Suffolk

A first hand account of one man's fight to survive during the notorious 1979 Fastnet storm should be of interest to all who venture offshore, cruising or racing.

As Second Officer with the British Antarctic Survey, Owen spent time visiting both polar regions when his particular role was as Navigation Officer; this must have presented unusual challenges. He is now better known to us on the East Coast as Deputy Harbour Master in Brightlingsea.

Date: Thursday 25th March 2021 at 13:30.

Convicted of "failing to do his utmost", Byng was executed on board the Monarch in March 1757; David Davies returns to Royal Harwich to regale us with one of his historical tales and we will learn about the Admiral's life in the Royal Navy, the Battle of Minorca and his eventual fate. Voltaire certainly had something to say about it in Candide: "In this country, it is good to kill an admiral from time to time, in order to encourage the others (pour encourager les autres)".

This year we have arranged another three captivating 20 minute talks:

• Educating Children on a four year voyage by the Sheppard Family
• When the best laid plans collapse by Paul and Suzie Sear
• Single handed to the Scilly Isles by Charles Morland

The Photo Competition's final six photos will be on display and you will be asked to select the winners.

An autonomous sailing vessel has already circumnavigated Antarctica finding its own way back to port in New Zealand. Andrew Higgs, one of the Younger Brethren of Trinity House and a Marine Lawyer, will explain how the world of shipping is changing with increasing automation and the introduction of Marine Autonomous Surface Ships, or MASS.

Date: Saturday 9th January 2021 at 19:30.

Sailing on Tall Ships, where the able and less able are treated equally; The Jubilee Sailing Trust has a unique mission: to give people of mixed abilities and circumstances the freedom to explore their ability, potential and place in the world through inclusive adventures at sea.

Date: Thursday 19th November 2020 at 13:30.

A leisurely cruise to and around Central America, what better way to spend the last six years? Ivan and Jane Chevous, presently in Spain on their return journey home, cannot wait to tell us all about their favourite anchorages, the places to visit, their hurricane season tips, and how to organise the Panama Canal transit without an agent. They will also explain why they love this cruising ground and especially the people of Central America.

Date: Thursday 4th February 2021 at 13:30.

Meredith Scanlon will tell us how they have surveyed the sea floor beneath our familiar sailing waters; and how the survey methods have changed in our lifetime. She is the Surveyor for Harwich Harbour Authority.

Date: Thursday 21st January 2021 at 13:30.

The Talk on Zoom: You will be able to join us from anywhere you can get online, using your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone, and enjoy the talk and see any illustrations.

It is in the Longshed in Woodbridge that a team of dedicated volunteers and experts are working on the Sutton Hoo Replica Project. Paul Constantine, a researcher on Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian ships, will explain the evolution of Scandinavian craft and highlight the design features in historical context. As the person charged by the Woodbridge Riverside Trust to research and then assemble the team to construct the full-size replica, Paul will be able to share with us his up-to-date knowledge of the progress made so far on this ambitious project.

Sailing into the Electrical Age, another Illustrated Talk by this lively presenter who will take us on a journey from Ancient Egypt via: magnets, compasses, batteries and dynamos; electric motors, electric telegraphs and electric fish; arc lights, light bulbs, lighthouses and lightning; a fight at the Royal Institution; Davy, Faraday, Marconi, Edison, Tesla, and Watson-Watt; radio, radar, Decca, Loran, Transit and Polaris.