Wessex

We have been kindly invited to make up a table for supper, followed by a talk from the always-entertaining Tom Cunliffe, at the prestigious Royal Motor Yacht Club.

A "Sailor's Supper" of lasagne, salad and garlic bread will be provided. Tom's talk is entitled "The Life and Times of the Shell Channel Pilot".

We look forward to sharing a fun, sociable evening together.   

Date and Time: Thursday 6 February 2025, 1900 hrs.

Venue: Royal Motor Yacht Club, Sandbanks, Poole, BH13 7RE.

We are happy to offer one more opportunity to get together at the end of this Winter Season. A CA Wessex Fitting-Out Lunch will be held on Sunday 6th April, 12.00 for 12.30pm, at the Royal Motor Yacht Club on the beautiful Sandbanks Peninsula, with magnificent Poole Harbour views. Further details will be provided in due course, please mark your calendar now!

Date and Time: Sunday 7 April 2024, 12.00 for 12.30 pm

Venue: Royal Motor Yacht Club, 54 Panorama Road, Sandbanks, Poole BH13 7RE

We are pleased to return to Parkstone Yacht Club again this year to enjoy the very pleasant waterside restaurant for a fun, informal lunch.

This year, the menu choice is for Two or Three Courses (£33 or £39 pp), with inclusive Coffee and a Mince Pie. Denny and Fiona will be welcoming our members from midday, with a complimentary drink in the mezzanine area with a lovely view of Poole harbour.

We are happy to offer one more opportunity to get together at the end of this Winter Season. A CA Wessex Fitting-Out Lunch will be held on Sunday 7th April, 12.00 for 12.30pm, at the Royal Motor Yacht Club on the beautiful Sandbanks Peninsula, with magnificent Poole Harbour views. We will be treated to the carvery menu (£18.95pp) (beef, plus either lamb or pork) with a vegetarian option as well as optional starters, deserts, tea and coffee, and drinks from the bar; bills will be settled individually on the day.

A talk on safety at sea. Chris will cover life jackets, calling for help and what to expect if you receive RNLI assistance.

Chris Holloway has been a RNLI Volunteer for over 20 years at Poole lifeboat station and speakers regularly on their behalf.

Date and Time: Tuesday 18 March 2025. Bar opens at 1900, presentation commences 1930.

Venue: Lilliput Sailing Club, 200a Sandbanks Road, Poole, Dorset BH14 8HA.

Open to: All CA Members, prospective CA members

"Is a little knowledge a dangerous thing?" Jill Rogers will reflect on her 2019 circumnavigation of the Britain, in her 25ft yacht. Jill set off from Gosport in May 2019 after only four single-handed trips out of harbour in her Sadler 25, aiming to circumnavigate Britain - which she mainly achieved solo. Since then, she has gained a Yachtmaster Offshore ticket and has sailed on a Challenge 72 as mate in the Caribbean and in the Arctic. Given more experience and knowledge, she will reflect back on her 2019 voyage and share her insights.

At our annual Near and Far evening Wessex members will share reflections from their 2024 cruising season. Please let us know if you would like to present your adventures as a part of the evening. We will update this Event as we confirm speakers.

Date and Time:  Tuesday 21 January 2025, bar opens 1900, talks begin 1930

Venue: Lilliput Sailing Club, 200a Sandbanks Road, Poole, Dorset BH14 8HA.

Open to: All CA Members, prospective CA members

Booking: No need to book

Paul Lees is founder of Crusader sails and has 50 years of sailmaking experience. He is a highly experienced inshore and offshore racer. Paul will talk on how to get the best out of your existing sails, how to care for them and when it is time to bite the bullet and get new sails. Sail design, materials and equipment have changed significantly over Paul's career and he will cover some of these changes. We hope this will be a very interactive session so come along with plenty of questions.

We are pleased to welcome back Bob and Elaine Hazell for part 2 of their circumnavigation story. After crossing the Pacific in 2011, Bob and Elaine continued their circumnavigation on Pipistrelle, capturing the delights of cruising in New Zealand, their onward passage to Vanuatu, the Huon Reef, the Torres Straits and on through Indonesia to Borneo.

As requested by members in January, we have arranged a Tour of the RNLI All Weather Lifeboat Centre. This facility was purpose-built in 2015 to enable the RNLI to manufacture its own high specification, self-righting, lifeboats. Up to 12 participants will be able to see lifeboat construction work on a one-hour tour at 2.30pm.

Participants will be very welcome to join to together for a self-service lunch in the College restaurant, with panoramic views of Holes Bay, at 1.00pm. 

Date and Time: Wednesday 29 November 2023, tour begins at 14:30