Welcome to our Programme Pages. Tyically, our Calendar Year is divided into three parts:
- The Winter/Spring Season of Lectures
- Our Summer Season (typically Sailing and Social events)
- The Autumn/Winter Season of Lectures
The tabs below let you see what’s happening next, and what’s happened in the past.
We hope you like the look of our programme. The tabs below show the Current Programme, and our archive of Previous Programmes. They should give a pretty good idea of what we get up to…
This will be a guided tour of the WW2 bunker from which the Battle of Britain was fought, with associated museum, followed by a pub lunch. Andrew will tell us about his adventures in his newly purchased Bavaria 34 on a sailing trip to France, quite an unusual route! During his previous 30 years at Queen Mary Sailing Club, he sailed a Blaze winged dinghy, so this was quite a change for him. GXSA members Denis and Pip will explain some of the benefits and challenges of shared ownership of a yacht and tell us about their extensive sailing around the Mediterranean in their shared yachts. We hope for some beautiful locations to brighten up a winter evening. Roger is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society; he will tell us about some of the history of canals in Britain and their impressive engineering. Many entertaining stories too, including a pioneering canal honeymoon in 1962, Stoke on Trent, Wolverhampton!.. Our usual mix of short presentations, competitions and festive entertainment. GXSA members and their guests only on this evening.WW2 Bunker Museum and Pub Lunch
Queen Mary’s to Douarnenez via the Hebrides – Andrew Pears
From Majorca to the Dodecanese – Denis and Pip Lyons
Canal History and Amusing Tales – Roger Butler
Cast Off for Christmas
Current Programme
Here is our programme of talks for the current season. It doesn’t include social or sailing events. Click here for a printable version.
Autumn 2024
Wednesday 9th October | Is the Ocean’s Radiator set to Max? Isabelle Ansorge On 22nd July 2024, the Earth experienced its warmest day in recent history. Why is this happening, how are the oceans responding to the ever-increasing temperatures and what about the future? Isabelle is Professor of Oceanography at the University of Cape Town. |
Wednesday 16th October | Sailing a Small Boat across the Atlantic Gary O’Grady Gary describes sailing his 29ft bilge keel Westerly Konsort across the Atlantic from Chichester to Antigua via the Canaries. Suffering from knockdowns, complete electrical failure and a visit from orcas, he still managed to reach St Lucia just before Christmas. |
Wednesday 23rd October | Inland Waterways Cruising Julian and Vanessa Dussek Julian and Vanessa started cruising inland Europe in 2006 in their Southerly lifting keel sailing boat ‘Pluto’. After a few years in the Mediterranean, they returned inland and are still exploring the many delights of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. CA Speaker |
Wednesday 30th October | Platforms, Pirates and Pornography Andy Beharrell The Second World War army and navy forts were built in the Thames Estuary to protect London from enemy air force and naval incursions. Andy will explain what is left of the forts, their strategic significance, how they were used and their unique legacy. |
Wednesday 6th November | Normandy D-Day 80 th Anniversary Stuart Gaunt A well-timed sailing trip to the Normandy Coast allowed Stuart and his crew to visit some of the many interesting ports on that coast and to experience the extensive celebrations that were organised for the D-Day anniversary this year. |
Wednesday 13th November | RNLI, 200 Years and Counting Ryan Hall Ryan is Head of RNLI Region South-East. He will tell us about the excellent lifesaving work done by RNLI with recent developments across 238 lifeboat stations, 244 beaches and the important humanitarian work done by RNLI in the English Channel. CA Speaker |
Wednesday 20th November | Queen Mary’s to Douarnenez via the Hebrides Andrew Pears Andrew will tell us about his adventures in his newly purchased Bavaria 34 on a sailing trip to France; it sounds like an unusual route. During his previous 30 years at Queen Mary Sailing Club, he sailed a Blaze winged dinghy, so it was quite a change for him … |
Wednesday 27th November | Sailing in the Dodecanese Denis and Pip Lyons GXSA members Denis and Pip will explain some of the benefits and challenges of shared ownership of a yacht and tell us about their extensive sailing around the Mediterranean in their shared yachts. We hope for some beautiful locations to brighten up a winter evening. |
Wednesday 4th December | Canal History and Amusing Tales Roger Butler Roger is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society; he will tell us about some of the history of canals in Britain and their impressive engineering. Many entertaining stories too, including a pioneering canal honeymoon in 1962, Stoke on Trent, Wolverhampton!.. |
Wednesday 11th December | Cast Off for Christmas Our usual mix of short presentations, competitions, quiz and festive entertainment. |
Guy is Water Safety lead of RNLI Region South-East. He will tell us about the excellent lifesaving work done by RNLI with recent developments across 238 lifeboat stations, 244 beaches and the important humanitarian work done by RNLI in the English Channel. Stuart visited Normandy twice this summer; once by boat and the second time by car, visiting some locations he couldn’t reach by boat. The talk covers the highlights of the two trips, including the Anniversary Celebrations, and some less well-known experiences. The Second World War army and navy forts were built in the Thames Estuary to protect London from enemy air force and naval incursions. Andy will explain what is left of the forts, their strategic significance, how they were used and their unique legacy. Julian and Vanessa started cruising inland Europe in 2006 in their Southerly lifting keel sailing boat ‘Pluto’. After a few years in the Mediterranean, they returned inland and are still exploring the many delights of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Gary describes sailing his 29ft bilge keel Westerly Konsort across the Atlantic from Chichester to Antigua via the Canaries. Suffering from knockdowns, complete electrical failure and a visit from orcas, he still managed to reach St Lucia just before Christmas. On 22nd July 2024, the Earth experienced its warmest day in recent history. Why is this happening, how are the oceans responding to the ever-increasing temperatures and what about the future? Isabelle is Professor of Oceanography at the University of Cape Town. Our final Rally of the Summer Season, to Marchwood, where the beautiful River Test flows into the top of Southampton Water. The GXSA Crew are meeting on Wednesday September 11th at a Venue to be confirmed, somewhere in the Gerrrards Cross Area. Join us for a walk and Pub Lunch at the Boot Inn, Sarratt WD3 6BL. Meet at 10.00 for the walk or 12.00 for the lunch The GXSA Crew are meeting on Wednesday August 28th at the Merlin’s Cave pub in Chalfont St Giles HP8 4QF The GXSA Crew are meeting on Wednesday August 14th at a Venue to be confirmed, somewhere in the Gerrrards Cross Area. The GXSA Crew are meeting on Wednesday July 24th at a Venue to be confirmed, somewhere in the Gerrrards Cross Area. The GXSA Crew are meeting on Wednesday July 10th at a Venue to be confirmed, somewhere in the Gerrrards Cross Area. Join us for a sumptious Pub Lunch at the Stag & Huntsman, Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, RG9 6RP. The GXSA Crew are meeting on Wednesday June 26th at 7:30pm, Merlin’s Cave, Chalfont St Peter, HP8 4QF. Join us !! The GXSA Crew meeting on Wednesday June 12th has been postponed until 26th June. Please come and join us then. It’s HERE AGAIN… GXSA’s 2024 summer rally to France….or if not France, somewhere equally interesting. As always, the destination will depend on the wind, weather and crew of each boat that’s comes. GXSA Summer Rally to Gins Farm on the Beaulieu River. Sailing, Pontoon Party, Dinner, Sunday Fun. The GXSA Crew are meeting on Wednesday May 29th at the Red Lion Pub, Village Road, Chenies WD3 6ED at 7.30pm. The GXSA Crew are meeting at 7.30pm on Wednesday May 15th The Elthorpe, 85 Packhorse Rd, Gerrards Cross SL9 8HX Join us for a sumptious Pub Lunch at a Country Pub in Buckinghamshire or Berkshire. Details to be confirmed. The GXSA Crew are meeting on Wednesday April 24th, somewhere around Gerrards Cross (location to be announced) GXSA’s 1st rally of the season takes us to Yarmouth in the beautiful Solent, between the Mother Island and the Daughter Island The GXSA Crew are meeting for our first Summer Event on Wednesday April 10th, at the Fox & Pheasant pub, Gerrards Cross Rd, Stoke Poges, SL2 4EZ Come mingle with fellow boating enthusiasts, share your own experiences on the water, and gain valuable insights from our knowledgeable members. Whether you dream of sailing the high seas or prefer a leisurely cruise on the lake. Don’t miss out on this chance to strengthen your boating skills and expand your love for all things nautical. The dinner will be at Gerrards Cross Golf Club, Chalfont Park, Gerrards Cross SL9 0QA. AGM and review of the year’s activities followed by plans for the summer events and autumn talks. Until the early 1800s, ship provisioning and servicing was from small yards in Gosport and Portsmouth. David will explain how the Royal Clarence Yard in Gosport developed and how it victualled the Royal Navy from the pre-Victorian era to the late 20th century. This is it – the annual opportunity to sell your unneeded sailing gear, books, charts etc. to your friends. A share of all proceeds will go to support GXSA. This will be interspersed with some very entertaining accounts of GXSA members’ sailing trips last season. Ben was a highly competitive dinghy sailor as a teenager but then went into personal coaching while still enjoying some sail cruising. Always a racer, things got more exciting when he joined the crew of a highly ranked boat in the challenging 2023 Fastnet Race. A walk in the country, with your friends…followed by a sumptious meal at a local pub. The story of Greenwich, Woolwich and Deptford – building ships overseen by Samuel Pepys and fitting out for James Cook, Trinity House, East India Company, the Arsenal, the Seamen’s Hospital, the first steam railway and much more!.. Alison makes glass art but she also loves exploring remote wilderness and oceans. She will tell us about her sailing in the Drake passage and Svalbard, diving and swimming with orca in northern Norway. Bill is a Dutch mariner who started life at sea aged 15, initially in the Dutch Merchant Navy, but subsequently spent many years as a freelance Skipper-Engineer delivering motor yachts all over Europe’s inland waterways. He now lives on his boat in Windsor and has written a book about his remarkable adventures. John is one of our most accomplished GXSA sailors and was beginning to move his boat south for the winter. It didn’t quite work out that way, but events resulted in him meeting a man living in the Isle of Wight with an exceptional life-story skippering large sailing yachts Isambard Kingdom Brunel was arguably one of the greatest engineers of the 19th century. He built railways, bridges, docks and three ships that pushed the boundaries of marine construction, including the Great Eastern. It was the largest ship in the world at the time and laid the first transatlantic cable. Peter is a retired hospital consultant and also served as an RN Surgeon Commander. He enjoys wildlife photography and will tell us about his journey in the footsteps of Darwin in Galapagos, and show us the amazing scenery and wildlife of the South Atlantic Islands. All the usual fun with short entertaining talks from members, photo competition, quiz and seasonal refreshments. Photos for the competition should be printed A5 or smaller; no online entries this year but the usual 3 categories – sailing/boating, scenic, humorous. Bob keeps his Rustler 36 in the Solent and had done all the usual sailing trips to Ireland, Spain, round Britain and the Azores. So, he set off for 80 degrees N, reaching Svalbard via Norway and explored the geography, wildlife and heritage of these northern lands. Many seafarers lead precarious lives with little medical support or fallback if they become stranded in foreign or UK ports. For over 200 years, the Society pioneered treatments, founding the Tropical Disease Hospital in London, and still supports sailors in every way. Julian’s extensive ocean sailing and racing experience and his role as a media executive led to him overseeing coverage of Volvo Ocean Races and becoming an OCC Mentor. He will entertain us with many stories about his sailing and (now) motor-boating. David started as a successful Laser dinghy racer, reaching international level, but he is now blue water racing in the French Elite Offshore Championship. He will tell us about his impressive progression from land-locked Hanwell to racing offshore in the Bay of Bissau. Eric and his family have sailed in the Arctic for many years, contributing to scientific programs and developing links with Inuit people. In 2022, Eric’s steel sailboat Vagabond was almost crushed by ice on Devon Island, Canada, witnessed only by polar bears. In her father’s records, Julia discovered accounts of yachtsmen (some famous, some she met as a child) who had important roles in WW2 commanding destroyers, submarines and undertaking sabotage. Could their love of sailing survive the harsh reality of war? David and friends at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard have built a working replica of the small, fast torpedo boats used in World War 1 and the Russian War of Independence. A Coastal Motor Boat for the 21st Century – its history, construction and 2023 sea trials. Born in 1651, Dampier travelled round the world three times – his scientific and natural history writing inspired Darwin and Captain Cook. His books were required reading for Nelson’s officers but he was also a successful pirate, as the Spanish knew to their cost… Nick is a qualified marine surveyor, experienced boat builder and a yacht repairer. He will explain what to look for when buying a boat and the problems to be avoided. He has also developed an emergency steering device to overcome loss or failure of a boat’s rudder. GXSA are organising a yacht rally to Buckler’s Hard on the Beaulieu River in Hampshire. 10 boats and 20 people are expected for the Pontoon Party, followed by Dinner aboard. Sunday will see us visiting the museum, or walking into Beaulieu. GXSA SUMMER PUB LUNCH 12.30 Tuesday 18th July 2023 at the FOX & PHEASANT, WINDSOR ROAD, STOKE COMMON SL2 4EZ Come and join us for a mid-summer pub lunch to […] We’re off to the well known hostelry on the River Medina. 2023 May Day Bank Holiday Weekend – A mini cruise to Yarmouth, Poole, and Lymington. The RYA one-day course covers all the usual first aid subjects, but from a boating perspective. It is aimed at anyone who goes afloat, whether on inland waters, rivers, estuaries or on cross channel passages. This year’s Annual Dinner took place at Harewood Downs Golf Club. 55 members and their guests enjoyed an excellent evening with speeches, toasts, presentation of the annual awards and a raffle. Review of the current year, finance update and election of officers. All followed by a look forward to our next year of Wednesday talks, boating and outings. Bernie will describe a Mediterranean passage. Paul and John will compare two ways of taking a boat to Spain. You can probably guess which was more comfortable.. Nick will tell us first about his single handed, non-stop 1100-mile passage from Nice to Venice. The highs and lows of this were followed by returning with various crews, visiting many countries and ports on the way back. Candid admissions and telling observations. Do you know how Michael Caine got his name? Jeff frequently talks and entertains on cruise ships – for this evening, he will entertain us. His talk provides many interesting insights into life on the ocean waves, from the distant past to the present day. Stokey is a distinguished ocean sailor, author, navigator and raconteur, well known for his clear understanding of traditional navigation skills. He has sailed to the Azores 89 times! This is a new talk, full of interesting facts, entertainment, and of course a bit of navigation. David will tell us about the history of the RNLI and the operations of the Teddington LBS on the River Thames. Ann and Steve will tell us about their experiences sailing round many of the islands in the UK. Lundy, Anglesey, Isle of Man, Ailsa Craig, Arran, Bute, Mull and Skye, navigation and things to visit ashore. Phil planned to do the Round Ireland Race (starts in Wicklow, leave Ireland to starboard) and John set off on the Jester Challenge (from Plymouth to Newport, Rhode Island). Both had problems of different kinds but are fortunately here to tell us their tales. Design it yourself or buy from the factory? Everyone’s dream or a nightmare? John had his boat built to his own design and managed the build. Three tales of sailing to Greenland brought to life by the inimitable Tom Cunliffe For GXSA members and their guests. Having previously worked in Tokyo, Kirk sailed from Canada via Hawaii and then spent six years cruising Japan, which he considers one of the world’s best cruising grounds. He will tell us about some of the challenges and provide some “How To” information. MB436 (Atta Boy) was one of the first petrol engine boats commissioned by The Admiralty in 1915 and was used mainly as an Admiral’s launch. MB436 was on HMS Royalist at the Battle of Jutland, decommissioned in 1923 and is now on the Thames near Marlow. Starting from Dartmouth in his 34ft boat Good Dog, Mark is trying to visit every Harbour Master in the UK. So far, he has sailed 6,000 nautical miles, visited 250 harbours, and interviewed over 200 Harbour Masters, all raising funds for the Seafarers’ Charity. Four different boats, four GXSA members (or maybe more, if their partners join in…) will tell us about their boats and why they love them. We shall hear details of their quite different boats, and some of the good (and maybe bad) times they have had with them. In 1972 Colin and a friend bought Cooya, a 13m Linton Hope wooden yawl built in 1914. Highs and lows of Cooya will be compared to sailing today on his aluminium Ovni 32. How did we do without AIS, DSC, GPS, LEDs and most importantly of all, watertight decks? Becky is Port Safety Officer Assistant, KHM Portsmouth, and she will tell us about the work of Portsmouth’s King’s Harbour Master Department. This will be with a small boat emphasis but also the management of larger vessels such as HMS Prince of Wales. Most pleasure boats are made from GRP, but few people understand GRP or how boats are made. Andy works at the National Composites Centre and will explain the materials and manufacturing methods used, as well as some do’s and don’ts for your own boats. Ever since the Dutch gave Charles II a ‘yacht’, richly decorated royal yachts brought in new monarchs and ferried the aristocracy – until Queen Victoria discovered that steam was more efficient. Brian Lavery is Curator Emeritus at the National Maritime Museum. In his many novels set in the period from the 18th century to WWII, Philip uses authentic nautical detail. Here he creates a vivid picture of 18th Century life in the Royal Navy, the discipline, munitions, mutinies and the great sailing pioneers and vessels of that era. Our Chairman, Bernie Smallman, presented to Southampton Boat Show about the past, present, and future of GXSA We’re off to one of our favourite harbours, relaxing on the Isle of Wight. Details Summer Lunch at the Black Horse. A very informal event; simply turn up, and enjoy the afternoon. We normally have about 20 GXSA members at the Summer Lunch, so […]RNLI, 200 Years and Counting – Guy Addington MBE
Normandy D-Day 80th Anniversary – Stuart Gaunt
Platforms, Pirates and Pornography – Andy Beharrell
Inland Waterways Cruising – Julian and Vanessa Dussek
Sailing a Small Boat across the Atlantic – Gary O’Grady
Is the Ocean’s Radiator set to Max ? – Professor Isabelle Ansorge
2024 Marchwood Rally
Join us for Sailing, Food, Drink, and Chat, with a walk to Eling Mill on SundayMeet Our Crew – 11th September 2024
Chalfont Saint Giles,
Buckinghamshire
HP8 4QF
United Kingdom
Country Walk – 3rd September 2024
Meet Our Crew – 28th August 2024
Meet Our Crew – 14th August 2024
Meet Our Crew – 24th July 2024
Meet Our Crew – 10th July 2024
Country Walk – Hambleden 2nd July 2024
There wil be a walk beforehand, starting around 10:30 (details TBC), with a possible trip afterwards to local Hambleden Vineyard.Meet Our Crew – 26th June 2024
Meet Our Crew – 12th June 2024
Summer Cruise 2024
2024 Rally to Gins Farm (Beaulieu River) – June 1st
Come and join us.Meet Our Crew – 29th May 2024
Meet The Crew – 15th May 2024
Country Walk – 7th May 2024
Meet Our Crew – 24th April 2024
2024 Yarmouth Rally
Meet Our Crew – 10th April 2024
Stoke Poges,
Bucks
SL2 4EZ
United Kingdom
GXSA Annual Dinner -Friday 22nd March
Annual General Meeting
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Royal Clarence Victualling Yard – David Verghese
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Boat Jumble and GXSA Member Talks – What we did last Summer
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
From Dinghies to the Fastnet Race – Ben Palmer
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Pub Lunch with Country Walk
Details TBC
Penn,
Buckinghamshire
HP10 8NY
United Kingdom
South of the River: London’s Cradle of Power – Jeremy Batch
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Ice and Fire – Alison Vincent
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Musings of a Freelance Delivery Skipper – Bill van Bommel
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Lyme Regis or Bust: Unfortunately Bust – John Apps
Brunel’s Three Ships – Jim Cannon
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Wildlife of Galapagos, South Georgia and Falkland Islands – Peter Brinsden
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Cast Off for Christmas
Solent to Svalbard – Bob Hendicott
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Seafarers Hospital Society – Sandra Welch
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Hit by Whales and Equipment Failure – Julian Mounter
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Blue Water Sailing and Racing – David Paul
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Arctic Science with Vagabond – Eric Brossier
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Uncommon Courage – Julia Jones
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
WW1 Torpedo Boat – David Griffiths
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
William Dampier – Cathy Shelbourne
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Boat Surveying – Nick Vass
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
2023 Beaulieu Rally (September 9th – 10th)
Join us for a weekend of fun afloat.GXSA SUMMER PUB LUNCH
2023 Folly Rally (June 3rd – 4th)
2023 Poole Rally (April 28 – May 1)
See the main article for more information.2023 RYA First Aid Course
2023 Annual Dinner
Chalfont St Giles,
Bucks
HP8 4TA
United Kingdom
Annual General Meeting – for GXSA members and their guests
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Malta to Nice -Bernie Smallman, and Two ways of Getting to Spain – Paul Farrell and John Dawson
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Too Much Med – Nick Mines
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Sea and Ships, not the Titanic – Jeff Rozelaar
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Stars and Satellites – Stokey Woodall
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
RNLI – David Banger
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Round the Islands – Ann and Steve Crome
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
We Didn’t Quite Make It – Phil Haigh and John Apps
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
My Boat – John Franklin
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Ice with Everything – Tom Cunliffe
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Cast Off for Christmas
Our usual mix of short presentations, competitions, quiz and festive entertainment.
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
The Wonders of Cruising Japan – Kirk Patterson
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Atta Boy MB436, Keeping History Alive – Chris Ashton
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Harbour Master Sailing Challenge – Mark Ashley-Miller
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Why I Love my Boat – Roger, Gerry, John and Martin
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Then and Now – Colin Palmer
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Portsmouth Harbour – Becky Walford
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Understanding the Potential of GRP Boats – Andy Sutton
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Royal Yachts under Sail 1660-1842 – Brian Lavery
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Wooden World: the 18th Century Royal Navy – Philip K Allen
Gerrards Cross,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7AD
United Kingdom
Chairman Presents GXSA at Southampton Boatshow
2022 Rally to Bembridge
Evening entertainment with a Pontoon party, followed by dinner at the Bembridge Sailing Club.
Early risers will take a morning stroll along the beach to Seaview.
Should be great !!!!
Bembridge,
Isle of Wight
PO35 5NR
United Kingdom
2022 Summer Lunch
Slough,
SL3 6HD
United Kingdom
Yarmouth,
Isle of Wight
PO4 1 0PB
United Kingdom
Cowes,
Isle of Wight
PO31 7RE
United Kingdom
- 2022 Spring Programme
Programme Spring 2022
Talks begin at 8.15pm. Procedure to receive the Zoom links will be sent to members and registered visitors at least one day before the talk.
Help on using Zoom for GXSA sessions can be found by clicking this link
Antarctica, Old and New
Bob Shepton
Accomplished sailor, mountaineer and Arctic explorer, Reverend Bob Shepton will tell us about his sailing in the 1990s between the Falklands and Antarctica (partly under jury rig) and more recently on Novara from the Falklands to South Georgia in 2017. More details
Cruising through Life, BC to the Hanson Cup
James Littlewood
James returns to reflect, in his usual entertaining style, on his sailing career and tell us about his cruising on the coastal and inland waterways of Northwest Europe. He recently won the prestigious Cruising Association Hanson Trophy for his 2020 log of his travels. More details
HMS Medusa
Alan Watson
Medusa is the last original, seaworthy example of 464 HDML vessels built for the WW2 Royal Navy. After a critical role at Omaha beach on D Day and other action, she became a survey ship, then civilian life since 1968. Alan has been her skipper for the last 9 years. More details
Wildlife and Ecology of the Thames
Graham Scholey
Graham has a specialist role with the Environment Agency (Thames area) and was made MBE for his work in 2004. He will explain how the wildlife (above and below the surface) and ecology of the Thames fit in with historic changes to the river and its management. More details
The Penlee Lifeboat
Paul Barnett
In 1981, the Solomon Browne was launched into hurricane conditions to aid the MV Union Star off the southern coast of Cornwall. A few people were rescued on to the lifeboat but then both vessels were wrecked, and a total of 16 people were lost. This is their story. More details
The Big Tow
John Apps
John successfully completed the 2021 Jester Azores Challenge, sailing single handed to the Azores. All the boats that crossed the start line finished but not all under their own sail power. Do you really need a rudder? How far can you tow a boat under sail, and more…. More details
Scaramouche
Jon Holt
Jon founded the Scaramouche Sailing Trust and leads outdoor education at a London City Academy. With small boats and their 45ft Admiral’s Cup boat, Scaramouche, he has led young sailors to compete successfully in major races, including the RTI and Fastnet. More details
Three Men in a Nauticat Boat
Richard Sutton
Santander to Portsmouth 2020. It all began with a remark over a beer: “If you need any help bringing your boat back from Spain, give me a call.” Several months later I was in Santander staring at a boat that wasn’t ready to sail in the harbour, let alone cross Biscay. More details
Lloyd’s Register
Mark Darley
After his early career as a marine surveyor, Mark is now Global Marine and Offshore Director at Lloyd’s Register’s Marine and Offshore business. He will tell us about how they help companies to improve design, safety and environmental impact of shipping. More details
Annual General Meeting
AGM and Review of the year, followed by a look forward to the coming sailing season.
- 2021-H2-Autumn-Programme
Programme Autumn 2021
Talks in Colston Hall begin at 8.15pm. Additional Zoom invitations will be sent to members and registered visitors at least one day before the talk. Please note changed order of some talks.
Help on using Zoom for GXSA sessions can be found by clicking this link
Chesapeake Bay and Recovering Crashed Aircraft
Brian Deacon
Sailing in Chesapeake Bay was on Brian’s bucket list, and he managed to cross this off in 2017. Separately, his career in aviation led him into aircraft recovery; not what he planned but an interesting subject. Don’t worry if you are not a keen flyer, nor is he! More details
The Saxon Ship Project
Joe Startin
The 625 AD ship burial at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk is important in North European maritime history. A digital reconstruction has been made and a reconstruction of the ship is now being built next to the River Deben to explore some of the purposes of the ship. More details
Round Britain in Vela
Jill Rogers
Jill is a serving Army Officer who decided to take a break from “green camouflage” for 6 months and sail her Sadler 25 – Vela around Britain in 2019, doing most of it single-handed. Prior to the trip, she had only sailed alone occasionally…. More details
Phoenicians were in America before Columbus
Philip Beale
Adventurer and Sailor, Philip Beale FRGS, will describe his journey sailing a Phoenician galley, the Phoenicia, on a 6000 mile voyage from Carthage to the Americas in 2019-20. One of the most interesting and important historic replica ship voyages of recent times. More details
The Isle of Wight, England in Miniature
Graham Horn
Graham (a blue badge guide) visits the island frequently and has an extensive knowledge of its attractions, history and geography. Some of us know the island well and the talk will bring back memories, but most people listening also say “Well, I didn’t know that.” More details
Rowing the Thames
Tony Ayton and Isabel van der Ven
Join Tony, Isabel and their double sculled, hand-crafted boat Papillon as they rowed 125 miles down the Thames from Lechdale to Teddington Lock in 2018. They will tell us about their boat (which they plan to bring with them!..) and what they enjoyed. More details
Resurrecting Dr John Snipe
Jane Bowden-Dan
When Nelson re-boarded Victory in 1805, he wrote to the Admiralty to commend the services of Dr John Snipe (Physician to the Fleet) to negotiate a supply of lemon juice for the Navy. We shall hear of his importance to the Mediterranean Fleet’s success. More details
Mayflower Autonomous Ship
Brett Phaneuf
With no human captain or onboard crew, the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS) uses Artificial Intelligence and energy from the sun to travel further and reveal more about the ocean. We will hear about this and other innovative projects run by the ProMare company. More details
Cruising in Indonesia
Norma and Phil Heaton
In 2009 Norma and Phil embarked on a seven-year circumnavigation in Minnie B, including lengthy visits to Indonesia and Malaysia starting in 2014. Their talk will cover weather, anchorages, culture, people, provisioning, landscapes and hazards…. More details
Cast Off for Christmas
For GXSA members, the usual mix of short presentations about sailing incidents, photo competition, quiz and festive entertainment. To make it more inclusive, this will now be a Zoom only event; we shall not meet in the Hall. Get your photos ready – categories are Humorous, Scenic, Sailing, Wildflower seeds. Maximum one photo per category, per person. To enter photos, you must log in to the GXSA web site and then you will see the link in the Events menu. More details
- 2021-H1-Spring-programme-old
Programme Spring 2021
On line talks begin at 8.15pm. Zoom invitations will be sent to members and registered visitors at least one day before the talk.
Help on using Zoom for GXSA sessions can be found by clicking this link
All Shipshape and Blackwall-fashion
Jeremy Batch
On the Blackwall side of the Thames, opposite the dome, lie the largest private dock in Europe and the locations of countless innovations in shipping and commerce. Jeremy will transport us through the amazing history of this part of London with his usual engaging style. More details
Building and Arctic Sailing a Traditional Boat
Will Stirling
Stirling and Son Ltd are based in Devon and specialise in restoration and building wooden boats of all descriptions. Will Stirling will tell us about constructing his own impressive 43ft Gentleman’s Cutter and an exciting expedition in it to Jan Mayen and East Greenland. More details
Shipwrecks of the Thames
Robert Smith
Rob will tell us about 12 ships out of the thousands that have sunk in the Thames, from a Roman cargo ship to a 17th century ship whose sinking shocked Samuel Pepys; a voyage through history that includes the ship full of explosives that is still there and a mysterious sinking in the Cold War. More details
Do we really need all those Instruments?
Stuart Gaunt
In 1984 Marvin Creamer became the first and only person known to have sailed around the world without instruments. 30,000 miles. 18 months. No Chart Plotter. No Decca. No RDF. No Sextant. No Astrolabe. No Clock. No Watch. What made him do it? How did he do it? More details
Nordic Odyssey
Clive Woodman
In 2004 Clive completed a ski traverse in the arctic winter of the whole length of Norway, from Telemark to Finnmark and then sailed south from Nord Cap along the whole Norwegian coast in his 19ft Cornish Shrimper (yes, 19ft…). Clive will join us from Germany to present this remarkable story. More details
Passage Planning, Pilotage and Yacht Delivery in the Med
Graham Thomas
In October 2016, Graham helped to crew and navigate a move of two sailing school yachts from Trapani in Sicily to San Miguel in Tenerife. The journey of approximately 2000nm takes between 4-5 weeks and included interesting offshore sailing, weather, gear failure and being in close confines for long periods. The second part of the talk has a special focus on passage planning and preparation. More details
Boat Building in Bucks
Rob Johnstone
Unlike many of us, GXSA member Rob Johnstone has something to show from Lockdowns 1 and 2. He will tell us about the trials and tribulations of creating the design, establishing a workshop space, building and (almost) finishing a 15ft lug sail dinghy. Her maiden voyage is imminent. More details
Circumnavigation of New Zealand
David and Andrea McKay
David and Andrea McKay live in Tasmania and have made several crossings to New Zealand and elsewhere in the Pacific Ocean. In this video presentation, they take us on their 2013-2014 journey around New Zealand in their steel Van De Stadt Tasman 48, Diomedea. More details
The Right Knots for Red Knickers – and – The South Africa Route
Jenny Crickmore-Thompson and John Franklin
Jenny and John are GXSA members, currently in South Africa. Jenny will entertain us with some of their sailing experiences (from her point of view…). John will explain their efforts to help ocean cruising yachts avoid the 2020 Indian Ocean cyclone season during the Covid19 restrictions. More details
Annual General Meeting
Review of the year, AGM and future plans for the rest of 2021.
- 2021-H1-Spring-programme
Programme Spring 2021
On line talks begin at 8.15pm. Zoom invitations will be sent to members and registered visitors at least one day before the talk.
Help on using Zoom for GXSA sessions can be found by clicking this link
All Shipshape and Blackwall-fashion
Jeremy Batch
On the Blackwall side of the Thames, opposite the dome, lie the largest private dock in Europe and the locations of countless innovations in shipping and commerce. Jeremy will transport us through the amazing history of this part of London with his usual engaging style. More details
Building and Arctic Sailing a Traditional Boat
Will Stirling
Stirling and Son Ltd are based in Devon and specialise in restoration and building wooden boats of all descriptions. Will Stirling will tell us about constructing his own impressive 43ft Gentleman’s Cutter and an exciting expedition in it to Jan Mayen and East Greenland. More details
Shipwrecks of the Thames
Robert Smith
Rob will tell us about 12 ships out of the thousands that have sunk in the Thames, from a Roman cargo ship to a 17th century ship whose sinking shocked Samuel Pepys; a voyage through history that includes the ship full of explosives that is still there and a mysterious sinking in the Cold War. More details
Do we really need all those Instruments?
Stuart Gaunt
In 1984 Marvin Creamer became the first and only person known to have sailed around the world without instruments. 30,000 miles. 18 months. No Chart Plotter. No Decca. No RDF. No Sextant. No Astrolabe. No Clock. No Watch. What made him do it? How did he do it? More details
Nordic Odyssey
Clive Woodman
In 2004 Clive completed a ski traverse in the arctic winter of the whole length of Norway, from Telemark to Finnmark and then sailed south from Nord Cap along the whole Norwegian coast in his 19ft Cornish Shrimper (yes, 19ft…). Clive will join us from Germany to present this remarkable story. More details
Passage Planning, Pilotage and Yacht Delivery in the Med
Graham Thomas
In October 2016, Graham helped to crew and navigate a move of two sailing school yachts from Trapani in Sicily to San Miguel in Tenerife. The journey of approximately 2000nm takes between 4-5 weeks and included interesting offshore sailing, weather, gear failure and being in close confines for long periods. The second part of the talk has a special focus on passage planning and preparation. More details
Boat Building in Bucks
Rob Johnstone
Unlike many of us, GXSA member Rob Johnstone has something to show from Lockdowns 1 and 2. He will tell us about the trials and tribulations of creating the design, establishing a workshop space, building and (almost) finishing a 15ft lug sail dinghy. Her maiden voyage is imminent. More details
Circumnavigation of New Zealand
David and Andrea McKay
David and Andrea McKay live in Tasmania and have made several crossings to New Zealand and elsewhere in the Pacific Ocean. In this video presentation, they take us on their 2013-2014 journey around New Zealand in their steel Van De Stadt Tasman 48, Diomedea. More details
The Right Knots for Red Knickers – and – The South Africa Route
Jenny Crickmore-Thompson and John Franklin
Jenny and John are GXSA members, currently in South Africa. Jenny will entertain us with some of their sailing experiences (from her point of view…). John will explain their efforts to help ocean cruising yachts avoid the 2020 Indian Ocean cyclone season during the Covid19 restrictions. More details
Annual General Meeting
Review of the year, AGM and future plans for the rest of 2021.
- 2020-H2-Autumn-programme
Programme Autumn 2020
On line talks begin at 8.15pm. Zoom invitations will be sent to members and registered visitors at least one day before the talk.
Help on using Zoom for GXSA sessions can be found by clicking this link
The Extraordinary Voyage of Mary Bryant
John Apps
The events that led Mary Bryant to sail from Sydney to West Timor in an open boat in 1790 provide an insight to the harsh conditions in the Australian settlements then. The Royal Navy’s response and how Mary subsequently became a celebrity in England is a little-known but remarkable story. John will explain both the legend and the facts. More details
Travels with Tilman
Bob Comlay
Bill Tilman’s achievements rank amongst the greatest in twentieth century mountaineering and high latitude sailing. Bob Comlay crewed on two of Tilman’s high latitude voyages, earning a level of trust that gives him unique insight into the character of this self-effacing legend of twentieth century exploration. More details
Boats, Planes (and Trains)
Alastair Fischbacher
What do dinghy sailing, going to sea as a cadet and ships officer, a flying instructor, coal mining and big bulk carriers have in common? Alastair links them through his experiences, career and other events. He is now co-Chair of the Sustainable Shipping Company. More details
High Latitude Adventures
Steve Brown
Steve Brown will tell us about his sailing and climbing expeditions to South Georgia and Antarctica undertaken during his 33,000nm circumnavigation of the Americas that began with a successful transit of the North West Passage in 2014. More details
Walking the Coasts of England and Wales
Chris O’Grady
Chris walked the coasts of England and Wales over a period from 2002 through to 2017 – including a lot of time looking at the sea! We will learn about his experiences and the sights, sites and insights he encountered. More details
Teaching Oceanography in South Africa
Isabelle Ansorge
Prof Ansorge (head of the Department of Oceanography at the University of Cape Town) makes a return visit to entertain us again with her recent exploits, focussing on the SEAmester programme to teach and inspire interest in oceanography, marine life and climate change near South Africa. More details
The Dutch Raid on the Medway
Chris Tarratt
The Medway raid in 1667 saw a Dutch fleet sail into the Thames and attack the British fleet at anchor in the Medway, causing a panic in London and winning a victory that helped bring the second Anglo-Dutch war to an end. But the peace only lasted for a few years… More details
The Excavation of the Mary Rose
Dawn Perrier
Dawn worked as a diver on the excavation and salvage of the wreck of the Mary Rose. She will give us a fascinating insight into how the historic objects were recovered and tell us about the recently improved Mary Rose exhibition and the work of the Mary Rose Trust. More details
Sørlandet Tall Ship
Knut Arne Gjertsen
Sørlandet is the world’s oldest and most authentic fully-rigged ship still in active service and is operated by a non-profit foundation in Norway. Knut will tell us about the history of Sørlandet, her cruises, the management of Sailing Ventures, and the opportunities to join Sørlandet for voyages. More details
Cast off for Christmas
For GXSA members and their guests, the usual mix of short presentations about sailing incidents, photo competition, quiz and festive entertainment. More details
- 2020-H1-Programme-Spring
Programme Spring 2020
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
Paddington: Motorboating in Europe
James and Carol Littlewood
Having sailed the coastline from the Norwegian Arctic Circle to La Rochelle, James and Carol decided to visit the “inside”. In 2014 they started to explore the gutters of France, the ditches of Belgium, the canals of the Netherlands and the big waterways of Germany. James will talk about differences between “outside and inside”, will compare locks with crocodiles and will give a us a glimpse of French champagne country and the German Mecklenburg Lakes. More details
Seabatical – a Caribbean adventure at 30 something
Nick and Roxanne Creak
In 2018 Nick and Roxy bought a 1989 40ft Westerly in Trinidad in the hope of being able to sail to Puerto Rico and back for the Caribbean honeymoon of a lifetime. Armed with limited experience and a can do attitude they have recently returned with a smile on their faces and many stories to tell. More details
In the Footsteps of Shackleton
Martin Thomas
In 1915 Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, was crushed in the ice of the Weddell Sea and sank. After drifting on the ice for 15 months, he and his men reached the uninhabited Elephant Island. He then set out on one of the most hazardous small boat journeys of all time and eventually reached South Georgia. Martin will describe his own adventure, sailing the Southern Ocean to South Georgia and then following Shackleton’s route across the mountains, the Shackleton Traverse. More details
From Pushing Paper to Planing Planks
Nigel Morris
For 30 years, Nigel Morris was a project manager working around the world; then on 20 August 2018 he jumped ship and decided to become a boat builder. He spent 40 exciting and challenging weeks at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis, learning woodwork and eventually building his own 21 foot boat in the final weeks of the course. He is now practising his newly acquired skills on renovating a Dunkirk Little Ship. More detailsSailing Small Boats to the Arctic
Alasdair Flint
Alasdair Flint is the long-time owner of a 26ft wooden yacht called Sumara. He will talk about his penchant for sailing north to the Arctic. The talk will focus on his 2011 expedition to Jan Mayen to climb the world’s most northerly volcano but will also briefly cover his earlier sail to Spitsbergen and his recent trip to East Greenland with Will Stirling. Alasdair will attempt to explain how careful planning, good kit and the right attitude can help mitigate some of the risks. More details
Warrant Officer 1 Mick Gentry, Royal Navy
Mick Gentry
Mick has served for 43 years in the Royal Navy, which included 3 years Service in Her Majesty’s Royal Yacht Britannia from 1995 through to decommissioning in Dec 1997. Hear how the Royal Yacht was organised, what duty as a Royal Yachtsman entailed, and what life was like onboard. Mick will tell you of events that you will not have heard before and explain the uniqueness of Britannia in every detail. More details
(Alastair Fischbacher talk has been postponed)
Linnea 360: a UK Circumnavigation
Alison Milne and Chris Smith
No two sailing trips around the UK are the same; in the summer of 2017 Chris and Alison, newly retired, set off in their Malo 37 Linnea on what was, for them, a voyage of discovery. As well as recounting their story, they will share some tips on what worked for them in both the planning and execution of the trip and will hopefully inspire some in the audience to take the plunge with this UK sailors’ rite of passage. More details
Sailing Last Summer and Other Tales
Talks from GXSA Members
With so many talks from visiting speakers about their accomplishments, we might overlook the achievements and adventures of our own members. We shall hear about some of their impressive sailing exploits in the Baltic, Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, BVIs, Bermuda and Azores and other entertaining stories. Visitors welcome, as usual. More details
The Golden Globe Race
Barry Pickthall
Barry Pickthall is a yachting journalist and photographer who has been covering international sailing events for over forty years. A former boat builder and naval architect, he was yachting correspondent of The Times for many years and is currently the Golden Globe Race Media Coordinator. He will tell us about the Golden Globe Race past, present and future. More details
AGM, followed by
Review of the Year and a look forward to the coming sailing season and events.
- 2019-H2-Programme-Autumn
Programme Autumn 2019
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
Antarctic Antics
David Bray
David is a retired Master Mariner and an expert in dynamic positioning of vessels. He will tell us about his experiences working as Navigating Officer in the research vessel RRS “John Biscoe” in Antarctica during the 1970s. At that time, the technology was more akin to that of Shackleton and Scott than to the 21st century. He will tell us about Antarctica from the standpoint of operating a ship, including some of the more humorous episodes. More details
Sailing in Robinetta
Julian and Alison Cable
Robinetta is a 22’6” gaff rigged wooden yacht launched in 1937 and designed for sailing the Irish Sea and Inner Hebrides. Julian and Alison bought her in 2007 and will share their experiences cruising in this small but well-found boat, focussing on their 2016 circumnavigation of Ireland, illustrating their talk with photographs of the stunning coastline of this beautiful country. More details
Grandads Across the Atlantic
Peter Ketley
Grandads Neil Young and Peter Ketley completed their row from Canaries to Antigua in February 2019. It took 63 days and 22 minutes, giving them the world record for the oldest pair to row across any ocean, with a combined age of 123 years (at the start…). Both had previously served in the Parachute Regiment and they raised substantial donations for veterans charities. More details
John Rea and the Northwest Passage
Nigel Barraclough
The North West passage in the Arctic North of Canada – a fabled alternative route to the East, which has long been the subject of controversy. There were several unfounded claims of success and more importantly the true “discoverer” was vilified and never given the proper credit by the Establishment. Nigel will talk about the history and one of the (conveniently) forgotten heroes of Arctic exploration. More details
Maiden and other Adventures
Nikki Henderson
Nikki Henderson became the youngest ever skipper on the Clipper Race, bringing her boat in second overall in the 2017 – 18 race. She then went on to skipper the renovated Maiden from the UK to Sri Lanka as part of the Tracy Edwards mission to empower and educate girls as a human right and was presented this year with the Yachting Journalists’ Association Yachtsman of the Year award for 2018. She will talk about these and even more amazing experiences. More details
Stress-free Navigation
Duncan Wells
Following on from his successful Stress-free Sailing book and Life Saver MOB retrieval aid, local sailing instructor and author Duncan Wells extends his simple but clever approach to give us Stress-free Navigation. Plenty of amusing stories and entertainment but also valuable lessons for us all to learn. More details
A Beginner’s Guide to the Baltic
Colin Wilson
The Baltic – arguably one of the best cruising areas in the world – and it’s almost on our doorstep. Why visit, what might you find, how can you get there, how do we get back home again, what about language, isn’t it expensive? GXSA members Colin and Tricia discovered the answers to these and many other questions during two seasons dipping their toes in Baltic waters. More details
Rout on the Riviera – Exercise Tiger – The Slapton Sands Disaster
Paul Barnett
We are in the heart of sleepy Lyme Bay on the night of April 28th, 1944 in readiness for Operation Overlord. Considered safe in home waters a loaded convoy sets sail. But by daybreak, two ships lay on the sea bed; one limping badly damaged and 749 souls missing – a scene of total devastation. Step forward 40 years to a tranquil scene and one man’s determination…..to recover a sunken tank! More details
Historic Yachts and National Historic Ships UK
Stuart Anderson
What does it take for a historic vessel to make it on to the National Register of Historic Vessels? Stuart will tell the stories of some of the sailing vessels, including Gypsy Moth IV and Maidie. He will also explain the Shipshape Heritage Partnership Traditional Seafarer training for specialist skills required in operating and maintaining historic sailing vessels, with a short film illustrating how these skills are passed on. More details
Cast Off for Christmas
Members and their guests will enjoy short presentations about sailing incidents, photo competition, quiz and festive entertainment, all accompanied by snacks and mulled wine. Bring your best pictures of the year for the photo competition, which will be in Boats and Sailing, Scenic and Humorous categories; please make prints no larger than A5. Photos will not be accepted by email this year.
- 2019-H1-Programme-Spring
Programme Spring 2019
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
Oceanography and Climate Change in the Arctic
Dr Simon Boxall
Simon is Principal Teaching Fellow in Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre at the University of Southampton. He heads up the science on the Cape Farewell programme focusing on the impact of climate change. More details
`Allo, ‘Allo: the Story of Communications
Jeremy Batch
Jeremy will tell us how a combination of sums, soldering and stubbornness enabled Maxwell, Hertz, Marconi, Arthur C. Clarke, Julius Caesar and others to predict, prove, build and strengthen the communication systems we now take for granted, bringing us from flags and flares to VHF, SSB, G&T and GMDSS, and allowing you to see and speak with people on the other side of the world. More details
Five days immersed in the Java Sea
Erik Vischer
Erik tells the story of his Dutch sea-faring family and their experiences during WW2 in the Dutch East Indies. His father, a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Dutch Marine Reserves, escaped from the Japanese in a small boat but was recaptured. The whole family was incarcerated in Japanese POW camps – Erik will recount how the sea shaped their experiences. More details
Sailing to Svalbard
Frances and Gareth Watkins
In 2014, Gareth and Frances decided to sail from the UK to Svalbard, a remote archipelago 600 nautical miles from the North Pole. The first step was to buy a boat. By mid 2015 they had achieved their ambition and were sailing their Hallberg Rassy 352 amongst the icebergs. More details
Clipper Race – Australia to Seattle
Phil Haigh
At the end of January 2018 Phil joined Clipper Round the World yacht ‘Visit Seattle’ in Airlie Beach to crew on two legs of the 17/18 race. Three months later he arrived in Seattle with wider shoulders, 30 days growth of beard and a strong desire never to see another Chinese sausage again. Join him as he talks about sail repair with a hammer and a hacksaw, surfing downwind on helm at over 20kt and tying bowlines on the foredeck in 80kt of wind. More details
Man Overboard – Could you deal with it?
Jonty Pearce
Jonty, a retired GP and ex commodore of The Penguin Cruising Club, sails his Southerly 105 with his wife Carol from Milford Haven, and has a particular interest in MOB recovery. They contributed to a Cruising Association MOB seminar following a Yachting Monthly article ‘How an 8st woman recovers a 20st man’ and have given several lectures to sailing clubs on the subject as a result. More details
Forgotten Craft
Diggory Rose
Diggory will talk about Boathouse 4 and the Forgotten Craft collection in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. He will detail the work of the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, the boats in the collection and the development plans for the next few years including the restoration of the Motor Gunboat 81 and the Armed Steam Cutter 26 as well as the construction of a replica of CMB4, a First World War torpedo boat. More details
Admiral Lord Cochrane
John Apps
Remarkable story of a British Naval hero who was admired by Napoleon and was the basis for the fictional heroes in “Hornblower” and “Master and Commander”. More details
Storms in the Caribbean
Bernie Smallman
Bernie will describe weather events in the Caribbean, particularly the British Virgin Islands. She will cover how she and John first visited the islands, the story of the Wreck of the Rhone and (more recently) Hurricane Irma. More details
Boat Surveys
Guy Nicholls
Marine surveyor Guy Nicholls will talk about his work on yachts, what to look for when buying a boat, how to pre-empt a full survey by looking at some key items before making an offer and how to hide blemishes when selling. He will discuss the most frequent problems experienced, with a few examples of specific boat types and general problems that occur; mostly, how we can look after our own boats better! More details
AGM, followed by
Review of the Year and a look forward to the coming sailing season and events.
- 2018-H2-Programme-Autumn
Programme Autumn 2018
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
Marlin’s Mission
Dave Selby
Dave Selby is a passionate sailor who’s been fumbling around the east coast for years in Marlin, his 18-ft Sailfish, without dying once. In 2016 the PBO columnist set off on Marlin’s Mission to sail 340 miles up the Thames to London and on to Southampton to exhibit his boat at The Southampton Boat Show. The aim was to demonstrate that cost is no barrier to getting afloat. More details
Ironhorse
Rosemary and Alfred Alecio
Alfred and Rosemarie Alecio, world cruisers, will first present a brief summary and comment on their 23 years of circumnavigation. This will be followed by an account of the untimely end to their adventure, when they were rescued in the Indian Ocean in 2015. More details
Islands in the Sun
John Apps
John will talk about some of the islands that he has enjoyed sailing to that will from time to time experience sunshine. Places like Bornholm, Rugen, Helgoland, Porto Santo and Rhode… He might even mention Thanet! More details
Sharing the Solent – a Southampton Pilot’s perspective
Captain William Hargreaves
Everything you need to know about piloting large vessels in and out of Southampton, from planning to berthing and the requirements to become a Southampton pilot. Bill will tell us how it’s done and how he came to be a Senior pilot. This is your chance to meet the expert.. More details
The True Story of the African Queen
Kevin Patience
Almost everyone has seen the 1953 film ‘The African Queen’ starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. The film is set in German East Africa (now Tanzania) in the First World War. New research by Kevin has identified the real events that were adapted to make the story. These are some of the strangest naval true stories to come out of East Africa at that time. More details
RNLI Christmas Cards will be on sale this evening – bring some money…
Vintage Boats
Jane Percival
Jane is the Commodore of the Thames Vintage Boat Club, whose members restore, maintain and use vintage boats. They also aim to keep a historical record of all traditional craft on the Thames. Her talk will include restoration of National Historic Ships, Operation Dynamo and the discovery of a missing Dunkirk Little Ship. More details
Turn to Starboard
Shaun Pascoe
Turn to Starboard was founded by RAF Squadron Leader (Rtd) Shaun Pascoe. The idea of using sail training to help Forces personnel overcome the challenges of transition to civilian life was inspired by Shaun’s own personal experience. This is a rewarding and uplifting story of how adversity can be turned into a very positive contribution to society. More details
CHIRP
Ian Shields
An experienced shipmaster, Ian will provide an explanation of what ‘CHIRP’ is and its relevance to leisure users. His talk will include insights on misuse of equipment, interaction between high and low speed craft and examples of when CHIRP’s intervention has made a difference. More details
The Defensive Towers of Britain
Stuart Gaunt
Throughout history, the tower has been the primary means of defence against attackers and invaders. From lookout towers to battlements and sea forts. Stuart will show us how Britain has defended herself from offensive hoards in the past, present and future. More details
Cast Off for Christmas
Members and their guests will enjoy the usual short presentations about sailing incidents, photo competition, quiz and festive entertainment, all accompanied by snacks and mulled wine. Bring your best pictures of the year for the photo competition, which will be in Boats and Sailing, Scenic and Humorous categories; please make prints no larger than A5. Photos will not be accepted by email this year.
- 2018-H1-Programme-Spring
Programme Spring 2018
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
Shackleton – The greatest story ever told
Geoff Selley
Geoff 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
Disaster Waiting – the Severn Bridge Disaster
Paul Barnett
The 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
Sailing the Baltic
John Rugg
John 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
Sailing the Indian Ocean
Bob and Elaine Hazell
Bob 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
First Aid at Sea
Tom Sowerby
Accessible Sailing for All
Peter May
Both 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
What your Navy is doing – and why it matters !
Royal Navy
A 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 RNLI
John Apps
Entering 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
The Mutiny on the Bounty and the Loss of the Vergulde Draeck
Chris Tarratt
Chris 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
Old Father Thames: Cruising the non-tidal Thames
David Horn
Based 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
Battle of the Atlantic – Convoys and Corvettes
David Bray
Captain 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
AGM, followed by
Review of the Year and a look forward to the coming sailing season and events.
- 2017-H2-Programme-Autumn
Programme Autumn 2017
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
Dianne Mannering
Send Us Some Women
When the Governor of Australia wrote home to Lord Sydney (yes, that’s why it’s called Sydney) asking for some women, he was sent Newgate Gaol’s worst offenders. This is the story of their amazing sea voyage and how these unprepossessing women reinvented themselves to help found Australia. More details
Jules and Vanessa Dussek
Cruising the Inland Waterways of France
In 2006 Jules and Vanessa took their Southerly 115 through the French inland waterways to the Mediterranean, a retirement dream, and returned a couple of years ago. They will tell us about 2000 miles of rivers, locks, villages, cities, eating and drinking. We can learn what is involved in making such a trip successful. More details
John Blake
Charts
John served in the Royal Navy and reserve for 16 years, leaving as Lieutenant Commander. He developed an interest in maritime history and has published several beautifully produced books on sea charts and other related topics. In recognition of his authorship, he was elected to the Royal Institute of Navigation. He will tell us about the development and roles of charts in navigation and war. More details
Bernie Smallman – Why we go Sailing
Paul Farrell – Two Summers in Spain
Two presentations from GXSA members on their 2016/17 summer cruises. Lots of good bits but also what went wrong !… More details
This is a programme change
Sue and Bob Garrett
Baltic and Back in a Season
Bob and Sue will tell us about their 6 month tour of the Baltic, starting from and returning to the Solent. They visited 9 countries and got as far as St Petersburg. How they prepared, the route and practicalities – everything you need to know for your sailing trip to the Baltic.. More details
Tony Roome
Massey Shaw
The Massey Shaw was built in 1935 to fight fires in London Docks and along the Thames, playing an important role in WW2 in the City of London and at Dunkirk. The vessel was recently refurbished and we shall learn about her history, current role and educational work planned for her future. More details
Colin Palmer
Speed Sailing
Colin collaborated with Malcolm Barnsley on the design and construction of high speed sailing boats, one of which was a forerunner to the record beating Vestas Sailrocket. How can it be that a kiteboarder can keep pace with an America’s Cup cat? What was it about Sailrocket, the current world record holder, that enabled it to reach 70 knots and could even higher speeds be possible – maybe 100 knots? More details
Herbie Battye
Oil & Gas projects in Ice Covered Waters
After serving 20 years at sea, Capt ‘Herbie’ Battye worked ashore for an oil major in marine terminal and marine projects. The latter included shipping oil and gas from cold and ice covered regions. Tonight he discusses the projects and developments that are making this a reality and the complications of navigating in ice covered waters. More details
Dick Leedham
Reminiscences of a Mariner
Dick Leedham joined the Merchant Navy at the age of 16 as a deck officer apprentice and was at sea for 17 years. He now runs his own company, specialising in on board navigation training. He sails his Westerly Solway – which he has had since 1981 – on the south coast. Dick will tell us about some of the more amusing things which happened to him during his time at sea. More details
Cast Off for Christmas
Members and their guests will enjoy the usual short presentations about sailing incidents, photo competition, quiz and festive entertainment, all accompanied by snacks and mulled wine. This will be a special Cast Off, supported by a kind donation from the will of Peter Batterley, former member of GXSA.
Please get your photos ready for the photo competition. Boats and Sailing, Scenic and Humorous categories; prints no larger than A5 or email the photo to info@gxsa.org.uk
- 2017-H1-Programme-Spring
Programme Spring 2017
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
Peter Bruce
Heavy Weather Sailing
Peter Bruce is a well known author having published books such as Solent Hazards, Solent and Island Tidal Streams and a newly updated 7th edition of Heavy Weather Sailing. We look forward to learning how to deal with it and hope never to need the knowledge. More details
Chris Tarratt
A History of Time
Chris is a retired jeweller with an abiding interest in the History of Time. He is a keen offshore yachtsman and has taught Navigation. Chris will tell us about the measurement of time over the years and how this has affected those who travel on the oceans. More details
Richard and Cathy Brown
A Stockholm Adventure
Journalists Richard and Cathy have sailed round Britain and cruised the French Atlantic coast and north west Spain in their yacht Brave. Tonight they will tell us about equipping their new boat and sailing her in the stunning Stockholm Archipelago. More details
Kevin Patience
Scapa Flow – Salvaging the German Imperial Navy
Kevin looks at some naval battles between Britain and Germany, the salvaging of 32 scuttled German warships and Scapa Flow as it is today. He uses contemporary photographs from Ernest Cox, who led the difficult task, and newsreel from the 1920s and 30s. More details
Philip Holt
Donald Campbell – Across the Lake
Phil will review the life of Donald Campbell, the only man to hold both the world land and water speed records in the same year. A behind the scenes look at that fateful day in January 1967 on Coniston Water to find the cause of the crash and a look at the current recovery of both Bluebird and Donald himself. More details
Richard Thomas
The Story of the Panama Canal
Richard will cover the four centuries of endeavour that started with Christopher Columbus in 1502 to build transport links across the 50-mile isthmus at Panama. The story culminates with the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, and the 21st century improvements. More details
Commodore Gerry Thwaites RN
The Royal Yacht – a bygone era
Commodore Thwaites served 34 years in the Royal Navy, much of it in Submarines. In the early 90s he was appointed Senior Engineer of the Royal Yacht Britannia. This talk looks into the day to day life on board “The Yacht” serving the Royal Family. More details
Rick Lawrence
2015/16 Round the World Clipper Race
Rick will talk about his once in a life-time experiences on Garmin, one of the twelve 15/16 Round the World Clipper yachts. He raced through hurricanes and freezing conditions. Over 12,000 miles from China to Seattle and on to New York via Panama. More details
Dr Chris Willard
Birds of the Solent
Chris, a bird watcher from the age of 8 and keen sailor, has lived half a mile from the Western Solent shore for 40 years. He will introduce us to the wonderful range of birds which might be seen anywhere along the 48 miles of Solent Shores. More details
AGM, followed by
Review of the Year and a look forward to the coming sailing season and events.
- 2016-H2-Programme-Autumn
Programme Autumn 2016
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
Elaine and Bob Hazell
From Kiwis to Orangutans
Elaine and Bob are on a Round the World Odyssey, and taking the time out to tell GXSA all about it. Their second leg took them from New Zealand to Borneo. A fantastic tale of global adventure. More details
Colin van Geffen
Nelson and HMS Victory – Their Lives and Times
HMS Victory is best remembered as Nelson’s flagship at Trafalgar in 1805. Speaker and artist Colin van Geffen returns to describe key successes and failures of two of our best known historical icons. We hear how their paths crossed, culminating at Trafalgar – and what followed. More details
Helen Doe
Cornwall – a Maritime History
Cornwall has the longest coastline of any county in England and Wales and is the most maritime of counties. From pirates to privateers and from wars to world trade, Cornwall’s heritage is much more than just Tin and Fish ! More details
The Confessional – If I Had Known Then, What I know Now…
Bernie Smallman & Stuart Gaunt
Sailing is an education that we frequently forget. This evening the floor is open to members with interesting stories to tell that will prevent other people having similar Adventures. How many stories do you have? We start the ball rolling with “Bernie’s Summer” and “Stuart sails to Guernsey”. More details
Bob and Elaine Hazell
Hongs and Pagodas
Elaine and Bob are back to describe the third leg of their journey around the world on Pipistrelle, before they fly away to start “Leg Four”. Singapore, Penang, Thailand, Myanmar and lots more in this passage. More details
Peter Poole – Oilskins that I have known
Mary Allan – A summer of joy, …nearly
Two GXSA members speaking this week. Amazingly, Peter still owns all the waterproofs he ever purchased and will tell us their stories. Mary will tell us about a lovely summer trip up the west coast of England, via Ireland and Scotland, that didn’t go completely to plan… More details
John Barry
The How and Why of Tides
Tides have a major effect on our time on the water and vary greatly around the world. Why do they happen and how do different tidal periods arise. How are tide tables predicted and why are the tidal streams always in the wrong direction for us..? More details
Bob Shepton
Sailing and Climbing
Rev. Bob Shepton returns to give us an account of a further expedition, sailing and climbing in Greenland and Baffin Island with his team of star top climbers. The talk is presented with slides and an excellent film of the expedition. More details
Malcolm Thorpe
Bembridge Harbour
Bembridge harbour – Visited by Many, Known by Few. Malcolm and his wife Fiona bought the harbour in 2011. He will tell us about the history and future of this important part of English heritage. More details
Bernie and Stuart
Cast-Off for Christmas
All the usual fun and entertainment for GXSA members and their guests, with mulled wine. Photo competition in Boats and Sailing, Scenic and Humorous categories; please make prints no larger than A5. Click here for GXSA Song lyrics
- 2016-H1-Programme-Spring
Programme Spring 2016
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
Jeremy Batch
Going Boldly – Across, Beneath and Beyond the Ocean
One of our favourite speakers, Jeremy returns to entertain us with a wide ranging and amusing account of marine historical developments that we all take for granted today. More details
Giles Milton
Nathaniel’s Nutmeg and Fascinating Footnotes in History
Historian Giles wrote of the sea battles, brutality and skulduggery between the British and Dutch as they fought to control the eastern spice trade when nutmeg was worth more than gold, and tells of fascinating footnotes that make our past so intriguing. More details
Graham Anthony
“Sorely Tried”- the story of HMS Beagle, Fitzroy and Darwin
The role of the Royal Navy was changing rapidly when ‘Beagle’ was launched in 1820. Graham explains how the Beagle voyages led to a nautical infrastructure that now allows us to roam the seas happily and safely. More details
Stuart Carruthers and Gus Lewis
Future of UK Cruising – from the RYA
Stuart is RYA Cruising Manager and Gus is Head of Legal and Government Affairs. They will explain the wide variety of contributions the RYA makes on our behalf with government and regulatory issues. Find out what are the most frequent enquiries and how we get good value from the RYA… More details
Nigel Sharp
Dunkirk Little Ships plus Wartime Leisure Sailing
Commodore of St Mawes Sailing Club, Nigel is a lifelong sailor. He spent 35 years in the boatbuilding industry before becoming a freelance marine writer and photographer. The recent 75th anniversary of the Dunkirk rescue, described in his book Dunkirk Little Ships, makes this an excellent time to learn all about it. More details
Paul Farrell
Summer cruises on Amoret
GXSA member Paul finally got to visit the Azores! He will tell us about his voyages on Tony Firth’s Amoret, focussing on last summer’s cruise taking in Spain, Portugal and the passage home from the Azores. More details
Stephen Taylor
Edward Pellew
Edward Pellew, captain of the legendary Indefatigable, was the greatest British frigate captain in the age of sail. Left fatherless at age eight, he fought his way from the very bottom of the navy to fleet command. His biographer Stephen Taylor, an accomplished author, tells us the remarkable story. More details
Linda Crewe-Gee
Girl’s Guide to the Southern Ocean
Linda joined a small crew on a traditional Dutch tall ship for a voyage from Auckland across the Southern Ocean via Cape Horn to the Falkland Islands. Wild weather, hard physical work and occasional mishaps make this an inspiring story. More details
Colin van Geffen
Calshot – a Place in Time
Colin explains the history of Calshot Castle and the Spit, from Saxon times to the present day. It has been used by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coastguard in peacetime and at war. Pirates, smugglers, ship-wrecks, submarines and much more. More details
AGM, followed by
John Dawson – Brittany or Bust
GXSA members John Dawson and Bernie Smallman enjoyed a recent trip to Brittany on Burnadebt. John had been planning a cruise there since he was a teenager. Last year they finally spent some time there….. More details
- 2015-H2-Programme-Autumn
Programme Autumn 2015
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
Professor Carl Ross
How Deep the Ocean ? – Advances in Submarine Structures
The importance of underwater exploration and challenges in making structures and vessels capable of exploring the great depths will be explained. Opportunities for retrieving vast quantites of methane fuel, for military activity and for applying similar engineering techniques in exploration of other planets will be discussed. Prof Ross has promised that no maths will be presented in the lecture!.. More details
Duncan Wells
Single Handed Sailing Techniques
GXSA member Duncan explains bullet-proof techniques for departing and returning to the dock, anchoring with confidence and getting an incapacitated casualty in the water back on board when short-handed, plus many other tips. More details
Colin van Geffen
Flying Boats of Southampton
Colin takes us back to the Golden Years of the commercial flying boat era, when Southampton and its Empire flying boats led the world. He takes us from the beginnings in 1913 to the swansong in the 50s and later. More details
Chris Smith and Cocky Taanman
Unlikely Places: Albania and Ukraine
Chris would like to know why he met only six other cruising yachts during his two weeks in Albanian waters. Is it the mines (6,000 destroyed in 2013), the lack of yacht-friendly harbours or just the reputation? In contrast the Ukraine, now forbidden, made wonderful sailing for them in 2012. More details
Julia Jones
Ghost in the Cabin; Sailing Arthur Ransome’s Peter Duck
Julia is an accomplished author. When she was 3-years-old, her father bought the wooden sailing ketch Peter Duck, which she now owns. She will tell us about how her experiences have encouraged her to focus on children’s adventure stories. More details
Steve Huxley and Damien Oliver
Coastguard: latest organisation and new Helicopters
An opportunity to hear about what is happening at the MCA: Damien is responsible for ensuring the new search and rescue helicopters meet the needs of the agency and Steve Huxley MBE is Search and Rescue Communications Manager, based at Falmouth. More detailsPaul Barnett
Purton Ships Graveyard
Local maritime historian and Friends of Purton Chairman, Paul Barnett describes the Purton Hulks on the banks of the River Severn and explains their significance for marine history. More detailsJimmy Cornell
Atlantic crossing planning and an Arctic voyage
Having just completed a 10,000 miles voyage on his new yacht Aventura that took him from London to Greenland, Arctic Canada, Newfoundland, US east coast and the Bahamas, Jimmy will tell us about voyage planning, the new Atlantic Odyssey rally and some of his experiences. More details
Capt Ian McNaught
From Cruise Liners to Trinity House
With 40 years maritime experience, having been Master of the QE2 and Queen Victoria in his day job at Cunard before joining Seabourn, Ian then became Executive Director and now Deputy Master of Trinity House. He will tell us about these roles and he has some fascinating stories to tell. More details
Cast Off for Christmas
Members evening of short talks and festive fun
- 2015-H1-Programme-Spring
Programme Spring 2015
Talks begin at 8.15pm, bar and coffee open from 7.30pm
January 7th Presentations by GXSA Members
Part 1 Steve Daish – What could possibly go wrong? The perils of yacht delivery
Part 2 Bernie Smallman – Antarctica in Comfort. South Georgia, the Falklands and Cape Horn More details
January 14th David Brook
RNLI Poole Lifeboat building
David leads 400 staff who design, build and repair RNLI lifeboats. He will explain how their engineering capability keeps the Search and Rescue service going and tell us about the new all-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole, in which future Lifeboats will be built and maintained. More details
January 21st Rob Johnstone
Remember to turn left this time
We last heard about Vagabond when Rob left her at Balvicar after part 1 of his single handed circumnavigation of Britain. Now the rest of the tale includes a near capsize off Wells, confusion off Aberdeen, a raid through the Caledonian Canal and fog off the Old Man of Hoy. More details
January 28th Colin Gent
World War 2 Destroyers
Former GXSA member Colin will tell us about the engineering and armaments of Destroyers and their roles in escorting convoys and troop ships. This is backed up by stories of his own experience as an Electrical Engineer aboard HMS Caprice (a CA Class destroyer) in the Far East. More details
February 4th James Littlewood
River cruising in Western Europe
After 60,000 adventurous sea miles, James Littlewood has replaced his yacht with a 13m steel motor boat. He expected the change from sailing to provide a relaxing time on the inland waterways of Europe. He now considers “worse things happen at sea” to be a myth! More details
February 11th John Apps
The Glory of the Ride
He’s back, after 2 years and 26,000 Miles in his Rival 34. True to his motto “Passage Plans rarely survive the first Gale”, John Apps has sailed to Greenland, Brazil, Cape Town (twice..) the Southern Ocean, St Helena, Ascension Island and the Azores. More details
February 18th Terry Corner
RNLI Top Tips for Boaters and some Rescues from Harwich
Terry Corner keeps his boat at Shotley marina on the River Orwell. He is also RNLI safety team leader at Harwich lifeboat station. He will update us on current RNLI guidance and show us some of the more interesting and unusual rescues they have undertaken recently. More detailsFebruary 25th Simon Fraser
The Grand Tour
How Simon took his 43ft Hallberg Rassy from Chatham to Denmark through the inland waterways of Belgium and the Netherlands, all with the mast up. An enjoyable journey through picturesque towns, Nordeney and the Kiel and Eider Canals. More details
March 4th Ken Endean
Four men in a boat
The story of some remarkable yachting in peace and war. Ken Endean has published books and written for the yachting press for many years and he is also interested in maritime history. This talk presents a fascinating true story with the action shifting from sailing to all-out war and back again. More details
March 11th AGM, followed by members’ sailing highlights 2014 plus a look at forthcoming Rallies - 2014-H2 – Programme – Autumn
Programme Autumn 2014
October 8th Tom Cunliffe
Pilot Cutters Under Sail
Pilot cutters were amongst the most seaworthy and beautiful craft ever built. Distinguished yachtsman Tom Cunliffe explains what brought them such an enviable reputation. More details
October 15th John Franklin
St Peter’s to Saint Pierre
Commodore of the OCC and GXSA member, John will tell us about recent cruising with his wife Jenny in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in their yacht, Al Shaheen. More details
October 22nd Bill Cumming
Scottish Clippers
Maritime historian Bill Cumming describes the development of these fast trading merchant ships built in Scotland from the late 18th century. More details
October 29th Jonathan Lewis
Around the UK in the motor boat Gralian.
Distinguished film maker Jonathan Lewis describes the restoration of motor cruiser Gralian and the experience of cruising in the Baltic and round the UK. More details
November 5th Gil Sharp
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race – A Grandmother realises her racing dreams.
Gil Sharp describes the joy and deprivation of the Clipper race, including the Southern Ocean, the Sydney to Hobart race and the North Atlantic. More details
November 12th Tim Barker
Bipolar Cruising – The Adventures of Mina2 from the Arctic to the Antarctic
Mina2 is one of the few amateur yachts to have sailed into both the Arctic Circle and down to Antarctica. Storms, ice and great scenery.. More details
November 19th Sara Atkinson
Sea Biscuits and Lido Cakes
What it took to leave family, friends and a job to travel from Herne Hill to Barbados and how it was worth every minute. More detailsNovember 26th Roger Taylor
Creating and Sailing an Arctic Mini-cruiser
Roger Taylor describes the re-construction of Mingming II, an Achilles 24, for high latitude sailing and describes her maiden voyage. More details
December 3rd Cast Off for Christmas
Festive evening of short talks by GXSA members
Mulled wine, mince pies and other treats – a little earlier than usual this year
December 10th Bob Shepton
The North West Passage – twice. Madness?
2013 Apollo/Yachting Journalists’ Association Yachtsman of the year, Bob Shepton returns to tell us about his latest exploits and his new book – Addicted to Adventure. More details
- 2014-H1 – Programme – Spring
Programme Spring 2014
January 8th Invaders, Explorers and Shipbuilders – Jeremy Batch
Entertaining account of early ship building on the Thames and Medway plus … Why was the Archbishop of Canterbury murdered at Greenwich Yacht Club? How did the Dutch sneak up the Medway to raid Chatham and how did Olaf the Viking make London Bridge fall down?
January 15th Shackleton: Death or Glory – CANCELLED
Sebastien Coulthard and Alexander KumarExpedition crew member Sebastien Coulthard and expedition doctor Alexander Kumar describe the preparation, planning and challenges in successfully recreating Shackleton‘s famous escape from Elephant Island in Antarctica to South Georgia in early 2013.
January 22nd Keep Turning Left: Job Done! – Dylan Winter
By making films from a small boat and visiting the harbours, estuaries and shallow spots other UK circumnavigators sweep past, Dylan Winter captures the real feeling of sailing. The highways and byways of the East coast as far north as the Firth of Forth provide an enjoyable evening of great films, wit and chat.
January 29th A Tale of Two Cities – Martin & Shân Alexander
Ups and downs of the participation of Spirit of Avalon in the 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant fleet in London and crossing the Channel in 2013 to explore the Seine to Paris and beyond. Presented together with accompanying GXSA members: Ben Benest, Roger Havelock and Philip Young.
More Details…
February 5th Port of London Authority and role of the Harbour Master
Steve RushbrookSteve is Deputy Harbour Master Upper, responsible for Teddington to Crossness, including the second biggest port in the UK and the busiest inland waterway for freight. He will talk about the challenges of navigating the Thames – including some rather hair–raising stories
February 12th Round Britain with the Old Gaffers – Sue Lewis
Not all the boats were old, or even gaff–rigged, but twenty boats sailed round Britain last summer to celebrate 50 years of the Old Gaffers Association, of which Sue is Secretary. Sue and her husband Howard sailed on their gaff cutter Bonify; good experiences, photos and tips.
February 19th Butterflies, Bulls and Blarney – John & Freda Andrews
Returning for a third presentation of Qwyver’s remarkable 6 year sail round the world, John and Freda focus this time on Islands in the North Atlantic, which make a splendid finale to their voyage. We can think of going to some of these places too!
February 26th Through University on a 23ft boat, sailing near and far
Joe PearceJoe was a student at Aberystwyth, and tells how he came to spend his student life living on board a small boat. We shall also hear about his adventurous trip down to his home on the Isle of Wight and a trip to Greenland.
March 5th Pierhead Painters – Claudia Myatt
The story of the 19th century harbour–side artists who earned a living by painting ships as they anchored and then selling the paintings to the ship’s captains. Accomplished artist Claudia Myatt explains from an artist’s and a sailor’s viewpoint.
March 12th AGM, followed by Rallies and Events 2013 – Stuart Gaunt
A whistle stop tour through the GXSA social events from 2013 and a look forward to our plans for summer 2014. Enjoy re–living the fun and experiences, or see what you missed.
The Autumn 2014 talks programme will start on 8th October, 2014 - 2013-H2 – Programme – Autumn
Programme Autumn 2013
Circle Line: Around London in a small boat – Steffan Meyric Hughes
In 2009, Steffan sailed and rowed a dinghy around London, writing an entertaining and best-selling book about his experiences in 2012. Hear Steffan talk about this voyage, and some of the other adventures and mishaps in eight years of yachting journalism.Portsmouth and Southampton: a maritime contrast
Graham Horn explores the history of merchant port Southampton and premier Naval base Portsmouth, delves into their rivalries and reveals why they came to take on such different roles. Whether it is shipbuilding, trade, defence or football, Portsmouth and Southampton have had a long rivalry. Some 2,000 years in fact. Blue badge Guide Graham will get you to think of the area in a new light when next sailing in the Solent.
Graham HornA Life Under and Over the Waves –
Growing up in South Africa sailing dinghies, Stephen has since sailed in submarines for the South African navy, sailed through time on a historical re-enactment in the Bartolomeu Dias, sailed on the Olympics first 49er racing circuit and covered developments in ocean racing.
Stephen GollikerSailing around the UK – Against the Clock
In 2006, Gordon, a long standing GXSA member sailed around the UK in his Contessa 32. The trip proved to be challenging and rewarding – both on and off the water – there are yarns a plenty …
Gordon HaroldU-boats, Giant Waves and Climate Change –
A return visit by Dr Ansorge (University of Cape Town) reporting on the brand new Agulhas II research vessel and her Antarctic trials. Isabel will describe new insights into unusual ocean currents, giant waves along the African coasts and climate change developments.
Isabel AnsorgeAll about Ropes – Justin Jones
Justin Jones is Marine Manager at English Braids and will tell us about the history of the company, different types of ropes and how they are made. The evening will conclude with entertaining demonstrations of various types of rope splicing.Rum, Sodomy and the Lash – Martin Thomas
Accomplished sailor, surgeon and former OCC Commodore, Martin Thomas describes naval traditions and medicine in the age of sail. Scurvy, amputation, surgery at sea, the press gang and the death of Nelson. Not for the squeamish but certainly an interesting evening…Caribbean Cruising without a budget –
GXSA member John reports on the pleasures of sailing last winter on the ‘Wind Star’ a four-masted 110m sailing yacht. Large beds, flat-screen TV, gourmet cuisine, casino, library, pool and hot tub – all sounds a bit different from our normal GXSA rallies but good to learn how the other half live.
John GorrieSailing and boat maintenance – Vyv Cox
Vyv Cox is a mechanical engineer, metallurgist, contributor to Yachting Monthly and keen photographer, who has sailed extensively in cruising yachts. Vyv will share his expertise on yacht maintenance and engineering problems, and describe his cruising in the Mediterranean.Cast Off for Christmas
More entertaining stories from members about their year’s sailing experiences plus mince pies and seasonal refreshments. - 2013-H1 – Programme – Spring
Programme Autumn 2013
January 9th
2013
Child of the Sea – Doina Cornell
Based on her book ‘Child of the Sea’; Doina sailed around the world with her parents. She will paint an intimate portrait of family life on board a small yacht in the bygone era of low-tech cruising and travelling far off the beaten track to Pacific islands that even now few yachts visit.January 16th A Caribbean experience – Ray Bridges
Since arriving in the Caribbean on board ‘Sonar’ in time for Christmas 2009, Ray has set up a base in Grenada and spent three seasons there exploring these exotic cruising grounds. Good sailing and plenty of warm, sunny pictures to help cheer up a dark winter’s evening.January 23rd From Sadler to Starlight – Nigel Thomas
Nigel, President of the Sadler and Starlight Owners Association and one time Chairman of GXSA, looks at the history of the various companies and the popular range of Sadler and Starlight yachts from the first Sadler 25s and 32s via the Barracuda and ‘Howards Way’ to the most recent Sadler 290.January 30th On top of the World: studying the Arctic Ocean – Helen Johnson
The Canadian Arctic Archipelago connects the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic. University of Oxford Scientist Helen will describe recent research expeditions to the region as well as current understanding of the ocean circulation and its role in global climate.February 6th Circumnavigation of Sweden – Roger Mustoe
Roger lived for four years in Norway in a house with a mooring; it just needed a sailing boat. Two summers were then spent sailing from Sweden to Norway and back. A tale of endless days, endless gale force winds, a broken engine, a bent prop shaft and … some sailingFebruary 13th From Oars to Jet Propulsion – Jeff Carter
A technical history of the lifeboat from the earliest known on in the UK to the latest RNLI boats in development. Jeff is an engineer and provides a unique perspective on the significant advances made over the years.February 20th From City Streets of the Open Seas – Nick Beck
A jovial tale of how two city workers came to find themselves building the 44 foot Pilot Cutter ‘Amelia Rose’ and founded Topsail Adventures. The boat also featured in ITV’s “Hungry Sailors” programme so this talk should be a feast for all tastes!February 27th All About Ropes – Julian Tucker
Julian Tucker managing Director of English Braids, will tell us about the history of the company, different types of ropes, how they are made and conclude with some enlightening demonstrations of various types of rope splicing.March 6th Vagabond wanders round Britain – Rob Johnstone
Sometime in 2010, GXSA member Rob thought it would be a good idea to buy an old boat, do her up and sail round Britain before the Zimmer took pride of place in his home. The reality is both different and fascinating – come along and hear the actual story.March 13th AGM followed by a film presentation:
An interesting, amusing and original view of sailing on the East Coast and Norfolk Broads in a (very) small boat.
‘Keep Turning Left’ – Dylan WinterSaturday 13th April Annual Dinner – Beaconsfield Golf Club
- 2012-H2 – Programme – Autumn
Programme Autumn 2012
Ruffling the Parrot’s Feathers:
Accomplished long distance sailor, 3 times Jester Atlantic Challenge competitor and GXSA member, John Apps describes his 2011 voyage from the Caribbean to Australia in his usual entertaining style.
10,000 miles across the Pacific – John AppsNew England Sailing – Roger Shaw
Tales of sailing from Long Island Sound out to Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod and Nantucket over seven years, including how to avoid a US submarine in fog and many other stories.Cruising in the Adriatic – Stuart Bradley
Stuart Bradley and his crew have spent four seasons cruising the area from Venice to Dubrovnik along the Croatian coast and islands – “ the Mediterranean as it used to be”.Rowing the Atlantic in support of Human Rights – Debbie Beadle
Remarkable story of how Debbie Beadle lead a record breaking 45 day rowing boat Atlantic crossing last winter. Many problems but determination and resilience saw them through. Debbie manages the Youth Programme at a leading children’s rights charity and the trip was devised to raise awareness about child trafficking.Marine Accident Investigation – Nick Hance
Inspector of Marine Accidents, Nick Hance will describe how the MAIB investigates accidents in merchant ships, small commercial vessels and in leisure craft. Example cases, including recent investigations, will be instructive and raise issues for discussion.Adventures in the Ice – Dick Turnbull
Sailor, climber and retailer, Dick Turnbull will describe his trip from Oban to Spitzbergen. In addition to the sailing, Dick scaled some of the Lofoten mountains. There were some hair raising moments escaping from an ice pack, assisted by an ice breaker.Sailing down the Danube in Sea Griffin – Neil Lynn
Taking a boat through the heart of historic Europe from the Baltic to the Black Sea over two sailing seasons. Locks and dams, impressions of the journey, the oddities, people, the history but most of all the interest.The Making of a Yachtsman’s Pilot – Dick Holness
Dick is co-author of East Coast Pilot, the definitive guide to East Coast creeks and backwaters. How did the Pilot come about and how it is kept up to date? Interesting local stories and ideas about the future role of such publications in the electronic age.The Shetland Bus – Stephen Howarth
Stephen’s father David was in day to day operational command of the SOE unit that transported secret agents and weapons between the Shetland Isles and occupied Norway during the winter months of 1940⁄1945. His 1951 book ‘the Shetland Bus’ is still selling steadily today.Cast Off for Christmas
More entertaining stories from members about their year’s sailing experiences plus mince pies and seasonal refreshments. - 2012-H1 – Programme – Spring
Spring 2012
Navigation: From Galileo to Galileo – Jeremy Batch
Which prehistoric navigational device played a vital part in the moon landings? How did Deptford Sailing Club get put in charge of pilotage and buoyage? How did submarine USS Skate find Ice Station Alpha, when the “station” had no idea where it was? All this and more in Jeremy’s usual entertaining style.Sydney to Hobart Race 2006 – Charles Sandison
A Father and Sons race “down under”. Charles will explain the history of the race and his preparations in the UK, together with the build up in Sydney and the race itself.Cruising to Norway and the Arctic Circle
During 2011 James and Carol sailed from Harwich to the Arctic Circle and back in their Moody Eclipse, Paddington IV. Their many adventures included responding to a Pan Pan relay off Narvik, cycling down mountains and powering up a 6400 horsepower fast ferry.
James & Carol LittlewoodRecent Marine Science Discoveries – Anna Hickman
From ocean conveyor belts to the origins of life on Earth: Anna Hickman, research fellow from the University of Southampton and the Challenger Society for Marine Science, will explain research and discovery at the cutting edge of marine science.The Last Blue Water Rally – John Hazell
John and his boat Fai Tira took part in the last Blue Water Rally, a round-the-world rally specifically for cruising sailors. He will talk about his near circumnavigation, the many problems overcome and the final difficulties due to the pirates in the Indian Ocean.Racing and RORC – Peter Rutter
Are all racing men mad?? Former Commodore of the Royal Ocean Racing Club and winner of the 2011 IRC National Championship title, Peter Rutter tells how he has run a series of successful racing boats, won many races and the role of RORC.Admiral Robert Fitzroy, first Head of the Met Office
Famous as the man who sailed Charles Darwin round the world, what more do we know about this remarkable Victorian and sailor who also did pioneering work on weather forecasting.
Gordon TrippScilly Pleasures and Precautions – Ken Endean
Everybody wants to visit the Isles of Scilly: Ken returns to tell us how to navigate around and between the islands, how to stay safe when the weather is bad and how to enjoy ourselves when the weather is good.Sailing Atlantic and Pacific – Bob Hazell
Bob & Elaine Hazell left the UK in 2008 to realise a life’s ambition. Here they recall the last 9 months fantastic experience of their South Pacific Crossing from the Panama Canal to New Zealand, and visiting many of the stunning islands en route.AGM : followed by
Professor Roland Paxton of Heriot-Watt University and the Institution of Civil Engineers’ Panel for Historical Engineering Works will tell us how this wonder of the industrial world was achieved on a rock up to 5 metres below high water and 11 miles out to sea.
The Creation of the Bell Rock Lighthouse 1807–11
Roland Paxton - 2011-H2 – Programme – Autumn old
Programme Autumn 2011
Unique Hurtigruten – Lucy Hone
From the Norwegian Shipping Company, a history of Hurtigruten and where they go: Norway, Spitsbergen, Greenland and Antarctica, illustrated talk with superb photos. 2011 has been declared the Nansen – Amundsen year in Norway to honour the two polar explorers.Qwyver Travels On – John Andrews and Freda Haylett
John and Freda return to tell us about the next part of their voyage, from New Zealand to Brazil via Australia and South Africa.White Nights in the Baltic – Douglas Addison
Starting from Turku in Finland and sailing around the Northern Baltic, including Latvia, Estonia and Sweden, Douglas discovered windmills, painted wooden houses, Orthodox Churches, Lutheran Cathedrals ….and saunasCruising the Wild West – Robert Fellowes
Spitzbergen or west coast of Ireland? Robert will describe his cruise to either Ireland or Spitsbergen depending on whether he managed to get to Spitsbergen during the summer of 2011!National Historic Ships Society – Martyn Heighton
Martyn Heighton, Director, National Historic Ships will tell us about vessels currently on the National Register of Historic Vessels and the Historic Fleet, problems they face and the solutions the National Register is planning to achieve.The Plimsoll Line – Nicolette Jones
What inspired the London Transport logo, banished coffin-ships and saved thousands of sailors lives? The story of an MP’s campaign to improve the lot of sailors – battling ship owners and parliament, who were more interested in profits than sailors’ lives.The RYA: the best possible Life Sentence – James Stevens
We welcome back James Stevens, recently retired as head of RYA training and examining to reminisce on his long career with them, and his thoughts on the changing world of sailing.GXSA MasterClass On Ocean Sailing
Acknowledged expert and well known author Jimmy Cornell provides a unique insight. This is an open meeting organised by GXSA. Members of other clubs and the RYA Thames Valley section are invited to join us.
Further details and booking arrangements will be posted on the home page as they emergeSydney to Hobart Race 2006 – Charles Sandison
A Father and Sons race “down under”. Charles will explain the history of the race and his preparations in the UK, together with the build up in Sydney and the race itself.Traditional Boatbuilding on the Thames – Colin Henwood
Colin is one of a new generation of Thames Boatbuilders who are continuing the traditions of restoring, maintaining and building elegant Thames craft. His enthusiasm, together with stunning photographs of some of the finest boats on the Thames, make his talk interesting for us all.Cast Off for Christmas
More entertaining stories from members about their year′s sailing experiences plus mince pies and seasonal refreshments. - 2011-H2 – Programme – Autumn
Programme Autumn 2011
Unique Hurtigruten – Lucy Hone
From the Norwegian Shipping Company, a history of Hurtigruten and where they go: Norway, Spitsbergen, Greenland and Antarctica, illustrated talk with superb photos. 2011 has been declared the Nansen – Amundsen year in Norway to honour the two polar explorers.Qwyver Travels On – John Andrews and Freda Haylett
John and Freda return to tell us about the next part of their voyage, from New Zealand to Brazil via Australia and South Africa.White Nights in the Baltic – Douglas Addison
Starting from Turku in Finland and sailing around the Northern Baltic, including Latvia, Estonia and Sweden, Douglas discovered windmills, painted wooden houses, Orthodox Churches, Lutheran Cathedrals ….and saunasCruising the Wild West – Robert Fellowes
Spitzbergen or west coast of Ireland? Robert will describe his cruise to either Ireland or Spitsbergen depending on whether he managed to get to Spitsbergen during the summer of 2011!National Historic Ships Society – Martyn Heighton
Martyn Heighton, Director, National Historic Ships will tell us about vessels currently on the National Register of Historic Vessels and the Historic Fleet, problems they face and the solutions the National Register is planning to achieve.The Plimsoll Line – Nicolette Jones
What inspired the London Transport logo, banished coffin-ships and saved thousands of sailors lives? The story of an MP’s campaign to improve the lot of sailors – battling ship owners and parliament, who were more interested in profits than sailors’ lives.The RYA: the best possible Life Sentence – James Stevens
We welcome back James Stevens, recently retired as head of RYA training and examining to reminisce on his long career with them, and his thoughts on the changing world of sailing.GXSA MasterClass On Ocean Sailing
Acknowledged expert and well known author Jimmy Cornell provides a unique insight. This is an open meeting organised by GXSA. Members of other clubs and the RYA Thames Valley section are invited to join us.
Further details and booking arrangements will be posted on the home page as they emergeSydney to Hobart Race 2006 – Charles Sandison
A Father and Sons race “down under”. Charles will explain the history of the race and his preparations in the UK, together with the build up in Sydney and the race itself.Traditional Boatbuilding on the Thames – Colin Henwood
Colin is one of a new generation of Thames Boatbuilders who are continuing the traditions of restoring, maintaining and building elegant Thames craft. His enthusiasm, together with stunning photographs of some of the finest boats on the Thames, make his talk interesting for us all.Cast Off for Christmas
More entertaining stories from members about their year′s sailing experiences plus mince pies and seasonal refreshments. - 2011-H1 – Programme – Spring
Spring 2011
World Cruising Destinations – Jimmy Cornell
Distinguished sailor and author Jimmy Cornell has completed ocean passages in all parts of the world including the Antarctic and the Pacific, illustrated in his new book entitled World Cruising Today. Excellent pictures and fine sailing.An Atlantic Crossing – Ray Bridges
Our vice chairman, Ray was sailing dinghies until just a few years ago. In spring 2010 he sailed Sonar, his Island Packet 440 to the Caribbean and will describe the voyage and the warm cruising grounds he has explored there. A good talk for a January evening.Around the World – Rory McDougall
Rory’s Wharram Tiki 21 is the smallest multihull to circumnavigate the world at just 21ft in length. With no engine and navigating by sextant and compass, the voyage was a wonderful discovery of islands, nature and cultures, all experienced in a simple and non-intrusive way.The RNLI : An insider’s View – Paul Boissier
What is 186 years old, costs £380,000 a day to run, builds boats and saves a life a day? Find out from the RNLI’s Chief Executive, who once qualified as a brewer of Guinness and then went round the world in a submarine.How to Write a Sea Story – Sam Llewellyn
Author of many novels, accomplished sailor and frequent columnist in sailing magazines, Sam returns to entertain us with his humorous insight on all matters maritime. He believes that telling stories is the summit of human achievement and will convince you with this talk.Europe’s Waterways: Down the Danube
Philip “&” Phyl designed and managed the building of their 21m motor boat, Zingara, which they took on inland European waterways from France to Romania, travelling on the Rhine, Main and Danube. They returned via the Mediterranean in 2009.
Philip and Phyl CookCruising the Western Isles
GXSA members David and John explored the Hebrides and St Kilda in the summer of 2010. Fine pictures, good stories and helpful sailing advice about this excellent cruising area will convince you to visit.
David Horn and Rob JohnstoneSailing the North Aegean Sea
Mediterranean experts and former GXSA members, Karen and Andrew describe their recent voyage exploring the Northern Aegean islands and changes on the sailing front that they have seen in the Mediterranean in the past 10 years.
Karin and Andrew WilkinsonJester Challenge 2010 – John Apps
This was John’s third Jester Challenge, a biannual single handed trans-Atlantic event for yachts under 30 ft in length. Sailing his UFO 27 “Glayva” he completed the crossing to Newport, Rhode Island in 50 days and was presented with the Newport Medal in recognition of his achievement.45th Annual Dinner at Buckinghamshire Golf Club, Denham
- 2010-H2 – Programme – Autumn
Autumn 2010
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
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.
A Day with Art ButlerHistory 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.
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.
James WharramRound 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. - 2010-H1 – Programme – Spring
Spring 2010
Quyvers Travels
John Andrews and Freda Haylet
Adventures on a voyage from Grenada via the Panama Canal, Pacific Islands to New Zealand. Long distance cruising, ports of call and interesting characters met on the way.Voyages to New Zealand
Melville Errington
The golden era of British Maritime life aboard the liners to New Zealand, including the challenges, both serious and amusing, of keeping engines running for five months.Olympic Sailing, Qingdao 2008 to Portland 2012
Dick Batt
Dick Batt (Batt Sails, Bosham), Chief Measurer for Olympic Sailing who serves on many National and International bodies, tells us what goes on behind the scenes.Classic Yachts through the Camera Lens
Kathy Mansfield
Professional photographer Kathy shows us stunning images of Meter Class yachts, from their Centenary Celebration. The Meter Class lead to the Americas Cup boats.RYA First Aid Course at Hedgerley Village Hall
Peter and Carol Pocock with hands on practice on dummies.Oceanography of the Southern Ocean
Dr Isabelle Ansorge
From voyages on research ships in 90 knot winds and 30 metre waves, Dr Ansorge describes the Southern Ocean and its profound effect on world climate.The Merchant Navy in the Battle for the North Atlantic
Richard Woodman
Richard Woodman – Trinity House Elder, Novelist, Master Mariner, Naval Historian – describes the Merchant Navy’s role in this vital struggle from 1939 to 1943.The Around the World Yacht Race
David Cusworth, Clipper Ventures
Learn how anyone, even if they have never stepped on a boat before, can join the adventure and circumnavigate the world under sail in an eleven month long marathon.Italian Connection, from Malta to Nice
Bernie Smallman and John Dawson
John and Bernie tell of their trip in Burnadebt to get a new mast. They sailed from Malta to France, visiting Sicily, Vulcano, Stromboli, Naples, finishing in Monaco and NiceExperiences as a Yachtmaster Instructor
Duncan Wells
GXSA member Duncan Wells recounts his experiences when sailing home from Brittany with an inexperienced crew. He will also give an amusing view of his recovery from his dramatic flares accident.An Atlantic Short-Circuit
Tony Firth
Tony covers sailing tactics and equipment, wildlife and cooking on his circuit via the Canaries, Cape Verde Islands and the Azores. - 2009-H2 – Programme – Autumn
Programme Autumn 2009
“Rough Pilotage and Rough Water” – Ken Endean
Ken Endean well known author of pilot books and regular YM contributor will talk to us about some of his experiences in “London Apprentice” his shallow draft 27′ yacht.Helicopter Round Britain, Coastal Views – Colin Lewis
Colin Lewis, Commodore Royal Southampton Yacht Club shows a fascinating film of a round Britain helicopter flight made in Spring 2008 exploring many areas of familiar coastlineView from the Bridge – Captain Colin Johnston
Captain Colin Johnston Master Mariner and former P & O Master illustrates the view from the bridge of a container ship and describes latest detection equipment radar and AIS, of vital importance to cross Channel yachtsmen.A Memorable Passage – Member’s Evening.
Bring along your cockpit snacks to share. A bottle of wine will be given to the table with the most enticing fare
– judges promise not to eat them all! Hear a number of your fellow club members describe ‘A Memorable Passage’ that they have made. These may be exciting, enchanting or just a ‘cracking sail’. Come along and be entertained by your fellow members.Weather – Norman Lynagh
Norman Lynagh is keen sailor who is a Chartered Meteorologist and Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society. He provides weather forecasts to a range of industries and expert information to legal and insurance companies. He will explain how to interpret weather forecasts and how to develop your own forecasting method.Four cruises of the “Grampus” – Chris Woodwark
Club members Chris Woodwark and his crew, Russell Wendover, Richard Ogden, Jim Cannon and Terry Smart will give us a presentation on their cruises between the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, the Outer Hebrides, St Kilda, the West coast, Orkneys and the East coast undertaken since 2000.Saturday Special – Radio Controlled Yachts
As a change from the more usual instructional events, we shall be racing radio controlled yachts on Taplow Lake. These are the same yachts supplied by Mike Weston that were such a success at the Boat Show. Hot soup included.World Circumnavigation in a Westerly 41 – Bernard Clarke
Bernard’s illustrated presentation will cover the pro and cons of doing a circumnavigation within two years and under the auspices of a World Rally. He will describe some of the wonderful countries and cultures that he, and in part his wife, experienced and the challenges he faced when Ocean sailing aboard ‘ Golden Eye of Chichester’.King Alfred and Limehouse – Jeremy Batch
Limehouse Basin is the home of the Cruising Association. Jeremy will cover the history of this area, important to Great Britain’s navigation from the time of King Alfred all the way to the 2012 Olympics. Highlights include our border with Scandinavia, London’s lifeline in the Great Plague, tidal power, Britain’s first aeroplane, gunpowder, the bouncing glass, gin and the dog biscuit.Solent Archaeology – Brandon Mason
Brandon Mason is Project Officer of The Hants and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology. He will tell us about the unseen yet important sites that we are sailing past, or indeed over, during our Solent passages.Cast off for Christmas
Our traditional members’ evening of yarns, light entertainment and mince pies ahead of the Christmas break. - 2009-H1 – Programme – Spring
Programme Spring 2009
The Minimum Boat – Sam Llewellyn
Sam Llewellyn has written many sailing thrillers. His PBO column The Minimum Boat advocates a back-to-basics style of sailing well adapted to the times. He is currently working on the Dazed Kipper Manual, a work of instruction that he describes as ‘the blind leading the blind.’ !Dances with Whales and Weather – John Apps
Club member John Apps describes large items he met when he took part in the Jester Azores Challenge in 2008 including Sperm Whales, Ultra Large Crude Carriers and Mountains. He will also describe the progress of a ‘typical’ ocean storm from first sign of its approach until it’s all over.Sailing in the Caribbean – Richard Snell and Martin Alexander
Following five charter yacht holidays in the island groups of the British Virgin Islands, St Vincent/Mustique/Grenadines, St Maarten/ St Barts/Anguilla and the Abacos, club members Richard Snell and Martin Alexander will highlight aspects, good and not so good, of chartering, and navigation and key anchorages in these areas.Classic Yachts through the Camera Lens – Kathy Mansfield.
Professional marine photographer Kathy returns with stunning images from the 2007 Celebration of the Centenary of the Metre Class which spawned such impressive yachts as the Americas Cup Boats.A Fleeting View of the Black Sea – Doreen and Archie Annan.
Hon Club members Doreen and Archie recount with photos their experiences and curious incidents during preparation of their yachtmens’ pilot ‘Cruise the Black Sea’.Meandering through the Midi – Don and Jacky Wark
Don & Jacky, Sailing Today contributors, took the lazy way from Honfleur to the Med in their 29ft Snapdragon then on to Biscay along the Midi & Garonne canals. They will share this relaxing but fascinating experience.Saturday Special – Boat Electrics
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.
A Day with Art ButlerOverlord – Bob Hazell
Past Commodore of the Offshore Cruising Club Bob Hazell outlines the history of Windfall Yachts and illustrates some of “Overlord’s” past cruises and future sailing plans.A Passion for the Sea – Jimmy Cornell
In the last 35 years, Jimmy has sailed 200,000 miles, including 3 circumnavigations and 2 voyages to Antarctica. He will talk about planning an offshore voyage: to the Med, across the Atlantic or right round the world, with a detour to Antarctica.Holly’s circumnavigation of Britain in 1994 – Peter Poole
Member Peter Poole set off in June with the intention of seeing as much as possible. Holly, his Nicholson 32, went round Britain including most of Orkney in 11 weeks with mainly good weather, lots of wonderful experiences and meeting many interesting people.AGM – followed by Cruising to Hell and Back – Rod Paton
Rod Paton describes where things went badly wrong on cruises in the Baltic and across the Atlantic – and tries to draw sensible conclusions.Annual Dinner at Beaconsfield Golf Club
- 2008-H2 – Programme – Autumn
Autumn 2008
A life on the Ocean Wave – John Goode
Cruising past, present and future – a light-hearted talk putting across a few serious messages. John is the ex-editor of Sailing Today, Principal of the Southern Sailing School, and has responsibility for the Special Features for National Boat Shows Limited.Women who built warships – Helen Doe
During the Napoleonic wars two of the yards supplying urgently-needed ships to the Royal Navy were run by widows and one of these yards on the Thames was one of the largest businesses in the country. Hear how Mrs Barnard and Mrs Ross managed their complex businesses and dealt with the important officers of the Navy Board.My Favourite Anchorage
Six club members will describe one of their favourite overnight stopping places, which might even be an anchorage! Please bring your ‘cockpit nibbles’ to enhance the illusion of a relaxing evening spent swinging at anchor.Pilotage in the Port of London and elsewhere
Captain Cockrill gives an insight into the often little-known world of pilotage, explaining the contribution that port and offshore pilotage makes to all of our everyday lives in one of the major and certainly most prestigious ports of Europe if not the world – London.
Captain Don Cockrill FNIA year at sea – Malta to the Caribbean
Club members John and Bernie tell how they took their charter-scheme boat, adapted it for living aboard and sailed through the Mediterranean Sea and across the Atlantic Ocean to explore the Caribbean.
John Dawson and Bernie Smallman.To Russia with Love – Jonathan Walmsley
Jonathan describes his cruise from the East Coast of the UK in his Shipman 28 with his all girl crew to St Petersburg in Russia. Highlights include being shot at by the Polish border authorities and running into a Baltic port without an engine in a full gale.Arctic Circle & Iceland – almost – and back, single-handed
Roger cruised non-stop from Burnham-on-Crouch to Plymouth last year passing the Shetlands and almost reaching the Arctic Circle en-route. He describes his ‘amazing’ summer on Mingming – a junk-rigged Corribee 21 – with the help of video footage.
Roger TaylorWeather, IT and Gipsy Moth IV
Andrew Eccleston of the University of Plymouth and weather adviser to Gypsy Moth IV will give an academic’s view of yachting.Going West slowly: Falmouth to the Canaries – Simon Fraser
Simon returns to describe Falmouth to the Canaries in two leisurely summer cruises. Ten weeks meandering into Spanish Rias and down the Portuguese coast to Lagos for the winter of 2006, then on to Madeira and the Canaries in 2007Cast off for Christmas
Our traditional members’ evening of yarns, light entertainment and mince pies ahead of the Christmas break. - 2008-H1 – Programme – Spring
Spring 2008
The Rise and Fall of Westerly Boatbuilding
Association member Hazel Powell, editor of ‘The Westerly Story’, discusses the company’s growth and financial failure. What made it so successful? And why did it collapse? These and other questions will be discussed along with the designers and, of course, the boats.Medical Emergencies at Sea
Martin Thomas M.S., F.R.C.S. Commodore of the Ocean Cruising Club and Atlantic Yachtsman extraordinaire, outlines handling medical emergencies at sea – a timely reminder that all may not go to plan!Further adventures of ‘Cresswell Jenny’ in Turkey and Greece
Members Karin Wilkinson & Andrew Walker return to tell of their trip from Marmaris to Kos, zig zagging between Turkey and the Greek islands taking in Finike, Rhodes, Knidos, Kusadasi and Samos.JourneyMaker 5. Tilman Trophy Winner – 3 Peaks Race
Chris Jones and Louise Makin share their adventures in the 2007 race, one of the toughest on record with gale force winds in the Irish Sea, sailing 400 miles along the west coast of Great Britain with ascents of the highest peaks in Wales, England and ScotlandBuilding and cruising a modern gaffer
Stephen Akester will describe the build and some of the unique features of his modern gaffer, Alice, and share the experience of cruising in her.Atlantic Crossing
Club member John Apps returns by popular request to tell of his adventures completing his Atlantic crossing to gain third place in the Jester Challenge race he entered in 2006Cruising in the “Golden Years” after racing
Cliff Norbury, past racing champion, Olympic Team manager, RORC racer, sailing administrator, MD of Proctor and now well traveled cruiser recalls pottering on the Hamble in 1942 through to cruising in his almost self-built Starlight 39 ‘Zest’.I’m not waving it, I’m drying it – Sailing in the Gulf
Race management is not all doom and gloom, it has its lighter moments as well. RYA Race Officers Peter and Carol-Anne Pocock have many a tale to tell about their experiences both in the UK and abroad. Come along to find out exactly who was drying what.AGM – followed by Memories of the Falklands War
Captain N J Tobin DSC MA Royal Navy will give an illustrated talk on his period in command of HMS Antelope during the Falklands war and his personal recollections of the sinking of his ship as a result of enemy air attack.Annual Dinner at Dachet Water Sailing Club
- 2007-H2 – Programme – Autumn
Autumn 2007
Uffa Fox Association
Tony Dixon tells of Uffa’s adventures when he was Scout Master of the Cowes Sea scouts in 1921, including taking the scouts to France, up the Seine nearly to Paris and back in an open whaler without the parents knowing where they had gone.SS Terra Nova – Whaler, Sealer and Polar Exploration Ship
Mike Tarver talks of the exploits over sixty years of this remarkable vessel including those with the Captain Scott Expeditions, covered in his new book.From North Atlantic Drama to South Atlantic High
Explorer and Adventurer Jonathan Blain recounts surviving a shipwreck in the North Atlantic, then designing and building a yacht, which he raced to the island of St Helena.Laying-up Supper
Fish “&” Chip Supper with an interesting evening of members’ tales recounting challenges, memorable times and the odd confession whilst sailing or motor cruising.Life as an Engineer Officer on the Orient Line 50 Years ago
Club member David Harrop will describe the Passenger Steamships he served on for four years and give an illustrated tour of the world as it was 50 years ago.High Barbaree to the Baltic and back
Tim and Liz Dodwell sailed their Cornish Crabber Pilot Cutter to the Baltic in 2005, laying up near Stockholm, then in 2006 cruised the Baltic before returning to Buckler’s Hard. They will talk about their adventures and misadventures too!A New Future for the Sailing Barge Cambria
Cambria Trust, founded by Tony Ellis, is restoring the famous 101 year-old sailing barge Cambria. Tony has been involved in a variety of barging organisations over the years and will tell us his fascinating story.Singlehanded round the world ‘vertically’
Adrian Flanagan will tell how he this year became the first single-hander to circumnavigate
north/south including crossing the Arctic Ocean along Russia’s northern sea route.Shenanigan in the Hebrides
Club member Rob Johnstone recalls a summer cruising Skye and the east coast of some of the Outer Isles as navigator/bo’sun/leading hand in a 35ft Moody.Cast off for Christmas
Our traditional members’ evening of yarns, light entertainment and mince pies ahead of the Christmas break. - 2007-H1 – Programme – Spring
Spring 2007
The Baltic via the Waddenzee and Wattfahrwassers
Club members Reg & Chris Hadwen tell of sailing their Southerly 110 through the drying channels of the Frisian and Friesian Islands on their way to the Baltic.Jester Challenge – Transatlantic Race
Club member John Apps will share his coastal and ocean sailing experiences including weather prediction methods and his challenges in Glayva, a UFO27, during the 2006 single-handed race from which 80% of the boats retired due to bad weather.Roscoff to La Rochelle
Club members Phil & Jill Snowden sailed to La Rochelle in 2004 intending to return in 2005. They are still there and will show us some of the delights of Western France.Jane Slade: Inspiration for Daphne du Maurier’s first novel
Helen Doe, maritime historian, author and lecturer, tells the truth behind the fiction about three generations of seafarers and shipbuilders who were dominated by one remarkable woman and her ship.The Cruising Association Victory Rally around Britain
Douglas Addison talks about his part solo sail round Britain in his 31 ft. ketch in the Cruising Association 2005 Victory Rally, in the 200th anniversary year of Trafalgar.Sailing with Gipsy Moth IV on the East Coast of Australia
Jeremy Graham will tell of his experiences as a watch leader for a few weeks on Gipsy Moth IV in summer 2006 with a crew of disadvantaged children.A Cruise to the Magical Fjords of Norway
Club member Peter Poole sails from Birdham via Lowestoft, returning via Orkney, West Scotland and Ireland – all in six weeks and only two gales.Mutiny, Murder & Mayhem: the 1797 Spithead Mutiny
Dr Ann Coats, expert on eighteenth century naval history tells of the Mutiny borne out of a grievance that naval seamen had not had a pay rise for 144 years.In the Wake of Ernest Shackleton
After the loss of the Endeavour, Shackleton set off from Elephant Island to seek help in a converted whaler, James Caird. Trevor Potts built a replica of the James Caird and sailed it from Elephant Island to South Georgia. He tells the story of the preparations and the voyage.AGM – Followed by a talk by Club member Ken Moss
An East coast cruise from the Deben to Orkney and back – sometimes single-handed.Annual Dinner – Datchet Water Sailing Club
Roger Taylor, South Pacific tall ships shipwreck survivor, is our after dinner speaker. - 2006-H2 – Programme – Autumn
Autumn 2006
Channel Islands and North Brittany
Peter Cumberlidge, writer and journalist returns to share his extensive knowledge on the delights and challenges of sailing in and around the Channel Islands and Brittany.Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent
Commander K Carter – QHM Portsmouth, will talk about his roles of managing the harbour and in particular the challenge and the success of the Fleet Review in 2005, as well as his work as vice chairman of the Solent Forum.2004/5 Global Challenge – Imagine it Done
Sian Hankinson, daughter of one of our members shares her adventures as the deputy skipper/crew boss during her circumnavigation with Dee Caffari against the prevailing winds and currents.Laying up Supper
Fish and Chip supper with an interesting evenings of members tales recounting challenges, memorable times and the odd confession whilst sailing or motor cruising.The Adventures of the ARC
GXSA member Chris Monahan will talk about his experiences in preparing for and participating in the Atlantic Rally for CruisersThe Extraordinary Voyages of Captain James Cook
Paul Covell, club member and round the world sailor gives a fascinating illustrated talk on the greatest cartographer, navigator and seaman of the 18th century and his voyages of exploration.Triumph and Tragedy – tales from Artic Greenland
The Reverend Bob Shepton returns to tell us about his summer expedition to the north of Greenland, getting furthest north of any yacht in Greenland, over wintering there and the subsequent tragedy – the loss of his boat and his last roll of film.CSS Alabama 1862 -1864
A screw sloop of war built for the confederacy – we learn about her amazing history and how she finally sank whilst under fire from USS Kearsarge in Cherbourg. Our speaker is Devian Watson from the Liverpool maritime Museum.30 Years Before the Mast
An illustrated talk by GXSA member, Wolfgang Ansorge about his experience and voyaging on a wide variety of tall ships and traditional sailing vessels 1975-2005Cast off for Christmas
Our traditional members’ evening of yarns, light entertainment and mince pies and the judging of our season’s photographs ahead of the Christmas break. - 2006-H1 – Programme – Spring
PROGRAMME – Spring 2006
Wed 11th Jan Vagabond’s Circum-Polar Navigation
An illustrated talk by Eric Brossier, winner of the Ocean Cruising Club and the Royal Cruising Club awards for achieving the first transit of the North East Passage in one season under sail on his 45 ft steel yacht Vagabond.Wed 18th Jan Roundabout the Mediterranean
Britta Bahr on a 2 year sabbatical from City life in a Dehler 34 to Greece — going round the outside, over-wintering inTunisia and back through the French Canals.Wed 25th Jan Birds of the Solent and Isle of Wight
Ann Farrar of the RSPB shares her extensive knowledge of the type and variety of birds to be seen from boats and from the land with magnificent illustrative slides.Wed 1″ Feb My Love Affair with Nancy
Arthur Ransome’s boat has been lovingly restored and her current skipper, Bryan Bonser, talks about sailing this very dry, very well built gentleman’s sailing boat.
Wed 8th Feb Travelling the European Inland Waterways
Ken & Sue Shaw, club members, provide a fascinating account of their adventures during recent travels with their own boat on the inland waterways of France and Germany.Wed 15th Feb Marine Electrics
James Hortop, sailor, motorboater and PBO technical expert, will discuss and answer questions on designing and getting the best out of electrical systemsSat 18th Feb Radar Course
A Saturday Special RYA course for members on basic Use of Radar.Wed 22nd Feb Great Maritime Festivals of Brest and Douarnenez
Kathy Mansfield, the world-renowned maritime photographer and sailor, will present an illustrated talk about the festivals, boats, crafts, art and music of the sea.Wed 15t March West Coast of Ireland
Peter Poole, our well-known long distance sailor, returns to Ireland in “Holly” and reveals the fun and excitement of sailing in this fantastic region.Wed 8th March Turkey for Christmas
Club members Karen and Andrew Walker return to provide us with the latest update on their five year sabbatical in and around the countries of the eastern Mediterranean.Wed 15th March AGM andThe Falkirk Wheel
The AGM will be followed by a talk by member Bill Munnoch on the restoration and re-commissioning of the world’s first and only rotating boat lift.Sat 25th March Annual Dinner — Little Ship Club
We celebrate the Association’s Ruby Anniversary in magnificent surroundings with Nigel King of Ocean Racing Fame as our after dinner Speaker. - 2005-H2 – Programme – Autumn
PROGRAMME – AUTUMN 2005
Wed 5th Oct Windfarms, the ICC and Electronic Navigation
Simon Jinks, exYachting Monthly Sailing Expert and now RYA Chief Cruising Instructor, gives an update on RYA projects from ICC to Windfarms and talks about Electronic Navigation and Passage Making.Wed 12th Oct East Coast Sailing – Southwold to Southend
Charles Stock shares his views of the Essex and Suffolk waters which he has
sailed for over 40 years in Shoal Waters – his gaff cutter, with no engine or electronics.
Wed 19th Oct ATour of Ireland and the Creation of a Digital Log
Graham Rabbits, winner of several trophies for his Logs, explains how to create them make them interesting and shares the Log of his cruise around Ireland.Tues 25th Oct Trip to Greenwich Maritime Museum
Wed 26th Oct Cast Off for Trafalgar Supper
An evening to commemorateThe Immortal Memory of Nelson, the Battle of Trafalgar, including supper, followed by an interesting evening and a competition.Wed 2nd Nov A Nice Cup of Tea .
John Fisher takes a light-hearted look at the history of the tea trade, the clippers that carried it and in particular the Cutty Sark. His great grandfather was a tea merchant in China and John is a guide on the Cutty Sark at Greenwich.Wed 9th Nov The Exploits of Stokey Woodall and the Atlantic Islands
Stokey will talk about some of his thousands of miles of Ocean Sailing, delivering and teaching and give an insight into cruising the Azores and the Atlantic Islands.Wed 16th Nov The Joy of Choosing and Buying a Boat
Club members will talk about what and how they decided what to buy -a new build or previously owned via a broker or through an advertisement nrimnort
from abroad.
Nov. 19th Saturday Special. – Survival at Sea
Graham GardnerWed 23rd Nov Beating Wrinkles – Not just a Salty Sea Dog Tale.
Stephanie Sutton explains her love of sailing and the sea – from the time when she started sailing during camping holidays in the New Forest and her progress from deck hand to Master Mariner and her return to the New Forest.Wed 30th Nov The RiverThames Society
Colin Reynolds will talk about the work of the Society in managing the challenges that face many aspects of one of the world’s greatest rivers covering in particular the loss of waterside boatyards, access to and navigation of the river.Dec 7th Cast Off for Christmas
Mulled Wine – good company – short stories – judging of our summer photographs.Jan 11th Start of Spring Programme
- 2005-H1 – Programme – Spring
PROGRAMME – SPRING 2005
Weds Jan 5th A JOURNEY NORTHWARDS VIA THE IRISH SEA
Club Member George Lipscomb returns to tell us of his 2003 Summer Voyage northwards aboard his Kingfisher to the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland.
Weds Janl2th SEA BRITAIN 2005
Steven Riley, Director of Maritime Heritage, comes to tell us of the way in which the sea touches our lives and how they are leading The Celebration of special events in the Trafalgar Festivals around the country.
Weds Jan 19th “BACK TO BASICS” and VALSHEDA vs. RANGER
David Pitman returns to give us advice on the finer points of sailing, before relating an illustrated story of the clash -a very nasty clash – during one of the best yacht races ever seen.
Weds Jan 26th RING AROUND THE ISLE OF MULL
Kathy Mansfield shows us more wonderful pictures of her visit to the burial place of Scottish kings and to waters that have inspired shipwreck tales and overtures.
Weds Feb 2nd CARIBBEAN CAPERS
John Rugg, David Horn and John Hayward, Club Members, give illustrated talks of their various experiences whilst charter sailing in the Caribbean.
Weds Feb 9th FROM LONGITUDE BY POCKET WATCH TO PC BASED PLOTTER
Tom Cunliffe takes a light-hearted look at the changes many of us have seen in our sailing lifetimes.
Weds 16th CRUISING KATTEGAT TO SKAGERRAK
Winners of the Cruising Association’s Dugon Cup, Anne and Dennis Kell return to describe their 4 week cruise from Denmark to Sweden, through the Western archipelago to Norway and back, sailing in a Wayfarer.
Sat Feb 19th SATURDAY SPECIAL ON RADAR
Alison Noice returns to tutor us in the practical use of radar with a RYA Certificate on completion.
Weds Feb 23rd FROM COOK TO COMPUTORS
Tony Wooldridge charts the history of the UK Hydrographic Office from its foundation in 1795 to the present day. This presentation includes illustrations from the UKHO’s extensive archives showing surveying and modern production methods and covers some of the most recent “Admiralty” branded products
Weds Mar 2nd CRUISING TO THE LOFOTEN ISLANDS
John Duff gives an illustrated talk about the challenge of organising a club cruise to NW Scotland, Shetlands and Lofoten Islands and back. This involved a total of 36 crew and 4500 miles sailing in 17 weeks, benefiting from the best summer in Arctic Norway for 50 years.
Weds Mar 9th AGM followed by CRUISING STYLES 65 YEARS AGO
Mike Goffe, a club member will tell us what cruising really used to be like in his early days of skippering sailing boats .
SATURDAY Mar 12th DINNER AT BOVENY BOATHOUSE, DORNEY LAKE
Our Speaker will be Alan Priddy, Director of Offshore Expeditions, talking about “Our Lively Lady, the story so far”.
Weds Oct 5th Start of your Autumn Programme. - 2004-H2 – Programme – Autumn
PROGRAMME-AUTUMN 2004
Weds 6th Oct A Journey to Spain and Portugal
Club member Peter Poole tells us of his last summer’s journey southwards aboard his Nicholson 32, along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts.Weds 13th Oct A Land of Snow and Ice
David and Jill Lane, long standing Club members, return to tell of a voyage to Antarctica, S Georgia and the Falklands, following apart of Shackleton’s small boat journey along the way.Weds 20th Oct Sweden’s Secret Shore
Graham and Fay Cattell tell how they spent one summer exploring Northwards from the Stockholm archipelago to the Finnish border. This breathtakingly beautiful Gulf of Bothnia is an area steeped in the history of fishing, forestry and fighting. Nowadays it’s the ‘paper’ coast.Weds 27th Oct Disaster and Opportunity
Dr Leslie Morrish relates tales of the history of his 97-year-old Ketch ‘Irene’ which unfortunately suffered from a fire recently whilst in the Caribbean, and tells of his plans for rebuilding her.Weds 3rd Nov Seabed types, their formation, and stability.
Brian D’Olier, a marine geologist, explains why seabed’s vary in their sediment composition and form, why an area is shallow or deep, whether the materials are mobile or not, where they come from and how tidal currents affect their form.Weds 10th Nov Sailing without Legs
Ted Palmer visits to illustrate how the Jubilee Sailing Trust built and operates two specially designed tall ships. These provide adventure and challenges at sea for physically disabled and able-bodied men and women.Saturday 13th Nov Navigation made easy
Club member Ken Bottrell, provides a practical course for the day especially for our lady members, to give them an insight into and a chance to practice simple navigation.Weds 17th Nov A Day Out Down South
Nigel King talks about, aspects of living on board a racing yacht and the ‘Thrills and Spills’ of sailing in the Southern Ocean.Weds 24th Nov Let the wrecks of others be your Seamarks
Richard Woodman returns to speak of the work of Trinity House and in particular his experiences in maintaining lighthouses and other seamarks, with special reference to wrecks and wreck marking, matters which generally do not preoccupy yachtsmen.Weds 1st Dec Caribbean to Cape Cod
Alec Mcpherson revisits (minus Bagpipes and Kilt) to relate of a voyage all the way up the Eastern side of America via the Intercoastal waterways.Weds 8th Dec Cast Off for Christmas
Mulled wine, short stories, festivities and judging of our summer photographs. - 2004-H1 – Programme – Spring
PROGRAMME – SPRING 2004
Weds 7th Jan A THIRD YEAR INTO THE VOYAGE OF A LIFETIME
Club members Karin Wilkinson and Andrew Walker return to tell of their adventures and voyaging aboard their Vancouver 32 along the Croatian Coast.
Weds 14th Jan OPTIMIST GOES NORTH
Members Mike and Mary Allan tell us how Optimist, a Westerly Oceanquest, went North last Summer on her third adventurous voyage around Britain.
Weds 21st Jan SEPTUAGENARIAN CROSSES ATLANTIC SINGLE HANDED
Eleanor Timms returns to talk of her experiences when she took her own small yacht across the Atlantic via the Cape Verde Islands to Trinidad and Venezuela.Weds 28th Jan PASSAGE MAKING USING WEATHER FORECASTS
Frank Singleton, well known meteorologist and author, tells us about weather forecasting and how it is used to its best advantage for passage planning.
Weds 4th Feb TEN DAYS BEFORE THE MAST
Paul Covell, a well travelled Club member, relates how he spent ten days before the mast of a Russian Square Rigger during the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race.Weds 11th Feb PALMERSTON FOLLIES
Cdr Bruce Nicholls, OBE RN (retd.), an expert Historian, relates the interesting story of the Solent Forts which stand guarding the Eastern entrance to the Solent and Portsmouth Harbour.Weds 18th Feb GOBLIN RETURNS TO FLUSHING
Bryan Bonser talks about the return of Arthur Ransom’s boat ‘NANCY BLACKETT’ to Flushing. Nancy was Goblin in We didn’t mean to go to sea’.
Sat 21st Feb First Aid Practical Course
…in order to update certificates. Tutor-Peter Pocock.
Weds 25th Feb THE ROAD TO MANDALAY
David Lane, a long standing Club member, returns to take us on a River Boat journey up the Irrawaddy River into the heartland of Burma.
Weds 3rd Mar NAVIGATION MADE EASY
Ken Bottrell and club members show us how easy it is to navigate across the Channel under sail and in a power boat, enabling more members to venture forth this summer and join our cruise.
Weds 10th Mar AGM followed by BUILDING A MARINERS LIBRARY
Rod Paton, a Club member, will give us ideas for building a Mariners Library.
Sat 13th Mar DINNER AT THE ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB, KNIGHTSBRIDGE
Our Speaker will be David Pitman, Secretary of the ‘J Class yachts’.
Weds 6th Oct The Autumn 2004 Programme starts with Club member Peter Poole recounting details of his voyage down to Spain and Portugal. - 2003-H2 – Programme – Autumn
PROGRAMME – AUTUMN 2003
Weds 8th Oct PRACTICAL BOAT OWNER
Jake Kavanagh (News Editor and Features_Writer) tells us “How they put together this well known Magazine” with some amusing anecdotal tales along the way.Weds 15th Oct NAVIGATING WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Simon Fraser, whose Victoria 34 is equipped with lots of instruments integrated to help short-handed sailing, illustrates how they were used whilst sailing from the South Coast to St Kilda, Orkneys and the Shetland Isles.
Weds 22nd Oct • RESCUED AT SEA
Nick Harper (GXSA Member’s son) tells of an accident at sea whilst racing and the subsequent rescue by the RNLI.
Weds 29th Oct THE UBIQUITOUS CREW
Pauline Duart recounts some of the pleasures and perils she has experienced whilst sailing 50,000 miles on more than 100 yachts. Both skippers and crew may hear some home truths and pick up some tips on Blue Water sailing .
Weds 5th Nov BUILDING A HUNTER 31
GXSA member Ian Cox tells us of his “trials and tribulations” whilst building a 2nd yacht in his front garden.
Weds 12th Nov • ROUND THE WORLD WITH A DIFFERENCE
The Rev Bob Shepton returns to recount details of, when as school Chaplain, he took parties of school leavers on an adventure of a lifetime aboard his Westerly Discus, round Cape Horn, to the pacific Islands, to Australia, the Indian Ocean, Cape of Good Hope, St Helena, Azores and home.
Saturday 15th Nov SATURDAY SPECIAL
Alison Noice leads us through a GMDSS Practical Course starting at 09.00Hrs followed by a RYA Assessment Examination.
Weds 19th Nov GETTING THE BEST FROM YOUR RADAR
Ron Davies tells us how to get the best information from using our Radar, illustrating it with a Cruise along the coast of England and a video.
Weds 26th Nov A NEW LOOK AT THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR
Richard Woodman, Master Mariner, Naval Historian and Author (Nathaniel Drinkwaternovels and many others) presents his newly researched details of this Historic and Momentous Battle.
Weds 3rd Dec CRUISING THE OUTER HEBRIDES
Alec Mcpherson describes a cruise with “Bagpipes and Kilt”.
Weds 10th Dec CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
Fred Hughes will MC our festivities. Judging our Summer photographs.
- 2003-H1 – Programme – Spring
PROGRAMME – SPRING 2003
Wed 8th Jan A SECOND YEAR OF THE VOYAGE OF A LIFETIME
Members, Karin and Andrew Walker, return to continue their account of 2002’s voyaging and adventures aboard their Vancouver 32, round the Balearics, Sicily, and among the Ionian Islands.
Wed 15th Jan BEAUTIFUL AZORES
Member, George Lipscomb, sailed single handed to the Azores and back in 2002 and will share the exploration of this unexpectedly beautiful archipelago with his audience.
Wed 22nd Jan CLASSIC AND OTHER INTERESTING BOATS
Kathy Mansfield, yachting photographer and journalist, will illustrate and describe many of the ‘classic’ and otherwise interesting boats she has seen in recent years.
Wed 29th Jan UNDERSTANDING BOAT ELECTRICS
Pat Manley, PBO’s technical expert, makes a welcome return to help demystify the essentials of marine electrical systems, from batteries, charging systems, lighting, engine starting and powering instrumentation.
Wed 5th Feb BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR
Richard Woodman, Master Mariner, Naval historian and author (the Nathaniel Drinkwater novels and many others) will present his newly researched details of this historic and momentous sea battle.
Wed 12th Feb FRENCH BISCAY
Member, Peter Poole, describes the many harbours and anchorages of Southern Brittany from the Gironde, then heading North during his 2002 single handed cruise in ‘Holly, his Nicholson 32.
Wed 19th Feb MARITIME FLAGS AND ETIQUETTE
Cdr Bruce Nicholls, OBE, RN (Retd), is an expert on the history and design of flags and will explain the importance of these symbols of identity, their method of communication afloat and their correct usage.
Wed 26th Feb CRUISE CROATIA
Member, David Lane, who now keeps his yacht in the Mediterranean and adjoining warm seas will recount and illustrate his recent cruising in the Adriatic along the coast of Croatia.
Wed 5th Maroh ‘SHINDIG’ AT SEA
Andrew Simpson, journalist and expert on yacht design and construction, completes the story from previous talks about building his composite light-wieght cruising yacht Shindig, with details of her completion and performance.
Wed 12th Mark AGM
Sat 15th March Annual Dinner at Hazlemere Golf Club
- 2002-H2 – Programme – Autumn
PROGRAMME – AUTUMN 2002
Wed 2nd Oct LOWESTOFT LIFEBOAT
Bert Coleman, Coxswain and Engineer of the busy Lowestoft lifeboat, will describe its crewing and working arrangements and recount details of some of the boat’s dramatic rescuesWed 9th Oct RESTORING AND SAILING “GUIDE ME”
Judy Brickhill and her husband bought and restored “Guide Me” a 1911 Looe Lugger and she will share the adventures of cruising with a growing family to South Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean without an engine!Wed 16th Oct SEA BIRDS’ SECRET LIVES
Ornithologist, Victor Scott, specialises in estuary and coastal birds and his illustrated talk with fascinating details of their lives will add greatly to the pleasure of all who observe birds in marine situationsWed 23rd Oct SAILING IN THE WORLD’S LARGEST SQUARE RIGGED SHIP
Michael Locke recently crossed the Atlantic aboard Royal Clipper, a five masted fully rigged sail powered cruise ship and he will provide an illustrated tour of the ship together with details of the voyageWed 30th Oct FROM COMPETENT CREW TO YACHTMASTER (AND MUCH MORE)
James Stevens, RYA’s Training Manager returns to GXSA to discuss how the RYA meets the changing training needs of those who take to the water by providing courses which are run all round the UKWed 6th Nov GETTING THE BEST FROM YOUR SAILS
Ivan Bole from Arun Sails will update members on the latest technology in sail design, manufacture and materials and also advise on getting the best life and performance from your current sails (RNLI Christmas cards will be on sale this evening, prior to the lecture and during the interval)Wed 13th Nov SAILING, CLIMBING AND SKI MOUNTAINEERING IN GREENLAND
The Rev. Bob Shepton (Tilman Medal winner) makes a welcome return to illustrate and recount his latest exploits cruising and climbing in Greenland and discusses heavy weather sailing tactics in the North AtlanticWed 20th Nov CRUISING THE PACIFIC SOCIETY ISLANDS
GXSA Member, Nigel Thomas, recently joined other members Hugh and Angela Farrant on parts of their voyage to New Zealand aboard Spring Gold II and will highlight the cruise from Tahiti to Bora BoraWed 27th Nov PACIFIC HIGHLIGHTS
David and Marcia Pirie describe their passages to Alaska and Polynesia as highspots from nine years cruising the Pacific aboard their Endurance 36Wed 4th Dec CAST-OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
(Seasonal events including members’ salty tales) - 2002-H1 – Programme – Spring
PROGRAMME – SPRING 2002
Wed 9th Jan VOYAGE ROUND EAST ANGLIA
Robert Simper, renowned author will take his audience on a yachtman’s cruise round the East Anglian coastline, highlighting interesting and attractive places many landsmen miss.Wed 16th Jan WEATHER FORECASTING FOR YACHTING IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
Alan Sills, professional meteorologist and yachtsman, describes recent improvements in weatheriorecasting and how they will help yachtsmen find winds they want and avoid those they don’t.Wed 23rd Jan ROUND SPAIN AND PORTUGAL TO THE MEDITERRANEAN
Association members Karin Wilkinson and Andrew Walker, back in the UK for a winter’s break from the sun, share details from the first stage of their ‘Sell-up and Sail Away’ adventure.Wed 30th Jan GET-YOU-HOME TECHNIQUES
Pat Manley, YM instructor and member of PBO’s panel of experts, will advise on various yachting ‘Get-you-Home’ techniques without the aid of the AA, covering aspects of engine, rig and steering failure.Wed 6th Feb THE ‘J’ CLASS YACHTS
David Pitman tells the story of the rebirth of the ‘J’ class fleet, their racing in the Caribbean and their recent regattas in the. Solent.Wed 13th Feb EXTENDED CRUISING IN A LIVE-ABOARD WAYFARER
Anne and Denis Kell, who previously enthralled GXSA with an account of sail-camping in Ireland, return with details of recent cruises from Essex to Beaulieu via Calais and to the Isles of the Inner Hebrides.Wed 20th Feb GOING DUTCH
Members Reg and Chris Hadwen illustrate and describe their recent cruise in their Westerly Regatta to the lower Ijsselmeer in Holland, following the standing mast route through the canals..Wed 27th Feb SAILING THE SQUARE-RIGGER, STA ‘STAVROS S NIARCHOS’
Local yachtsman Ian Crookall joined the Sail Training Association’s new brigantine in the Azores last May and shares the experience of working a Square-Rigger 1765 miles back to Southampton.Wed 6th March BALTIC CRUISE TO RUSSIA AND BEYOND
Ray Glaister has sailed his Colvic 32 to beyond the Baltic into the heart of. Russia, where few other yachtsmen have ventured, so he comes to GXSA with a rare tale to share.Wed 13th March AGM AND OPEN FORUM
Sat 16th March. ANNUAL DINNER – AT HAZLEMERE GOLF CLUB
- 2001-H2 – Programme – Autumn
PROGRAMME – AUTUMN 2001
Wed 3rd October SOUTHERN OCEAN: BEEN THERE – DONE IT – NEVER AGAIN!
Paul Covell, Association member, tells of his adventure of a lifetime aboard ‘Quadstone’ in The BT Global Challenge 2000/2001, the world’s toughest yacht race.
Wed 10th October COWES WEEK – SUCCESSES AND FAILURES
A welcome return of Stuart Quarrie to talk about his latest role organising Cowes Week and to share with members the tribulations of twelve months’ hard work behind this prestigious international event.
Wed 17th October
CRUISING THE BLACK SEA
Jasper and Sally Scovil cruised from the north Turkish coast in 1998 in their Voyager 30 `Dorinda’. Come and hear of Istanbul, Yalta, Odessa, the Danube Estuary, Crimea and other exotic destinations.
Wed 24th October YACHTMASTER TUTORIAL TALES
Michael Hindley of the RYA tells of the trials and tribulations of examining would-be Yachtmasters.
Wed 31st October BALTIC CRUISE
A return of Brian Hammett, Vice President of the East Coast Old Gaffers Association, to describe his recent cruise through the Baltic and illustrate why this should be a more popular cruising area.
Wed 7th November HANDS-ON RADAR
Reg Suter of Regis Electronics advises members how to make best use of their radar or to choose the most suitable set If they are thinking of renewing one or fitting one for the first time.
Wed 14th November CARIBBEAN CRUISING – MEMBERS’ TALES
In the first part of the evening, Alun and Mavis Roberts describe their cruise from Antigua south and in the second, Ken and Hazel Powell recount details from their Spring cruise from Grenada north.
Wed 21st November MARINE LIFE. OF SOUTHEAST ENGLAND
Lisa Browning, Marine Conservation Officer, Hampshire Wild Life Trust tells members about the wild life that they might see from their boats if they knew where and what to look for.
Wed 28th November A DECADE OF PROGRESS
Chris Coburn, renowned enthusiast and activist for canal regeneration, shows video coverage of various voyages undertaken in ‘Progress’, his sea-going narrowboat, including the 60th Anniversary Channel Crossing to Dunkerque.
Wed 5th December CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS.
Members’ chance to amuse, inform or confess.
- 2001-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 2001
Wednesday 17th January CRUISING CUBA AND THE WEST CARIBBEAN.
Mike Manzoni’s cruise with Association member Peter Lawrence to Cuba, Guatemala and Belize provides fascinating contrasts to the better known Eastern Caribbean chain of islands.
Wednesday 24th January VIBRATION & NOISE SUPPRESSION.
John Grazebrook explains the problems and tells all we need to know to make life on board far more comfortable.
Wednesday 31st January REAL RESCUES.
Tony Glaze, RNLI Coxswain, recounts real life drama in tales of actual rescues.
Saturday 3rd February SATURDAY SPECIAL – FLARE DEMONSTRATION.
Laurie Tate, RYA instructor, shows how to handle marine pyrotechnics. Hands-on experience invaluable for ALL the crew.
Wednesday 7th February LIFE OF ARTHUR RANSOME.
We all read Swallows and Amazons, but what of the author? Brian Hammett, Vice President of the East Coast Old Gaffers Association and life-long fan, unveils the background of this fascinating man.
Wednesday 14th February CELTIC VOYAGE.
Association member George Lipscombe’s Summer 2000 cruise took in Southern Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany before returning to Plymouth. A Celtic voyage indeed….
Wednesday 21st February RIGGING FOR SINGLE AND SHORT-HANDED SAILING.
John Passmore, rig expert from Selden Masts (Europe’s largest spar manufacturer) shares his considerable knowledge on this important topic.
Wednesday 28th February SEEKING SCENERY, SECLUSION AND SINGLE MALTS!
Association member Peter Poole cruises western Scotland and the distilleries.
Wednesday 7th March SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC YACHTING.
RYA’s team manager John Derbyshire describes the selection and training of our Olympic contestants, together with his memories of events leading to Britain’s most successful ever medal tally.
Wednesday 14th March ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND OPEN FORUM.
Followed by your last chance to hear the confessions and blunders of those committee members retiring that evening!
Saturday 17th March ANNUAL DINNER.
At the Bell House Hotel, Gerrards Cross.
- 2000-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 2000
Wednesday 4th October CRUISING CHILE.
John and Fay Garey tell of their year exploring coastal and inland Chile, from the sub-tropical south to the desert north. And why we should all remember Chiloe
Wednesday 11th October MUD IN THE BLOOD.
Colin Jarman – journalist, author and sailor – recalls his upbringing and exploits on sailing our East Coast.
Wednesday 18th October MEMBER’S NIGHT.
- Ted Sutton recalls his first Channel crossing at the beginning of a very steep learning curve!
- John Pell returns with more tales of keeping ‘UBIN’ in his favourite parts of
Wednesday 25th October TESTING TIMES ON YACHTS.
David Harding, yachting journalist and photographer, tells of his work with the sailing monthlies.
Wednesday 1st November FORGET COWES WEEK – THIS IS FERRET NIGHT!
Have a flutter on the Furry Flyers to raise funds for the RNLI and GXSA. Or sponsor a race or runner, or just come for the fun!
Saturday 4th November SATURDAY SPECIAL-SELDEN MASTS, SOUTHAMPTON.
A visit to Europe’s biggest spar manufacturer.
Wednesday 8th November NARROWBOAT FROM LECHLADE TO LIMEHOUSE.
Airline pilot Richard Poad changes speed from Boeing to narrowboat and draws upon twenty years of Thames navigation to take us from (almost) source to sea.
Wednesday 15th November HMS WARRIOR.
Val Fontana, historian and senior guide to the Warrior, tells his story of this ship which marked the end of the Royal Navy’s days of sail.
Wednesday 22nd November ROPE YARNS.
The inimitable Des Pawson talks of ropes and knots.
Wednesday 29th November A GUIDE TO NEW GADGETRY.
For ALL the crew! Jolyon Martin of Raytheon joins us for an evening of discussion and hands-on practice with the latest electronic equipment for small boats. Try before you buy.
Wednesday 6th December CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS.
Your chance to amuse, inform or confess!!
- 2000-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 2000
Wednesday 12th January BLUE WATER PREPARATION.
Dr. Dick Allan advises on what to do and what to avoid in getting ready for that cruise of a lifetime.Wednesday 19th January FROM LIMPETS TO LEVIATHANS.
Vicki Billings, marine biologist, diver and member of the Marine Conservation Society, talks about the life under our keels.
Wednesday 26th January NORDIC SAGA.
Barry Meacham, association member, gives an illustrated talk on his idyllic 1999 cruise from Inverness to Bergen, Oslo and Marstrand, and its planning.
Wednesday 2nd February CHINA CRUISE.
Dave Lane, association member, has been travelling again and returns to tell of his cruise through the Yangtse Gorges to Hankow.
Wednesday 9th February THE STUPIDITY OF YOUTH.
Peter Poland of Hunter Boats tells of his early crossing of the Atlantic in a twenty-five foot yacht.
Wednesday 16th February WORLD WAYFARING.
Margaret and Frank Dye show how to widen your dinghy sailing horizons and tell of their own distant exploits.
Wednesday 23rd February R.N.L.I. SEA CHECK.
Guy Addington of the R.N.L.I. introduces the new safety scheme for all craft. Want a free inspection? Here’s how
Wednesday 1st March VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE.
After his ‘Ferry to the Falklands’ talk last year, Master Mariner Chris Clarke returns to share cross channel experiences and some of the problems facing modern ferry skippers.
Wednesday 8th March THE MATTHEW
America’s Cup yacht designer David Alan-Williams recounts his experience as Master of the Matthew on the 500th anniversary re-creation of Cabot’s voyage to Canada.
Saturday 11th March SATURDAY SPECIAL – WORLD NAVAL BASE VISIT.
By popular request, a return visit to the ‘World Naval Base’ and ropeworks at Chatham Dockyards.
Wednesday 15th March ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
Saturday 25th March MILLENNIUM ANNUAL DINNER.
- 1999-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1999
Wednesday 6th October A CRUISE AROUND BRITAIN.
Ken Shaw, association member, on his sail around Britain in 1998 “by Orkney and by Wrath and by Corryvreckan too.”
Wednesday 13th October CURRENT CHARTING.
Jeremy Davies-Webb, of U.K. Hydrographic Office, explains the background to modern charting methods, digital charts and their use by the leisure sailor.
Wednesday 20th October A WHOLE HEAP OF JUNK.
With the emphasis on self-built boats and Chinese Junks, Lynda Chidell discusses the merits of cruising as a way of life.
Saturday 23rd October LIFE RAFT SPECIAL.
Graham Gardner, of Suffolk Sailing and Liferafts, returns for this practical hands-on life raft demonstration in the pool and tips on cold water survival. A MUST for serious cruisers.
Wednesday 27th October CRUISING AROUND DENMARK.
Karin Wilkinson and Andrew Walker, association members, describe their 4 month cruise to and around Denmark – visiting the Friesian Islands, the Kiel Canal, the Baltic and Bornholm.
Tuesday 2nd November METEOROLOGY.
A visit to the Meteorological Office, Bracknell.
Wednesday 3rd November GREENLAND 1998 – IN THE STEPS OF TILMAN.
Atlantic storms, a knockdown, mountain summits, ice routes – the Rev. Bob Shepton, winner of the Tilman medal, recounts them all.
Wednesday 10th November FROM CONCEPTION TO BERTH.
David Marsh, from Motor Boat and Yachting, takes us through the design and building processes involved in getting a contemporary production boat from drawing board to water.
Wednesday 17th November THE MYSTERY OF NAPOLEON’S DEATH SOLVED!
Association member, Wolfgang Ansorge, talks about his voyages in the South
Atlantic and to the island of St. Helena, which lead to an amazing find.
Saturday 20th November BRISTOL DOCKS.
A visit to the S. S. Great Britain and The Matthew, ending at Harvey’s Wine Cellar for Sherry tasting.
Wednesday 24th November THE WIND IS FREE.
Noel Dilly advises whether we need a sail or a mechanical device.
Wednesday 1st December THE RIGHT BOAT FOR THE RIGHT JOB.
James Jermain, yachting authority, editor and journalist discusses the alternatives.
Wednesday 8th December CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS.
Your chance to amuse, inform or confess.
- 1999-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 1999
Wednesday 6th January THE UPS AND DOWNS OF OCEAN RACING.
John Chittenden describes the ups & downs of racing both ways around the world.
Wednesday 13th January FERRY TO THE FALKLANDS.
Master Mariner, Capt Chris Clark, recounts events in 1982 when his •cross channel ferry was requisitioned to help recapture the Falklands.
Wednesday 20th January. THE WHITBREAD ON BRUNEL SYNERGIE
Stuart Quarrie on racing in the Whitbread on a low budget – only $4.5m.
Wednesday 27th January HISTORY BENEATH THE SEA.
The maritime archaeology of the Solent area by Brian Sparks and Gary Momber of the Hants and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology.
Wednesday 3rd February FIRST AID AT SEA.
Dr. Robert Hadley advises on the First Aid Kit and how to use it plus dealing with head injuries.
Saturday 6th February R.Y.A. FIRST AID PART II.
The remainder of the course for the R.Y.A. First Aid certificate which includes dealing with emergencies.
Wednesday 10th February A TRIBUTE TO BRITANNIA.
John Godfrey describes Britannia’s last voyage to Portsmouth and her decommissioning.
Wednesday 17th February AROUND THE WORLD THE WRONG WAY.
Glyn Hughes, Association member, relates his experiences on the B.T. Challenge.
Wednesday 24th February OWL TO IRELAND.
Peter Bruce on cruising to Southern Ireland and a visit to anchorages known and less well known.
Saturday 27th February COOKERY FOR SAILORS.
A practical course on preparing one-pot meals.
Wednesday 3rd March THE RIGHT BOAT FOR THE RIGHT JOB.
James Jermain, of Yachting Monthly, discusses the alternatives.
Saturday 6th March OUTBOARDS
A practical course on servicing small outboards.
Wednesday 10th March ALONE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC – AGAIN!
Following her recent success in the Route du Rhum, Ellen MacArthur returns to recount her latest adventures.
Wednesday 17th March A.G.M.
Saturday 20th March ANNUAL DINNER AND PRIZE GIVING.
- 1998-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1998
Wednesday 7th October A STOPPING TRIP ACROSS THE SOUTH PACIFIC.
Dr. Dick Allan goes off the beaten track on the Trade Winds Rally.Wednesday 14th October THAMES TRADITIONAL BOATS.
An illustrated talk on the development of traditional boats and boat building on the Thames by Colin Henwood, foremost builder and restorer of these crafts.Saturday 17th October REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF G.R.P.
A repeat of the hands-on course designed to teach techniques required for expert D.I.Y. maintenance of GRP.Wednesday 21st October ALONE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC – AT 21.
By popular request, Ellen MacArthur returns to describe her experiences before and during the ‘Mini Transar race, in her 21 ft boat “Le Poisson”.Wednesday 28th October DESIDERATA CRUISES HOME
The O’Connells return to tell the second half of their circumnavigation of Europe, from Majorca through the Canal du Midi to Lymington.Wednesday 4th November COASTGUARD SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION ON THE SOUTH COAST.
The crewing, training and operation of the coast guard helicopter based at Lee-on-Solent covering the south coast and central channel areas.Wednesday 11th November RACING ROUND THE WORLD.
Around the world with Paul Clark following the Tea Clipper routes in the 1996 yacht race.Wednesday 18th November THE TWO R’s OF SAILING – REEFING AND RIGGING.
Andy Cassell discusses the pro’s and con’s of different types of reefing and Den Maidment offers advice on the care and maintenance of rigging.Saturday 21st November SOLENT COASTGUARD STATION.
A visit to the Coastguard Station at Lee-on-Solent including inspection of the S.A.R. helicopter.Wednesday 25th November FRENCH AFFAIRS
John Pell gives an account of some of the delights of cruising in Northern France and Brittany.Wednesday 2nd December ADVANCED CRUISING AND BOAT HANDLING TECHNIQUES.
James Stevens, National Coach of the R.Y.A. retums with more expert advice on pilotage, boat handling and passage making.Wednesday 9th December CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
- 1998-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 1998
Wednesday 7th January EPISODES FROM THE DAYS OF SAIL
An illustrated lecture by Adrian Seligman the square rig sailor and author.
Wednesday 14th January ‘DESIDERATA’ CRUISES FROM LYMINGTON TO MAJORCA
Frank 0′ Connell narrates this cruise in a Westerly Consort 29′.
Wednesday 21st January YACHT BROKERAGE
So you want to sell your boat? Patrick Boyd, broker, describes the do’s and don’ts of such a sale.
Wednesday 28th January FLORIDA TO CAPE COD
David and Sepha Wood describe a cruise up the east coast of America in “Tehari II” – a salar 40′.
Saturday 31st January MARINE ELECTRICAL COURSE
Covering maintenance and safety, batteries, multi meters, legislation, starting and lighting systems, voltage drop, marine components and basic fault finding.
Wednesday 4th February BOAT LAW
By special request solicitor David Johnston returns to discuss some of the legal problems facing boat owners including insurance, sales, purchase and salvage.
Wednesday 11th February AN UP-DATE OF MARINE ELECTRONICS
Keith Miller reviews electronics from communications and navigation to general instrumentation.
Wednesday 18th February SAILS
Mike Batt talks of design, construction and use of sails for cruising yachtsmen.
Wednesday 25th February SAFETY AT SEA
Peter Bradley, Sea Safety Liason Officer of the R.N.L.I. will advise on do’s and don’ts and suggest remedies for our safety.
Saturday 28th February PRACTICAL ROPE & BRAID WORK
Alan Banton of English Braids will give a short talk and then give a “hand on” practical demonstration of 3 strand and braid splicing.
Wednesday 4th March COMING HOME?
David Lane, Association Member, describes a cruise from Greece, around the Italian coast to Sardinia and the Balearics with some thoughts on Mediterranean cruising.
Wednesday 11th March ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To be held at Gerrards Cross Memorial Centre at 8.15 p.m.
Saturday 14ttiMarch ANNUAL DINNER
To be held at the Beaconsfield Golf Club.
RALLIES 1998 - 13th June at Bembridge.
- 12th September at Port Solent
- 1997-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1997
Wednesday 8th October Mary Rose
Ted Sutton, a member of the “Mary Rose” Information Group and Association member relates the finding, raising and preservation of the famous “Mary Rose”.
Wednesday 15th October Sailing East by South to Holland
Gordon Wood, Association member, describes a cruise in “Kwenda”.
Wednesday 22nd October Cruising in Brittany
Peter Cumberledge, the well-known Sailor and Author describes “Cruising in Brittany”.Wednesday 29th October TRINIDAD & TOBAGO REGATTA WEEK
Rum and Sun – The ultimate Sailing Holiday – Peter Poland, Director of Hunter Boats, talks about this enjoyable experience.Wednesday 5th November Greenland
Willy Kerr – describes a cruise up the east coast of Greenland and High Latitude sailing.
Wednesday 12th November Round Britain Cruise
Jeff and Gillian Thatcher relate a Round Britain Cruise from the Solent in a Colvic 26 Motor Cruiser.Wednesday 19th November Circumnavigating the World
Clive and Sally Roberts describe the Trials and Tribulations of a circumnavigation.Saturday 22nd November Diesel Engine Course by J. Chapman of Volvo.
Wednesday 26th November MEANDERING AROUND THE GREEK ISLANDS WITH SAILING HOLIDAYS LTD
Barrie Neilson introduces – Flotilla and Independent sailing in the most beautiful of areas. Wander from island to island, village to village. taverna to taverna.
Saturday 29th November V.H.F. Course and exam at Fulmer Hall given by N. Thomas.
Wednesday 3rd December Coping with adverse conditions
James Stevens, R.Y.A. National Coach.
…including tactics, pilotage and sailing in extreme weather.
Wednesday 10th December CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
- 1997-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 1997
Wednesday 8th January SAIL NORTH FROM PLYMOUTH
Explore the Tamar past and present with members Jill and David Lane. Designated an area of outstanding natural beauty in 1996 but one of the busiest commercial rivers in England serving the largest copper port in Europe.
Wednesday 15th January ‘J’ CLASS YACHTS
Racing in the 1930’s. Unique film shot in the Solent and on the East coast between 1931 and 1939 and presented by Rosemary Joy.
Wednesday 22nd January ASSOCIATION MEMBER PETER NEWMAN
Relates his experiences up to 1949 including coastal erosion, Hamble River, shipbuilding, trawl fishing, the first marina and sailing adventures with an 1890 Thames One Design to France and yacht delivery to Greece.
Wednesday 29th January SEA TALES FROM THE GREEK ISLANDS IN TIME OF WAR.
Adrian Seligman talks about his adventures in small boats at that time.
Wednesday 5th February THE 1992/3 BRITISH STEEL & 1996/7 B.T. GLOBAL CHALLENGE.
Michael Kay describes the setting up, planning and running of these global races.
Wednesday 12th February CRUISE TO SCOTLAND.
Peter Bruce that well known author takes us from Lymington to Scotland and back via St. Kilda.
Wednesday 19th February OLYMPIC SILVER, SAVANNAH 1996
Ian Walker, who with John Merricks, won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics, describe their experience both before and during the event..
Wednesday 26th February HOME FROM RUSSIA VIA THE FORMER EASTERN BALTIC STATES
David and Sepha Wood describe this fascinating cruise.
Wednesday 5th March BASIC FIRST AID FOR YACHTSMEN
Mrs. Jean Andrews M.B.E. S.R.N. will talk about resuscitation and incident management as well as treating casualties at sea.
Saturday 8th March SATURDAY SPECIAL: FLARES DEMONSTRATION
At Rickmansworth Sailing Club. Bring your old out-of-date flares.
Wednesday 12th March ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
At Gerrards Cross Memorial Centre at 8.15 p.m. Including a Boat Jumble Sale.
15th March ANNUAL DINNER
At the Beaconsfield Golf Club.
- 1996-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1996
Wednesday 9th October TESTING, TESTING, TESTING
James Jermain, Deputy Editor of Yachting Monthly, reveals the secrets and techniques used in their now famous boat tests.Wednesday 16th October RADAR
Mr Tim Bartlett F.R.I.N., Technical Editor of Motorboat and Yachting, talks about radar for small boats.
Saturday 19th October GETTING TO GRIPS WITH GRP-SATURDAY SPECIAL
The Marine Engineering Training Centre in Burchetts Green near Maidenhead opens its doors for a practical course on GRP repairs and maintenance – all materials included. As numbers are restricted to eight early booking is suggested.Wednesday 23rd October I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO SEA WITH MY UNCLE MAURICE
A 12 year old midshipman joined the Navy on 21st January 1771 – his name was Horatio Nelson and the rest is history. Stephen Riley of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, tells the story of the boy who became a national hero.Wednesday 30th October THE LEGENDARY FAIREY MARINE-50 YEARS ON
Charles and Gordon Currie chronicle the family’s association with the design and construction of classic dinghies, sailing cruisers and powerboats. Unique archive film will be shown to illustrate the founding of Fairey Marine 50 years ago.Wednesday 6th November ROUND THE WORLD WITH A DIFFERENCE
“Blue Water Medallist” Rev Bob Shepton describes a world circumnavigation in a Westerly 33 Discus with a young crew via the Falklands, Antarctica, Cape Horn, the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans.Saturday 9th November LIFERAFT SATURDAY EVENING SPECIAL
Bring your swimwear and a lifejacket for this practical hands-on liferaft demonstration by Graham Gardner of Suffolk Sailing at the Chalfont St Peter Leisure Centre swimming pool.Wednesday 13th November CRUISING THE SPANISH RIAS
Gerry and Margaret Elliott share their experiences exploring the little known estuaries on the Atlantic seaboard of Northern Spain.Wednesday 20th November SINGLE-HANDED ROUND BRITAIN AT 18
Ellen MacArthur recounts the challenging 1,800 mile trip she made last year single-handed round Britain in her Corribee 21.Wednesday 27th November RUSTING THROUGH AND DROPPING OFF
Mike Rickard and Eddie Cumick of MG Duff talk about electrolysis and corrosion in small boats.Wednesday 4th December ORIENTAL SPICE
Club members Mavis and Alun Roberts divulge some oriental secrets during their illustrated talk on chartering in Thailand.Wednesday 11th December CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
The annual pre-Christmas bash with seasonal mulled wine and mince pies
- 1996-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 1996
Wednesday 10th January NEW ZEALAND SOUNDS WONDERFUL AND NO! NOT TURKEY AGAIN
GXSA member Fred Hughes takes a retrospective look at two contrasting cruising areasWednesday 17th January TALES OF THAMES BARGES
Richard Walsh, chairman of the Thames Barge Sailing Match, talks about the history and characteristics of these unique trading craft and the lifestyle of their crews.Wednesday 24th January THE CRAFT AND CREEKS OF THE EAST COAST
Charles Stock, an authority on the East Coast and a contributor to yachting magazines, gives an illustrated talk on barges, smacks and gaff yachts together with details of many of the East Coast’s beautiful rivers.Wednesday 31st January WITH HMS ENDURANCE TO THE ANTARCTIC BEFORE THE FALKLANDS WAR
Bob Mahoney our presenter was a civilian cameraman on what was supposed to be the last voyage of HMS Endurance. His slide commentary will take us to the Southern Ocean.Wednesday 7th February HEAVY WEATHER SAILING
Inveterate tempest seeker Noel Dilly, correspondent to Yachting Monthly, will relate his experiences and explain how to prepare your boat and crew for surviving heavy weather.Wednesday 14th February Hampshire Marine Police
PC Ian Hill
A talk on the Marine Police’s activity in the Solent and provides up-to-date marine security techniques for boat ownersWednesday 21st February CIRCUMNAVIGATING SOUTHERN ENGLAND!
Can you stay afloat in a fast sailing cruiser on passage from the Isle of Wight through London and Bristol via Newbury? Chris and Alice Turner illustrate how.Wednesday 28th February ELECTROLYSIS AND CORROSION
Mike Rickard and Eddie Curnick of M G Duff talk about electrolysis and corrosion in small boats.Wednesday 6th March CARIBBEAN VOYAGE
Hugh and Angela Farrant continue the tales of their epic voyage to the Caribbean in Spring Gold II and now relate the retum passage and their visit to the Azores.Saturday 9th March WEATHER FOR SAILING
A practical teach-in by Alan Watts with an in-depth discussion on the useful aspects of forecasting for small boat sailing.Wednesday 13th March ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
This year the AGM will be followed by a film.
Friday 15th Marc 30th ANNIVERSARY DINNER
This 30th Anniversary dinner will be held at the Royal Thames Yacht Club where the Guest of Honour will be Robin Aisher. - 1995-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1995
Wed 4th October Staying in Full Control in Unfamiliar Waters
John Goode of the Southern Sailing School will give tips and wrinkles on pilotage in unfamiliar waters.Wed 11th October Channel Alternatives
Join Ken Endean on an imaginary cruise around the western channel, visiting lesser known harbours, anchorages and sheltered coves.Wed 18th October Conflict in Inshore Waters – Real or Imaginary?
Harbour Master and Deputy Port Manager, Southampton – Captain James Chestnutt makes a welcome return visit to the Association and will analyse the issues and identify the problems associated with the management of inshore traffic. A seminar format will be used to encourage dialogue and debate.Wed 25th October Life in Nelson’s Navy
Brian Lavery from the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich gives us a close-up view of life for•the officers and crew in the time of Nelson. He looks at daily life aboard ship – food, drink, entertainment and the horrors plus the excitement of battle.Wed 1st November The Frisian Islands
Ted Osborn – the well known sailing journalist – shares his many experiences in the Frisian Islands. The illustrated talk takes us from the North of Holland, along the North Sea coast of Germany as far as Denmark.Wed 8th November Production Boat Building in the UK
Peter Thomas of Westerly – Britain’s largest manufacturer of sailing boats –describes the process of constructing a GRP sailing yacht, from plug to mould to finished yacht.Sat 11th November Saturday Special – Visit to SS Great Britain
This visit to Bristol to go aboard Brunel’s massive flagship of the steam revolution may also include a visit to Harveys, of Bristol Cream fame. If you would like to be included please see the noticeboard.Wed 15th November Round the World in Blackjack
Mike and Pat Pocock give an illustrated account taken from their seven year voyage which included time spent in the remote parts of Alaska.Wed 22nd November Batteries on Board
Eric Millett – an authority on batteries and chargers – explains how batteries charge, discharge and die. Dispel the myths and mysteries and you too can run a trouble-free electrical system on board.Wed 29th November The Delta Area of Holland
Stuart Bradley gives us the benefit of his extensive cruises in Holland. He advises on getting there, avoiding problems, routes to follow in the delta area plus a look at the ljsselmeere and Friesland.Wed 6th December Cast Off for Christmas
Mulled wine and mince pies with light entertainment. Fri 15th March 1996 30th Anniversary Dinner
This year’s annual dinner will be at the Royal Thames Yacht Club and the Guest of Honour will be Robin Aisher.
- 1995-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 1995
Wed 11th January Great Ships of the North Atlantic
Peter Jackson, a captain of the QE2 and of Falklands experience, presents an illustrated talk with pictures from 1893 onwards, covering the Blue Riband battle and the triumphs and disasters of those memorable ships.Wed 18th January Sea and Estuary Birds
Victor Scott, an experienced ornithologist and lecturer, offers an illustrated talk on the birds we see from our yachts whilst sailing in British coastal waters.Wed 25th January Six Atlantic Days in a Tinker Dinghy
Geoff Hales has a graphic description of two men’s survival after “Minitech” lost her keel in AZAB ’91. No punches pulled nor apologises for failure. Plenty of lessons for all of us to learn – plus a personal appearance by the favourite linker.Wed 1st February Safe and Warm
The importance of safety is critical. Keith Musto explains that being warm and active plays a major part in safety as well as in our enjoyment of sailing.
Wed 8th February Sailing with the Round Britain Rally
Andrew Bishop of Epic Ventures will give an illustrated talk on the planning, places visited and events organised during this midsummer rally.Wed 15th February Across the Atlantic and Caribbean to Haiti and US Coast
Nick Ryley who gave us a fascinating talk last Spring on Arctic Sailing, returns to entertain us further with slides and tales of another voyage.Wed 22nd February HM Customs and Exercise Update 1995
Will Robinson reviews the past, present and future of the Service. He will emphasise the need for the help and co-operation of yachtsmen.Wed 1st March South Pacific
Intrepid voyager and raconteur – club member Wolfgang Ansorge recounts his recent passage through the South Seas on board the brigantine Soren Larsen.
Wed 8th March In Greek Waters
After four summers exploring the Greek coastline and islands GXSA members David and Gill Lane will review the main cruising areas and highlight their favourite places.Sat 11th March Saturday Special Visit to the Historic Dockyard Chatham
To apply for this special all day visit please put your name on the notice board list. Limited numbers so follow up with Peter Upcher.Wed 15th March AGM plus the ‘Bring and Buy”
The Annual General Meeting will be followed by a members “Nautical Bring and Buy Sale” (See the notice board for details).Fri 17th March The Association Dinner
The annual dinner will be held at the Beaconsfield Golf Club, Seer Green.
- 1994-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1994
Wednesday 5th October WOMAN OF STEEL
Vivian Cherry describes an adventure of a lifetime for crew and skipper alike. T o be cold, wet and tired racing around the world against the prevailing winds and currents. A skipper’s inside view of the British Steel Challenge.
Wednesday 12 October SAILING IN ALASKA
Chris Lewis will relate his sailing experiences in Alaska which included windsurfing, ice boat sailing, cruising and racing.Wednesday 19th October CRUISING IN THE GREAT LAKES
Members Alun and Mavis Roberts tell about their holiday with American friends.
Wednesday 26th October OLD FATHER THAMES
Neil Garside, a professional boat builder and an authority on the Thames, will talk on the local history of the river and its wooden boats.
(Come early and support the RNU stall.)
Wednesday 2nd November CLOUDS AND THE WEATHER
Alan Watts the well known writer on yachting meteorology will tell us how to look for and try to understand some of the signs in the sky.
Wednesday 9th November IN THE WAKE OF SHACKLETON
Trevor Potts recounts the recent re-creation of Shackleton’s 800 mile voyage across the Southern Ocean in a 23 foot boat in a desperate bid to summon rescue for the crew of Endurance.Saturday 12th November SATURDAY SPECIAL
The first of two small parties of 15 will visit the Meteorological Office at Bracknell. The visit will be repeated on November 26th. Early booking needed via notice board.
Wednesday 16th Novmber THE RNLI — A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH
Mike Vlasto the RNLI Sea Safety Officer presents an update on recent developments within the Institution, including Navaids, training and the new sea safety initiative.
Wednesday 23rd November CIRCUMNAVIGATION 1991-1993
Keith Braint describes some experiences in his Nicholson 32 visiting-the Pacific Islands of Polynesia and Melanesia and from Darwin through the Timor and South China Seas to Bali, Singapore and Thailand.
Wednesday 30th November MODERN BOAT PAINTS
Tom White of International Paints will discuss modern antifouling and topside paints —what to use and how to apply it. Hopefully he will have a new development to report
Wednesday 7th December CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
Something different again this year —fun and games. Mulled wine and mince pies are planned as usual.
- 1994-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 1994
Wednesday 12th January IN TURKISH WATERS
Join GXSA members David and Gil Lane as they explore the anchorages and archeology of Turkey.Wednesday 19th January UNDERSTANDING SEA BREEZES
Oceanographer Dr. Jonathan Taylor will describe and give examples of the cause and effect of sea breezes.Wednesday 26th January RADAR FOR THE AVERAGE YACHTSMAN
Radar the all seeing eye — or is it? Tim Bartlett of Motor Boat and Yachting will tell us about modern radar equipment for yachts.Wednesday 2nd February ARCTIC HIGH — AN ADVENTURE NORTH OF 80degN
Nick Ryley will describe his 1984 sail aboard the 62 ft. “Warbaby” crossing the Barents Sea, coasting Svalbard to Moffen Island.Wednesday 9th February PRIMROSE AND OTHER BOATS
Recent exciting finds in marine archeology will be outlined by Valerie Fenwick.Wednesday 16th February A VOYAGE TO TRISTAN DA CUNHA
GXSA member Wolfgang Ansorge recalls his visit to “The Loneliest Island in the World” aboard RMS St. Helena. (Unusual items to be raffled in aid of The Tristan da Cunha Charitable Trust.)Wedesday 23rd February YOUR MARINE COLOUR SLIDES
A chance for members to show and comment on their slides. Marcus Taylor of Marcus Taylor Offshore Photography will give a short introduction and make constructive comments.Wednesday 2nd March THE FALKLAND ISLANDS
A welcome return visit from Stephen Riley of the Greenwich Museum staff. This time he will tell us about the war, shipwrecks, hulks and wildlife of the Falklands.Wednesday 9th March SEASTART
Solent trouble shooter Toby Kilner will describe his work adding some anecdotes dealing with mechanical failures afloat.Saturday 12th March SATURDAY SPECIAL – RETURN VISIT TO THE SOLENT COASTGUARD
To apply for this HQ visit please put your name on the notice board form. Limited numbers so follow up with Peter Upcher.Wednesday 16th march AGM, FOLLOWED BY A MEMBERS “BRING AND BUY” SALE
The Annual General Meeting will be followed by a members “Nautical Bring and Buy Sale”. (See the notice board for details.)Friday 18th March THE ASSOCIATION DINNER
The annual dinner will be held at the Beaconsfield Golf Club, Seer Green.
Admission to members and guests by reservation only, via Paul Harper
- 1993-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1993
Wednesday 6th October THE TOUGHEST YACHT RACE EVER
(Members only evening-numbers limited to 135)
As a follow up to his superb reports in the Daily Telegraph, Mike Calvin will recount his participation in the British Steel Challenge race on board Hoffbrau Lager.
Wednesday 13th October HIGH SPEED NAVIGATION FOR LOW SPEED SAILORS
Captain Richard Bickford of British Airways compares navigation in somewhat different dimensions—not to say planes!Wednesday 20th October THE ATLANTIC RALLY FOR CRUISERS (ARC)
Sail with Caribbean bound GXSA members Hugh and Angela Farrant. This time take the easy way across in Spring Gold II.Wednesday 27th October COMPACT CRUISING
Anne and Dennis Kell recall their experiences of coastal and inland cruising throughout the British Isles.
(Come early and support the R.N.L.I. stall)
Wednesday 3rd November AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY MINUTES
Founder of the successful Atlantic Rally for cruisers, Jimmy Cornell, will discuss the highlights and problems in organising his first Europa Round the World Rally.Wednesday 10th November KWENDA’S RETURN
By special request Gordon Wood, ably assisted by wife Rosemary and Gil Ireland, will tell of “every day a new experience” during Kwenda’s return home from Bordeaux.Saturday 13th November SATURDAY SPECIAL – VISIT TO THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM
To apply for this all day visit to Greenwich please put your name on the notice board.Wednesday 17th November SAIL MAKING AND SAIL CLOTHS
Ivan Bole of Arun Sails describes some of the whys and wherefores of producing good sails.Wednesday 24th November THE INSHORE LIFEBOAT
The ups and downs of life on the Hayling Lifeboat by helmsman Roderick James. (Come early-your last chance to get your R.N.L.I. Christmas gifts)Wednesday 1st December THE TITANIC — 80 YEARS OF LEGEND
David Hutchings will talk of the White Star Shipping Line and the fateful maiden voyage of its most famous ship, including accounts of survivors and recent diving discoveries.Wednesday 8th December CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
Music, Nautical Fun, Mince Pies and Mulled Wine. - 1993-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 1993
Wednesday 13th January MEDITERRANEAN CRUISING
Travel along with GXSA members David and Gill Lane as they cruise from the Rhone to Rhodes.Wednesday 20th January COMMON SENSE ELECTRICS AND ELECTRONICS IN BOATS
Matthew Walker and Mike McAllister of Mainstream Marine Electronics will discuss a practical approach to everyday electrics.Wednesday 27th January “THE YACHTSMAN” AND THE BREST CLASSIC RALLY 1992
Tom Cunliffe, editor of The Yachtsman founded in 1891, will discuss its relaunching and introduce us to some of the magnificent classic vessels at the Brest Rally.Wednesday 3rd February A VERY RUM PUNCH
Association members Mavis and Alun Roberts will talk light-heartedly about their chartering in the Caribbean.Wednesday 10th February SPRING CRUSADER
Ex-Association member Douglas Horton will describe his transition from dinghy to cruiser sailing which included a flotilla delivery passage from Yugoslavia to Turkey.Wednesday 17th February ROPES THEIR TYPES AND RECOMMENDED USES
Mark Durbidge of Marlow Ropes will talk on the manufacture and recommended uses of ropes together with a demonstration of splicing.Wednesday 24th February IRISH WATERS CRUISING
W.M. (Winkle) Nixon the well-known cruising correspondent of Yachting World will take us to Irish waters with the aid of slides.Wednesday 3rd March PILOTAGE IN CREEKS AND HARBOURS
John Goode Principal of the Southern Sailing School and author of the “Let’s do it under sail” articles will give us hints for sailing in close waters.Wednesday 10th March WORKING SAIL
Irene is a 1907 West Country trading ketch and the last working survivor of a vast fleet. Dr. Leslie Morrish will tell us about the history of Irene and her new career.Saturday 13th March SATURDAY SPECIAL – VISIT TO COASTGUARD AT LEE ON SOLENT
To apply for this headquarters visit please put your name on the notice board form. Numbers are limited so follow up with Peter Upcher.Wednesday 17th March AGM AND FILM
The Annual General Meeting will be followed by a film or video—title to be announced.Friday 19th March THE ASSOCIATION DINNER
The Annual Dinner will be held at the Bull Hotel, Gerrards Cross. Admission to members and guests by reservation only via Paul Harper
- 1992-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1992
Wednesday 7th October RACE ROUND THE ISLAND
Commander Peter Bruce will pilot our way around the Isle of Wight and illustrate the pitfalls to avoid.Wednesday 14th October TO THE NORTH CAPE AND BEYOND
Ex-Association member John Jarvis will describe a trip with wife, Rosemary, in a Norwegian coastal ferry boat to the Arctic Circle.Wednesday 21st October TIDES AND WATER MOVEMENTS IN THE SOLENT AREA
Dr. Jonathan Taylor of the Oceanography Department of Southampton University will explain some of the interesting features of the tides about the Solent.Saturday 24th October SATURDAY SPECIAL — DIESEL ENGINES
By special request, a repeat of Volvo’s teach-in on diesel engine care and maintenance. Limited to 12 so book early with payment to Gil Ireland.Wednesday 28th October AN EVENING OF NAUTICAL FILMS
Alan Willmott of Windjammer Films will show four films including. Sailing to the Cape in black and white, Surf Boat off Accra in colour, one on the Malcolm Miller anci one Australian production.Wednesday 4th November TRANSATLANTIC EXPERIENCES
Richard Clifford will tell us about his many experiences—with special emphasis on planning, navigation and heavy weather.Wednesday 11th November ADMIRALTY CHARTS — AN UPDATE
Rear Admiral J.A.L. Myers, F.R.I.C.S.—Hydrographer to the Navy—will give us an update on the work of his department in preparing charts including the new Small Craft edition.Saturday 14th November SATURDAY SPECIAL — FLARES
A practical demonstration of flares by P. Redway of The Wheelhouse School of Navigation. To be held at the Rickmansworth Sailing Club, West Hyde from 1400 hours. Limited numbers so book early with payment to Peter Upcher.Wednesday 18th November ORGANISING THE WHITBREAD RACE
Bailey Wilmot, race director, will give an insight into the detailed planning which makes the Whitbread Race such an international success.Wednesday 25th November .
A CENTAUR ODESSEY and
SAILING DOWNHILL TO THE GRENADINES
An Association member’s double bill. Roger Banks will describe the trials and tribulations of preparing an old Centaur for active service. David Henriques will tell us about sailing downwind to the Grenadines in a 60 ft. schooner.Wednesday 2nd December YACHT MOUNTAINEERING
Up the Seine, down the Rhone and back via the Midi. Gordon and Rosemary Wood take Kwenda, their Southerly 1.15, through the French canals.Wednesday 9th December CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
Again by special request, Tom Round and friends will add music to our nautical fun. As usual there will be mince pies and mulled wine - 1992-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 1992
Wednesday 15th January THE KIWI MAGIC
Association member Fred Hughes will talk about three of the cruising areas of New Zealand and show some fiordland scenes of Milford and Doubtful “Sounds”.Wednesday 22nd January THE THREE PEAKS RACE
John Driscoll describes the RYA Seamanship Foundation’s attack on the Three Peaks Race in the catamaran Sealegs.Wednesday 29th January CRUISING THROUGH THE FRENCH CANALS
By special request Association member David Lane will recount how he enjoyed taking his boat Psalm to the Mediterranean via the scenic route.Wednesday 5th February HALBERG RASSEY THE QUALITY YACHT
Jeff Taylor of Halberg Rassey will discuss the new design of their yachts and recount his experiences on the 1989 Two-handed Round Britain race.Wednesday 12th February PROPELLER POWER
Simon Green of Poole Propulsions will talk about matching the right propeller to the engine and boat combination.Wednesday 19th February KIEL AND BEYOND
Dr Malcolm McLaren will relate his adventures from Guernsey to Kiel followed by his cruise around the Danish Isles and the Swedish coast aboard Malmac.Wednesday 26th February THE QUEEN’S HARBOUR MASTER, PORTSMOUTH
Captain J.S. Chestnut RN, will review the history, statutory duties and current operations in the Solent area and suggest possible solutions to safety problems.Saturday 29th February “SATURDAY SPECIAL”
DIESEL ENGINE CARE AND MAINTENANCE
John Chapman of Volvo Penta will lead a “hands on” diesel engine teach-in.Wednesday 4th March BRITISH CAPE HORN KAYAK EXPEDITION 1992
Nigel Dennis, Principal of the Anglesey School of Sea Canoeing will describe how he piloted John Ridgeway and his daughter Rebecca around the Horn in kayaks.Wednesday 11 th March COLUMBUS 500 YEARS LATER
John Hamilton JP, Chairman of the Race Committee for the Grand Regatta, Columbus ’92, retraces this epic voyage of discovery. He will discuss the replica ships being built and tell of the other craft taking part.Wednesday 18th March A.G.M. PLUS FILM
The Annual General Meeting will be followed by a film or video. (The title will be announced in good time.)Friday 20th March ANNUAL DINNER
The Association Dinner will be held at the Bull Hotel, Gerrards Cross. Admission to members and guests by ticket only obtained from the Hon.Secretary - 1991-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1991
Wednesday 9th October ROUND THE WORLD IN MAIDEN
Nancy Hill, sail trimmer, narrates her experiences as a member of the ‘all girl’ crew on the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.Wednesday 16th October PREPARATION FOR EXTENDED CRUISING
Association member Graham Lock describes the pleasures and perils involved in commissioning a Contest 46 with a new rig.Wednesday 23rd October SHIPS FROM 8 TO 1,000 FEET
Andrew Dawson, Association member, will give an illustrated talk about his life long passion of ship photography.
(COME EARLY AND SUPPORT THE R.N.L.I. CHRISTMAS STALL)
Wednesday 30th October NORTH BRITTANY PILOTAGE AND PASSAGE MAKING
Donald Beswick, editor of Adlard Coles North Brittany Pilot distinguishes between the two subjects and explains some practices he has followed.Wednesday 6th November A QUICK SAIL AROUND THE NORTH ATLANTIC
The Rev. Bob Shepton, school chaplain and ex-marine, describes a voyage to Greenland and beyond in the wake of the Vikings.Wednesday 13th November BOAT LAW
By special request, solicitor David Johnston returns to talk on some of the legal aspects of yachting.Saturday 16th November “SATURDAY SPECIAL”
PRACTICAL LIFERAFT TRAINING
John Driscol, National Sailing Coach of the Royal Yachting Association will lecture on liferafts and their use, followed by practical training in the pool in your ‘oil skins etc’ at the Rickmansworth School, Scots Hill at 1500hrs-1930hrs. Cost £10.00 (limited to thirty). Apply and pay Bob Allman — TreasurerWednesday 20th November THE BISCAY COAST OF FRANCE
Peter Cumberlidge will give an illustrated talk on cruising the Biscay coast in his gaff cutter Stormalong. Up-to-date information will be given on new harbours and marinas.Wednesday 27th November YOUR RIG AND YOU
John Passmore MBE of Kemp delves into the design, maintenance and operation of modern cruiser and cruiser/racer rigs and associated sail handling systems.Wednesday 4th December CARIBBEAN YACHT CHARTER
Tony Newling-Ward of Sun Days Worldwide Charters describes the areas and options for Caribbean cruising.Wednesday 11 th December
CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
By special request, Tom Round joins us with music and song. As usual there will be fun puzzles with mince pies and mulled wine - 1991-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 1991
Wednesday 9th January BLUE-PRINT FOR THE ARUN CLASS LIFEBOAT
Stuart Welford, Research & Development Manager of the R.N.L.I. will describe the process of developing this class of vessel.Wednesday 16th January TWO STAR — ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
Our members and the only husband and wife team, Hugh and Angela Farrant will excite us with their adventures in getting there and back in their new Sadler Starlight 38.Wednesday 23rd January YACHTMASTER
What it takes to become a Yachtmaster. James Stevens, the R.Y.A. cruising coach explains and also outlines the new design and equipment requirements for Sailing School yachts.Wednesday 30th January CHARTS & PILOT BOOKS FOR YACHTSMEN
Willie Wilson, Chairman of Imray Laurie Norie Wilson will describe the work that goes into the preparation and production of the necessities for safe and enjoyable cruising.Wednesday 6th February ANCHORS AND DROGUES — FACTS AND MYTHS
Discussed by Bernard Hayman of Yachting World.Wednesday 13th February CHANCE OF A LIFETIME
Captain Adrian Allenby, R.N. Master of the Sir Winston Churchill will talk about the work of the Sail Training Association and life aboard the Schooners.Saturday 16th February “SATURDAY SPECIAL”
IMPROVE YOUR WEATHER AWARENESS
Plotting and tracking depressions. David Houghton, Olympic Meteorological adviser, will give a day’s tution.Wednesday 20th February SOMETHOUGHTS FOR NAVIGATION WHEN MAKING A
CHANNEL CROSSING
From Sqn Ldr Ken Burgess, Senior Lecturer in navigation and meteorology at the College of Maritime Studies, Warsash.Wednesday 27th February FITTED OUT FOR COMFORT AND EFFICIENCY
Experienced cruising yachtsman, Dr. Malcolm McLaren, illustrates his priorities when fitting out his Moody Grenadier “Malmac” for serious extended off-shore cruising.Wednesday 6th March VOYAGE OF THE LORNE LEADER
Association member Wolfgang Ansorge describes his voyage in a 1892 Brixham trawler to St Kilda and the Hebrides including many rarely visited islands.Wednesday 13th March A.G.M. and VIDEO
Friday 15th March THE ASSOCIATION SILVER JUBILEE DINNER
at Trinity House, London EC3
Guest Speaker: Maj Ewen Southby-Tailyour.
- 1990-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1990
Wednesday 3rd October THE YACHTING MONTHLY CONCEPT YACHT -A REVIEW
Geoff Pack, Assistant Editor describes the design of this offshore cruising yacht and brings us up to date.Wednesday 10th October WHERE ON EARTH ARE WE?
Greenham Marine will review modern electronic navigation aids and future trends.Wednesday 17th October SAILING WITH THE CIRDAN TRUST
A speaker from the Trust will describe the history, operation, and work of the Trust, and their sailing vessel – including a Baltic Trader and Thames Barge.Wednesday 24th October RIGHT TO THE BITTER END
Association Members, Clive and Sally Roberts will give an illustrated talk on their cruising holiday in the British Virgin Islands.
Come early and support the R.N.L.I. Christmas Stall
Wednesday 31st October PALMERSTONS FOLLY – A HISTORY OF THE SOLENT FORTS
Nicholas Hall, Curator of Artillery at Fort Nelson will talk about the construction and armament of the Victorian Forts defending Portsmouth and its Royal Dockyard.Wednesday 7th November WITH INTEGRITY
Andy Coghill, Skipper takes us Round the World in the Whitbread.Wednesday 14th November DUNKIRK LITTLE SHIPS
Association archivist John Knight will illustrate the history and exploits of the Little Ships.Wednesday 21st November THE ART OF CORSE SAILING
Almost a circumnavigation of Corsica with a visit to the Northern tip of Sardinia recounted by Association members Doreen Annan and Fred Hughes.Wednesday 28th November TRINITY HOUSE
A brief history and a look into the future of aids to navigation by Captain Malcolm Edge, Deputy Master and Association Member.Wednesday 5th December CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
Nautical Fun Games and Songs – Mulled Wine and Mince Pies.Saturday 17th or 24 November SATURDAY SPECIAL
Weather – Bill Giles - 1990-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 1990
Wednesday 10th January EXPLORING THE SCILLIES
Club member David Lane will pilot you to these enchanting islands with their wealth of natural and historic interests.Wednesday 17th January CLOSE QUARTER HANDLING
Alison Noice, principal of the Westerley Sea School, will discuss techniques of manoeuvring, mooring and anchoring.Wednesday 24th January IS SHE WELL FOUND?
Peter Tier, Chairman of the Yacht Builders, Designers and Surveyors Association, provides an insight into yacht surveying with cautionary tales.Wednesday 31st January 5,400 MILES IN “SALAL”, A GOLDEN HIND 31
Ruth Clements and Ted Long illustrate with slides and film this epic trip from England to Vancouver B.C. via Panama and Hawaii.Wednesday 7th February CRUISING THE RIAS OF N.W. SPAIN, ABOARD SKYJACK 11
Gp. Cpt. Bastard returns to describe yet another fascinating cruise.Wednesday 14th February DEVELOPEMENTS IN SAIL REEFING SYSTEMS
Tim Drew, a rigger (formerly with Sadler’s) will discuss recent develope- ments in reefing systems and the sails as they affect cruising yachts.Wednesday 21st February WHICH TACK?
Yachtmaster examiner John Cawsey will describe how to develop one’s ‘ navigational skills and improve the sailing performance of the average cruising yacht.Wednesday 28th February FIT FOR THE PURPOSE?
Club members Archie Annan and Robert Smith will each talk about selecting and equipping their yachts – one for extended cruising and the other for off-shore racing.Wednesday 7th March CRUISING CORSICA
Matthew and Fiona Flynn of Sun Sail will illustrate this magnificent cruising area and recount their experiences as flotilla tenders.Saturday 10th March SATURDAY SPECIAL, DIESEL ENGINES
John Chapman of Volvo/Penta U.K. will give a talk on the principles of the diesel engine and follow this with a practical demonstration on maintenance.
A snack lunch will be available.
Wednesday 14th March ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:
Followed by a video film on Whitbread 1989/90.Saturday 17th March THE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER:
at the Bellhouse Hotel, Beaconsfield, guest speaker Bill Giles - 1989-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1989
Wednesday 4th October CLASSIC SAILING PASSAGES
South Coast of England to Brittany with Kitty Hampton giving useful tips including passage planning.Wednesday 11th October MARINE POLLUTION MATTERS — ABOVE AND BELOW THE WAVES
Sally Rodgers, underwater photographer and conservationist, assesses the impact of human activitiy on marine life.Wednesday 18th October ESCAPING — ALL AT SEA AND ADRIFT
All at sea and adrift — Wing Commander Tony Jillings recounts with slides Sunderland Operations in the Mediterranean, being shot down in 1940 off the Coast of North Africa and his own escape.Wednesday 25th October VIA PANAMA CANAL TO THE GALAPAGOS
Association Members Angela and Hugh Farrant recall their sailing adventures from Venezuela to Galapagos including transitting the Panama Canal. (Come early and support the R.N.L.I. Christmas Stall)Wednesday 1st November THE ONE DESIGN STORY
Yacht Designer David Thomas describes the making of the one design classes from the Sonata to the Sigma.Wednesday 8th November CANOES AND CRUISERS
Stephen Riley of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich returns to illustrate the early steps in the development of the small cruising yacht.Wednesday 15th November. THE DORSET COASTLINE
Commander Peter Bruce takes us out of the Solent on an aerial trip along the Dorset coast to preview his new book”Inshore along the Dorset Coastline”Wednesday 22nd November MANAGING THE RIVER HAMBLE
The Hamble Harbour Master Capt. C. J. Nichol! O.B.E. will illustrate the many facets of organising this busy sailing river.Wednesday 29th November EXTENDED CRUISING
Canon Aishe, a long experienced yachtsman and winner of a number of cruising awards tells us of his extended summer cruises to the less well visited European cruising grounds.Wednesday 6th December CAST OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
New Nautical Teasers and songs with Tom Round. - 1989-H1 – Programme – Spring
SPRING PROGRAMME 1989
Wednesday 11th January “YACHT PHOTOGRAPHY”
World renowned yachting photographer Keith Beken of Cowes will illustrate their work over three generations.Wednesday 18th January OLYMPIC GOLD AT S. KOREA, 1988
Bryn Vaile, who together with Mike Maclntyre won the Olympic Gold Medal, will describe his experiences at the Olympics and their wonderful win in the Star Class.Wednesday 25th January THE AMERICA’S CUP 1851 TO DATE
Yachting historian Ian Dear describes the golden age of yachting of the last Century.Wednesday 1st February CARIBBEAN CRUISING
Honorary member, Nigel Thomas, will recall and illustrate cruising in the West Indies.Wednesday 8th February BENETEAU BOATS
Mr. David Tydemar, Managing Director (U.K.) of Beneteau Boats will give an illustrated talk about their modern range of production boats.Wednesday 15th February RESCUE AT SEA
Graham Hall, Honorary Secretary of Bembridge Lifeboat will describe the work of our brave lifeboatmen.Wednesday 22nd February “SAFETY AT SEA — A STATE OF MIND.”
John Driscoll, Principal National Coach of the R.Y.A. will discuss the importance of preparing yourself and then your boat.Wednesday 1st March POWER GENERATION
Eric Kingsley of Telesonic Marine Ltd will compare the various options open to yachtsmen of generating electricity on small boats.Wednesday 8th March THE FRENCH CANALS
Hugh McKnight, author of ‘Cruising French Waterways’ will tell us of the pleasures of exploring rural France by boat.Wednesday 15th March “AGM AND FILM OF THE CALEDONIAN CANAL”
An illustrated cruise through the C.C. from Inverness to Fort William.Friday 17th March ANNUAL DINNER
The Association Dinner will be held at the Leander Club, Henley. Admission by ticket available from the Hon. Secretary - 1988-H2 – Programme – Autumn
AUTUMN PROGRAMME 1988
Wednesday 5th October SQUARE-RIG SAILING ON ‘LORD NELSON’
Two Association members Tom Round, Bill Richardson and Reyffiend–Glenny talk about the challenge of sailing with able and disabled crew.Wednesday 12th October CRUISE TO GREENLAND AND THE CANADIAN ARCTIC
Willie Ker recounts his award winning cruise in his Contessa 32.Wednesday 19th October THE OCEAN—CRUISING YACHT
Ted and Bill Spears of Bay Class Yachts will talk about building top-quality steel ocean cruising yachts.Wednesday 26th October
CAMPAIGNING AN ADMIRALS CUP TEAM
Stuart Quarrie of British Performance Sailing describes the preparation and management for an Admirals Cup Challenge.LA-Wednesday 2nd November.
FRANCIS DRAKE TO WINDWARD
.Stephen Riley of The National Maritime Museum Greenwich reviews the tactics for the defeat of the Spanish ArmadaWednesday 9th November CLASSIC SAILING PASSAGES
South Coast of England to Brittany with Kitty Hampton giving useful tips on passage planningWednesday 16th November GETTING THE BEST OUT OF A SMALL CRUISER
An illustrated talk by Charles Stock on engine-free cruising out of Maldon from the Norfolk Broads to the Thames.
Saturday 19th November SATURDAY SPECIAL
Hands-on-Decca. A practical teach-in on Decca to maximise the potential of this aid to navigation. (Tickets from secretary)Wednesday 23rd November SINGLE-HANDED RACE TO THE CARIBBEAN AND BACK
Association member Howard Measham recalls the preparation of his yacht Janie M for the Atlantic race for cruisers to Barbados, and his single handed return Bermuda to the Azores.Wednesday 30th November ITS NOT THE BOATS, ITS THE PEOPLE IN THEM
A sideways look at small boat seamanship by Andrew Bray, editor of Yachting Monthly.Wednesday 7th December CAST-OFF FOR CHRISTMAS
Nautical fun and games with Doreen Annan and Tom Round.
Programme may change due to unforeseen circumstances.
The talks will be delivered in Colston Hall, Gerrards Cross.
See www.gxsa.org.uk/programme for details. Talks are free to GXSA members, Visitors £5