The CA Stand was a vibrant hub of fantastic cruising information and a welcoming social spot for both members and visitors throughout the ten-day show, 13-22 September 2024. The CA attracted a wave of new members, while offering valuable resources to the cruising community.
Visitors, including our Patron, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, headed to the CA stand for various reasons. Some, wanted to catch up with our on-stand team and experts, connect with other members, explore new cruising waters, brush up on knowledge or just enjoy our daily socials.
"The CA has enjoyed great engagement with visitors to our stand," commented Lucy Gray, Chief Operating Officer. "Our reputation, along with the resources and services we provide, resonates with the cruising community. From exploring inland waterways to offshore passages, the positive feedback we’ve received underscores the value of our expertise in supporting both sail and motorboaters."
Section Days and Expert Sessions
The high level of interest in our on-stand sessions with the Regulatory & Technical Services (RATS) and Crewing Service teams, emphasised the value of the CA's expertise on key cruising topics and issues.
The CA’s all-new Section Days drew plenty of attention, kicking off with the Channel Section on Sunday 15 September. Bob Garrett, Joint Channel Section Secretary, shared expert advice on all things crossing the Channel, spanning cruising routes to entry/exit processes. There was also significant interest in the upcoming ‘Your First Channel Crossing Seminar’ taking place at CA House on 26 January 2025.
On Monday 16 September, the CA officially launched our new Motorboat Section hosted by Gilbert Park and Dennis Knight, Joint Section Secretaries. Many members and potential members attended specifically on that day to discover how the Section will bring together motorboaters from all backgrounds, regardless of location or the type of motorboating. Already, plenty of motorboat enthusiasts have registered to the new Section.
The European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS) presented the delights of the 30,000 km network of European canals and rivers on Thursday 19 September. Jules Dussek, EIWS Section Secretary, and Beryl Chalmers fielded plenty of enquiries and highlighted some of the thirty CA cruising guides and information sheets.
Cruising Almanac
The 2025 edition of the renowned CA Cruising Almanac was a popular purchase. Produced in partnership with Imray, the Cruising Almanac remains the go-to reference for cruising in NW Europe. You can purchase a copy through the CA shop at £28 for members / £38 for non-members (RRP £44.50), plus postage. Copies are also available from CA House in London and directly from Imray.
Prize Bonanza
Throughout the show, the CA gave away a range of prizes in partnership with our marine partners.
CA member Adrian Lockwood was announced as the winner of our Big Summer Prize Draw. Adrian won a Fendertex C-73 docking pack worth £1275 generously donated by Seaview Progress.
We launched our new Big Winter Prize Draw in partnership with Sail Aegean, offering a seven-day charter holiday in Greece worth up to £3,400.
Almost 400 entries were received for the open-to-all Show Draw, with Steve Whitting winning a TeamO Offshore BackTow Lifejacket, Re-arming Kit and Tether Package worth £350.
A special thanks to Navionics, who generously provided a free 1-year boating app subscription to one new member who joined on each day of the show.
Social Hub
The stand was a social hotspot, as the CA hosted a lively gathering every morning and afternoon. Coffee, tea and biscuits kickstarted the day, while wine and soft drinks at the end of the day connected plenty of members and visitors who shared their cruising stories and upcoming plans.
Boat Show membership offer extended
The CA is extending its membership discount until midnight on Sunday 13 October 2024. New members can enjoy a 20% discount on their first year by using the code SIBS2024, making membership just £130 for up to two household members when paying by Direct Debit. Click here to join online.
For more information, visit www.theca.org.uk/public/benefits.
Thank you
The success of the CA stand was made possible by the dedication of our volunteer members and staff. We extend our thanks to everyone who contributed and visited.
26 September 2024