | |
| 28th May 2022 | Annual Dinner | Gerrards Cross Golf Club |
| 23rd April 2022 | Rally | Shepards Wharf Marina, Cowes |
| 11th June 2022 | Rally | Yarmouth |
| 25th June - 3rd July 2022 | Summer Cruise | Cruise to the Channel Islands |
| 12th July 2022 | Pub lunch | The Black Horse, Fulmer |
| 10th September 2022 | Rally | Bembridge |
Sign-Up forms are available if you login to the website
We're looking forward to seeing you out and about.
2021 Events
Summer Picnic 2021
The GXSA Summer Picnic was held on Saturday 17th July at a private location near Flaunden. It was a very hot day and 30 members enjoyed good food and good company on an idyllic English summer afternoon.
Plymouth
Good news from GXSA member John Apps, who successfully completed another single handed Jester challenge sail to the Azores and has now returned. He left Plymouth on 21st June and reached Praia da Vitória (Azores) on 10th July. Had a bit of a rest and then sailed back, arriving in Penzance on 28th July. Here he is on 4th August meeting up with Bernie and Steve, who are in Plymouth on Burnadebt's West Country cruise.
Autumn walk by River Colne, Grand Union Canal and lunch at the Coy Carp
Many thanks to Colin for organising a fine day out with 20 members and friends enjoying a nature ramble and learning about the canal history, followed by lunch at the Coy Carp pub.
Well, there also may have been a cafe stop for some...
Sailing Rallies 2021
Bembridge - 10th July 2021
10 boats with 24 GXSA members and friends met up for a convivial weekend, even with social distancing still in place. An excellent happy hour on board Burnadebt and Sonar Too (berthed alonside each other) provided a good start to the evening. There was even a birthday cake for all to share (thank you, Bernie). On the Sunday morning some had a lie in but others took the harbour ferry and finally did the walk to Bembridge lifeboat station before a lunchtime departure on the rising tide.
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Sailing in UK waters is likely to be very crowded this year. We've managed to squeeze into the locations below, usually as the 3rd Rally on that date
FYI: the earliest Yarmouth could fit us in was late October. We're REALLY SERIOUS about booking early. If we exceed the reserved number of berths, we are likely to have disappointed crew.
| Date | Destination |
Notes |
Boats booked far (Crew) | Allocation |
| June 5th | Lymington, Dan Bran Pontoon |
Still within Lockdown period. Maximum of 30 people can meet together outside (6 inside). We expect dinner to be a Picnic or BBQ, probably held in the park, near the Marina. Skippers, please reserve berths by March 31st (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). |
2 Spaces remain 8 Bookings 1 Home Berth -- Beyond Belief (2) Bothie (4) Burnadebt (4) Coldplay (2) Edu (2) Felix (2) Rowen (2) Sanderling (2) (No berth required) Sonar Too |
10 berths reserved |
| July 10th | Bembridge |
Hopefully, Post-Lockdown, so we expect marinas an eateries to be quite full. We expect restaurants to be quite full, so we will need to confirm restaurants (if we can get spaces) early. Skippers, please reserve berths by March 31st (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). It would be ideal to get a view on the number of people for evening dinner, so an indication of crew size would be helpful. |
Full - Waitlist Only 11 Bookings -- Beyond Belief (2) Bothie (4) Burnadebt (4) Celtic Flame (4) Coldplay (2) Edu (2) Hallam (1) Sanderling (2) Sandpiper (1) Sonar Too (4) |
11 berths reserved |
| July - August | Cornwall |
A loose Cruise in Company, sailing down to Cornwall, and back. Dates are very vague at the moment. If you would like to join in the cruise, please let us know (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) Skippers, Crew, anybody interested |
Interested in going: Burnadebt (4) Coldplay (2) Edu (2) Sanderling (2) Sonar Too |
Unlimited |
| September 11th | Island Harbour, Cowes |
Very much Post-Lockdown. This should be a pretty normal Rally, but the harbour is already quite full, so we definately need your booking information before March 31st so secure places. Skippers, please reserve berths by March 31st (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). |
10 Bookings 0 Space available -- Avalon (2) Beyond Belief (2) Bothie (4) Burnadebt (4) Celtic Flame (3) Coldplay (2) Optimist (2) Rowen (2) Sonar Too Vagabond(1) |
10 berths reserved |
| October 9th | Marchwood, River Test (top of Southampton Water) |
Returning, after a couple of years. Excellent Club House, Interesting Walks, Fascinating Shipping. Skippers, please reserve berths by March 31st (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
|
7 Bookings 3 Spaces Available -- Beyond Belief (2) Bothie (4) Burnadebt (4) Coldplay (2) Edu (2) Optimist (2) Sonar Too |
10 berths reserved |
2020 Events
Wayfarer dinghy hull available - this dinghy was acquired by a GXSA member with a generous donation to the Tall Ships Youth Trust.
Cast-Off for Christmas
Our regular pre-Christmas party (this time on Zoom) went well. The Photo Competition had 44 entries (you can see the entries and winners by clicking here).
Congratulations and Well Done to the winning entries:
- Boating - Gerry Knight - Catch Me If You Can
- Scenic: Derek Youell - Schilthorn, Switzerland
- Humour - Gordon Sims - Keep An Eye Open...
- What I did during Lockdown - Geoff Matthews - I Built a Bottle House
Autumn 2020 Sailing Rallies
Because of Covid limitations, these are being held as informal gatherings determined by interest of boat skippers.
- 5th September at East Head, Chichester. Anchoring overnight and beach barbeque. 5 GXSA boats came to the anchorage but only 3 intrepid crews went ashore for the beach barbeque. It was warmer than it looks in the picture...
- On 19th September, Burnadebt and Sonar crews met up for in Yarmouth, while obeying the "Rule of 6". A nice downwind sail from Portsmouth on the Saturday. It was a big spring tide so we also enjoyed the tide assisted sailing to windward on the Sunday morning back to Portsmouth.
"Pub lunch" (Zoom Online)
- Tuesday 8th September
- Wednesday 8th July
Summer Quiz (Zoom Online)
- Wednesday 3rd June
Annual Dinner 2020
- Saturday 14th March
This was at Gerrards Cross Golf Club; Download Dinner Menu and Booking Form
A memorable evening just before gatherings became inadvisable because of the Covid19 outbreak.
The GXSA Annual Awards, cups and trophies were also presented at the Annual dinner.
Bus trip to SS Great Britain, Bristol
- Saturday 29th February 2020
SS Great Britain. Picture, copyright Matt Buck
30 members attended and we mostly dodged the heavy showers ! This was an excellent day out with just the right amount to see in the time we had there.
The bus left the Gerrards Cross Memorial Centre at 0830 arriving about 1115. We had a nice introduction inside the dry dock from Museum staff and mostly went round the exhibition and ship before lunch. After lunch we visited the Brunel museum and went round the ship again. We left at 1530 and were back by 1815. Cost of the trip (£34) included entry to the SS Great Britain.
2019 Events
Saturday 2nd November 2019 - First Aid Course, £95
This RYA approved course was provided by Bisham Abbey staff at a location near Gerrards Cross. The course ran from 9 - 5; the 8 participants were awarded their RYA First Aid certificates (and avoided watching England lose the Rugby World Cup Final..)
Wednesday 2nd October 2019 - GXSA visit to Poole RNLI College for Discovery and All-Weather Lifeboat Centre tours
Fully booked, 25 people attended. Participants made their own way to Poole and met up for a good lunch in the cafeteria at the College before the tours, which started at 2.30pm.
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Saturday 21st September 2019 - GXSA Autumn Rally at Yarmouth:
Pontoon party and dinner at Yarmouth Sailing Club (Organiser Stuart Gaunt)
Tuesday 9th July 2019 - GXSA Summer Pub Lunch at The Black Horse, Fulmer SL3 6HD, from 12 noon
Fortunately it was fine weather and 38 GXSA members and friends enjoyed a good lunch in the garden at the Black Horse. It was a good opportunity to get together in the summer break. Our thanks to Bernie Smallman for organising this event.
Saturday 22nd June 2019 - GXSA Rally at Bucklers Hard, Beaulieu River: Menu and Booking details
8 boats and 25 GXSA members attended this rally, which was very enjoyable.
Thursday 13th June 2019 - Operation Wellfound Charity Golf day at Harleyford Golf Club.
Excellent course, breakfast, 18 holes Texas scramble, 3 course evening meal and prize giving. Contact Steve Daish.
Saturday 11th May - GXSA Spring Rally at Marchwood: Menu and booking details
Saturday 23rd March 2019 - GXSA Annual Dinner at Gerrards Cross Golf Club
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