Wednesday February 1st
" Recent Marine Science Discoveries " – Anna Hickman
Anna Hickman, research fellow from the University of Southampton and the Challenger Society for Marine Science, will give an insight into some of the most remarkable recent discoveries in marine science.
Researchers have crossed ocean basins and explored depths of more than 2000m, while others focus on life in a cup of seawater.
These researchers have unveiled new species and made important discoveries into how the seas and oceans affect our everyday lives.
This will be an interesting and thought-provoking talk. Not to be missed. See you there...
Guests welcome.
Visit to Henwood and Dean, Saturday February 25th
Following Colin Henwood's excellent presentation on boat building on the Thames, he has kindly agreed to provide a tour for GXSA members of his workshop in Hambleden.
Details from Roger
GXSA AGM Wednesday March 14th - Advance Notice
Members are advised that they need to propose candidates for the three GXSA Trophies that are presented annually. These are the Silver Jubilee Trophy, The Bob Gammack Trophy and the Ruby Cup. Details and nomination forms (74k download) to be completed and submitted by February 15th at the lastest.
There will also be vacancies on the committee for which nominations are sought according to the rules (76k download).
These, together with any formal business proposed by members, need to be submitted by February 15th.
The AGM will be followed by a talk on the Professor Roland Paxton, " Creation of the Bell Rock Lighthouse 1807-11 "
Hone up your sailing skills
Westview Sailing which is an RYA training school with a close affinity to GXSA is offering evening, day and weekend courses ashore and afloat for those keen to enhance their sailing skills. Both Day skipper and VHF courses are being run in Spring 2012.
The chief instructor is Duncan Wells who is well known and respected, has given inspiring talks at GXSA and is a regular contributor to the Sailing magazine "Sailing Today". More details can be found on the site Westview Sailing, by telephoning Duncan at 01753 890555 or on his Facebook page
Some of the trips undertaken last summer
John Apps
John, more used to solo sailing has just delivered "Perroquet" from the Caribbean to Australia sometimes with a small crew of GXSA members. On June 17th after a passage through the Panama canal, they arrived at Easter Island (27 deg S 109 deg W) logging an average speed of over 5kn. His crew then returned to the UK as planned. John after a solo passage to Tahiti was joined by more crew. He passed New Caledonia and on September 7th arrived in Morning Bay 10 miles north of Sydney.
He will have some wonderful stories to tell.
Paul Farrell
Paul, GXSA secretary joined a passage crew to Ireland from the Solent. He returned from Cork in a forecast F11 ..... by plane. He then rejoined the boat in Belfast and had a much smoother downwind trip back to the Solent via the Scillies
Cruising couple in a 35 ft Westerly
Long standing GXSA members
Mary and Michael Allan who are highly experienced in long distance UK cruising and based at Brighton Marina, arrived at Lerwick
in the Shetlands on June 15th after sailing north via the Irish Sea. They were delayed at Holyhead for eight days by inclement weather
and reached Shetland via the Caledonian Canal, and stops at Stronsay and Westray in Orkney, then Fair Isle before reaching
Mainland Shetland.
Their trip was rich in wildlife - with numerous sightings of dolphins, basking sharks off the Isle of Man, and a Minke whale in the Moray Firth.
They have now returned to their home port. We look forward to hearing their yarns and admiring their photos.
James and Carol Littlewood
Members will recall the Littlewood's excellent talk on their recent Baltic adventures. They have just returned to Harwich in their Moody Eclipse
after visiting the Norwegian Coast above the Arctic circle and the Lofoten Islands. They are equipped with AIS type B
so we have been following their positions.
As if Norwegian coastal cruising is not enough, James and Carol returned to Harwich on September 1st after enjoying an interesting meander home through the Dutch canals when they also visited Amsterdam.
Their cruise is surely a "once in lifetime event". They are very enthusiastic about what they have achieved and will be talking about it at GXSA in the Spring.
Cruising Association Thames Valley Section
The CA has set up a Thames Valley section which will be of interest to both yachtsmen living in the area and those boaters that enjoy cruising on the river. Membership of the section is free to CA members. Monthly meetings are planned during the "non sailing season". Details
Newsletter
The latest edition of "In Brief" and Cruising newsletter. The latter has some useful boat handling videos.
Distress Alerting Requirements
The RYA has, with the agreement of RNLI and MCA, set out new guidelines for vessels less than 13.7m. These remove the previous recommendations for carrying parachute flares if DSC VHF is carried.
The RYA now has a dedicated website for the Thames Valley
Selection for London 2012 Sailing team under way
Link to RYA Shop for Books and other interesting items
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