This wonderful cruising ground is possibly the most accessible way of 'going foreign' for UK sailors, as it is only 60 miles from the South Coast.
The advent of electronic navigation has done away with many of the fears of cruising these waters, even for an East Coast sailor more used to mud and sandbanks than rocks and strong tides.
David will concentrate on 'things we wished we had known before we went there' and the talk will be illustrated by his lovely photographs, not all of nautical subjects.
For the last three seasons CA log competition winner, Howard Steen, has cruised in his UK registered Vancouver 27, ‘Martha Maria’ on the Norwegian coast, wintering afloat in the Hardanger fjord and in Arctic Norway (Tromso) and using the boat as a base for ski-mountaineering activities.
Nick Pochin, the owner and skipper of Festina Lente, a Discovery 55, circumnavigated with the Blue Water Rally in 2005-07.
Not content with this, he then sailed west about Cape Horn and North to Alaska, covering 35,000 nautical miles and travelling from 56 South to 59 North against the prevailing winds and currents in six months. Most people advised against it, but Nick is a tad stubborn!
Due to popular demand, it is advisable to book your place in advance by contacting the Secretariat:
Jon Boon, inveterate charterer and London CA member, wanted to sail somewhere as far away and as remote as reasonably possible on a relatively short trip.
Doina Cornell will give a presentation based on her book Child of the Sea (published by Adlard Coles in July 2012) describing seven years spent sailing around the world with her family Jimmy, Gwenda and Ivan Cornell.
In 2011, Richard and Cathy Brown took their Grand Soleil 40, Brave, on a 2,500-mile journey from their home port on the River Orwell on the East Coast to explore the Rias of Galicia, and then back to Levington.
The four month-adventure included revisiting favourite haunts in northern and southern Brittany as well as crossing Biscay and exploring the Spanish coast as far south as Baiona, taking time to enjoy the wonderful scenery, culture and cuisine of the Rias.
Andy and Nicky Gibb have sailed the world in Intrepid of Dover. Now based in Turkey, they were looking for a different trans-Atlantic route and found it via Cap Verdes, entrancing Gambia and French Guiana. They explored South American rivers and rainforests, witnessing a rocket launch, playing with giant river otters, and braving terrifying rapid rides to seldom-visited open cast gold mines. Finally Tobago with world class diving, to the Chagaramas boatyards in Trinidad, below the hurricanes.
Wednesday 4
July is CA London’s next social event. Come and join us at CA House for a BBQ
celebrating our military defeat by our rebellious colony. By the end of July
the Olympics will be upon us, but for now you can still travel into and around
London relatively unimpeded. Bar open from 6pm. Food from 7pm. Tickets £10 a
head. Please let the secretariat know if you are planning to come along.
Sat, 05/05/2012 - 14:00 to Mon, 07/05/2012 - 17:00
Spring Rally - 5th, 6th & 7th May 2012
Join us for the CA Spring
Rally at Limehouse, London over the weekend of the early May bank holiday. We
can accommodate up to 12 visiting boats in the marina and there are still some
cabins available.
Programme:
Saturday 5th: Arrive
Limehouse marina (high tide is around 2pm). Afternoon visit to Docklands
Museum. Pontoon party 5.30pm, followed by BBQ at CA House.
Don't miss our much
anticipated final talk of the season, the Hanson Lecture by Sir Alan
Massey, this Wednesday 28th March. There are still some spaces left,
so don’t miss the opportunity to hear this excellent speaker.
