Wessex

Operation PLUTO - Pipeline under the ocean - was an ambitious and top secret operation to lay a series of pipelines across the English Channel from the south coast of England to France following the D Day landings in order to supply fuel to the advancing Allied forces.

Eisenhower described PLUTO as "second in daring only to the artificial (Mulberry) Harbours''. Winston Churchill said ''Operation Pluto was a remarkable feat of British engineering, distinguished in its originality, pursued with tenacity and crowned by complete success. This creative energy helped to win the war''.

Bob Hendicott has sailed since he was a child and has owned Rosinis, his Rustler 36, for 15 years. He has cruised Rosinis extensively, accumulating some 30,000NM, much of it sailed solo. In 2018 he achieved a long-held ambition of sailing to Svalbard and 80^o North in the high arctic, this time with crew.

Please join us as we begin the year with our traditional "Near and Far" social evening, where we will hear the tales of travels in 2025 from a couple of our members. Do let us know if you would like to make a short presentation of the highlights (and maybe some lowlights?!), from your own sailing season.

We will also be holding our annual Photo Competition during the evening, giving the chance to all members to show photos taken during 2025, mingle with a drink from the bar, discuss and choose their favourite images.  

Photo competition details -

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

Details will be announced in October.

Date and Time: Sunday 7 December 2025, from 1200

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

Open to: All CA Members, prospective CA members

Booking: information to come

Cost: information to come

In 2022/23 Andy Beharrell sailed from Tenerife to Antarctica via the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands. During the course of this trip he visited a number of the places where Shackleton went as part of his Trans-Antarctic Expedition. This talk will tell the story of the trip, the Shackleton expedition and look at the wildlife and natural history of the whole Antarctica region.

Date and Time: Tuesday 18 November 2025, bar opens 1900, talk begins 1930 

Bob Bradfield has devoted much of the last fifteen years to producing 750 charts of channels and anchorages on the West Coast of Scotland. These typically run on an iPad or Android tablet and show you exactly where you are at all times to within just a couple of metres. They are now used by most yachtsmen on the West Coast and also as the basis for the plans in pilot books. Bob stumbled into this surveying and chart-making project and it has since become an addiction for which he has won many awards, including an MBE.

We are delighted 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. 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.

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.