Wessex

Learn how some understanding of modern weather forecasting methods can help you get the most out of your sailing and stay safe. Andrew’s talk will cover sources of weather information useful for offshore sailors to help you achieve this. He will include examples of ‘official’ forecasts as well as the wide range of commercial sources now available. The talk will conclude with a weather routing exercise for a Channel crossing from Poole.

CA members Bob & Elaine Hazell left the UK in 2008 on their yacht ‘Pipistrelle’ to realise a life’s ambition. Here they recall 9 months’ fantastic experience of the best sailing they have ever had in crossing the South Pacific from the Panama Canal to New Zealand, and visiting many stunning islands on route. Included is not only information about their yacht, but also the importance of route planning, weather forecasting, and how to prepare for an ocean passage.

We are sure to enjoy stunning photos and tales of remote locations.

Join with old friends and make new acquaintances at an informal evening of socialising and sharing with fellow sailors. The new Wessex Section Secretaries will kick off the evening by introducing themselves and sharing the highs (and lows!) of their 2022 sailing season. Continuing the tradition of “Near and Far”, we’d love if others would do the same – please contact us to book if you would like to present.

Duncan Wells is the principal of Westview Sailing School, a features writer in the sailing press, and the author of several books which score four and a half or five stars on Amazon. I’ve only got one of them, but I’d score that one highly as well. Four, five years ago - well in distant pre-Covid times - Duncan gave us a very popular talk, “Stress Free Sailing.” Since then, Duncan has written a couple more books, and this talk will be a follow-on from the first, and incorporate some of the ideas in his recent books.

We always try to have at least one talk in our winter programmes from someone who earns their crust either working on the water or in a job which is very closely connected with the water; it puts things into perspective for those of us who use the sea purely for recreational purposes. So this year, we are particularly pleased to welcome David Bursey, who is based at Fareham. 

David tells me that he is also a helm with the Poole RNLI, so would be able to give us insights from various viewpoints.

The story of the CA told against the background of a century of developments in boating and marine technology.

“There is nothing... absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats,’ are words first published in 1908, the year that the Cruising Association was founded.

Given the current rate of infections, and the difficulty of ensuring that the venue would be a safe environment for attendees, we have reluctantly decided to cancel this event.

Given the current rate of infections, and the difficulty of ensuring that the venue would be a safe environment for attendees, we have reluctantly decided to cancel this event.

Wessex Section Christmas Lunch: 13.00 on Saturday 14th. December at Parkstone Yacht Club.

If you want to come, please fill in the attached pdf order form and send asap, together with a cheque for the appropriate amount made out to Cruising Association Wessex Section,  to C Jackson, 1 Point South, 71 Anthonys Avenue, Poole BH14 8JJ.

Price: two courses - £18.99; three courses - £24.99.