| January 11th | Navigation: From Galileo to Galileo – Jeremy Batch
Which prehistoric navigational device played a vital part in the moon landings? How
did Deptford Sailing Club get put in charge of pilotage and buoyage? How did
submarine USS Skate find Ice Station Alpha, when the "station" had no idea where
it was? All this and more in Jeremy’s usual entertaining style. |
| January 18th | Sydney to Hobart Race 2006 – Charles Sandison
A Father and Sons race “down under”. Charles will explain the history of the race and
his preparations in the UK, together with the build up in Sydney and the race itself. |
| January 25th | Cruising to Norway and the Arctic Circle
James & Carol Littlewood
During 2011 James and Carol sailed from Harwich to the Arctic Circle and back in their Moody Eclipse,
Paddington IV. Their many adventures included responding to a Pan Pan relay off Narvik,
cycling down mountains and powering up a 6400 horsepower fast ferry. |
| February 1st | Recent Marine Science Discoveries – Anna Hickman
From ocean conveyor belts to the origins of life on Earth: Anna Hickman, research
fellow from the University of Southampton and the Challenger Society for Marine
Science, will explain research and discovery at the cutting edge of marine science. |
February 8th
| The Last Blue Water Rally – John Hazell
John and his boat Fai Tira took part in the last Blue Water Rally, a round-the-world rally
specifically for cruising sailors. He will talk about his near circumnavigation, the many
problems overcome and the final difficulties due to the pirates in the Indian Ocean. |
| February 15th | Racing and RORC – Peter Rutter
Are all racing men mad?? Former Commodore of the Royal Ocean Racing Club and
winner of the 2011 IRC National Championship title, Peter Rutter tells how he has run
a series of successful racing boats, won many races and the role of RORC. |
| February 22nd | Admiral Robert Fitzroy, first Head of the Met Office
Gordon Tripp
Famous as the man who sailed Charles Darwin round the world, what more do we know about this
remarkable Victorian and sailor who also did pioneering work on weather forecasting. |
| February 29th | Scilly Pleasures and Precautions – Ken Endean
Everybody wants to visit the Isles of Scilly: Ken returns to tell us how to navigate around and between
the islands, how to stay safe when the weather is bad and how to enjoy ourselves when
the weather is good. |
| March 7th | Sailing Atlantic and Pacific – Bob Hazell
Bob & Elaine Hazell left the UK in 2008 to realise a life’s ambition. Here they recall the
last 9 months fantastic experience of their South Pacific Crossing from the Panama Canal to New Zealand,
and visiting many of the stunning islands en route. |
| March 14th | AGM : followed by
The Creation of the Bell Rock Lighthouse 1807–11
Roland Paxton
Professor Roland Paxton of Heriot-Watt University and the Institution of Civil Engineers’
Panel for Historical Engineering Works will tell us how this wonder of the industrial world was
achieved on a rock up to 5 metres below high water and 11 miles out to sea. |
| Saturday 14th April |
Annual Dinner at Beaconsfield Golf Club |
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