CA London

Cruising editor Camilla Herrmann and her husband Sam Brown always wanted to sail around Britain in their Westerly Storm Kalessin of Orwell, but after Sam suffered a stroke in 2012 which left him seriously disabled and with limited speech, it really wasn’t a practicable option. They continued to sail gently, with crew, in the waters of the East Coast, the Netherlands and France.

Like taxes, growing old is inevitable! For some it may mean giving up sailing while others, like Gilbert, find a way of dealing with the changes associated with ageing so they can continue to enjoy a life with boats. Gilbert has been sailing for nearly 50 years and the first adaptation he made was moving from sail to power. No more aching hands from cold, wet ropes. Once this jump was made he found ways to make time on the water even more safe and enjoyable.

Julia, an executive coach, non-executive director and former CA Council member, has recently completed her first transatlantic sail on a 42-foot sailing boat with her husband, Rupert Wainwright, as co-skipper and their friend, Lawrence, as crew.

It seems to me that I have been like a shuttlecock bandied to and fro by lunatics. I seem to have lived not one life but snatches from a dozen different lives. (Arthur Ransome’s Autobiography)

Retirement in April 2020 would finally allow David to spend the summers cruising and for his first year he had chosen the western Baltic Sea. Then the world had a pandemic and retirement was put on hold, as was the cruise. As restrictions started to be eased in 2021 David stayed in home waters for a five-month circumnavigation of Great Britain, but in May 2023 he finally set forth on his journey to Germany, Denmark and Sweden via the Netherlands and the Kiel canal.

Author, college lecturer and London walks guide, Rob returns to CA House to tell the stories of some dozen wrecks of the last six centuries lying beneath the North Sea, such as the SS Forfarshire, whose disaster on the Farne Islands brought Grace Darling to national celebrity status for the rest of her short life. and the sad fate of HMS Beagle in the mud near Paglesham.

Unfortunately, this lecture is now postponed as the speaker is unable to attend. An alternative date in the spring lecture series will be arranged if possible and advised in due course.

On Wednesday 19 March 2025, RATS will be holding its fifth Evening with RATS. Registration for the Zoom webinar is free of charge for members and non-members, and you can attend in-person at CA House, London at £4 members or £7 non-members.