2007 Cruising Season

As winter turned to spring, I really did believe that we were in for a wonderful season’s cruising, but then came summer.

From around the Branches came reports of cancelled events and cruises, yachts storm-bound and abandoned in foreign ports as holiday and leave periods expired. But despite the wettest - and in my experience the windiest - summer on record, there were some success stories.

The RNVR Yacht Club had invited us to join them on their Summer Cruise and four RNSA yachts joined the fleet on the cruise from the south coast to the Channel Islands via Normandy. The reports that I have received from those that had the good fortune to attend have been most complimentary, a superb programme and very well organised. Their only regret is that so few yachts flying the RNSA burgee were in the fleet. But we now have an opportunity to do better, for we have been invited again next year.

The plan is to assemble in Weymouth on the 28th June and then cruise to Fowey, arriving around the 6th July visiting such well-known naval resorts as Dartmouth and Plymouth en route. So let us see if we can manage more than four boats next time. Not all from Portsmouth either, let’s make it a real RNSA contingent.

Furthermore, for the really adventurous sailors there is the possibility of an extension to the cruise after Fowey to the Scillies, so let us hope that the weather is better next year. I have tried on several occasions to reach the Scillies but never made it further than Penzance. The weather has always intervened. Now don’t get me wrong, Penzance is a lovely town, but after a week of continuous wind and rain you have just about sampled all that it has to offer.

However, being stormbound in a foreign port does have some redeeming features. You can really explore the local countryside; the French public transport system is remarkably good and very cheap. You can also get to know your neighbours, make new friends and together try new restaurants. Avril and I have found the RNSA burgee an excellent device for achieving this aim.

When I joined the RNSA, I raced, and could not understand the concept “That our yachts shall be our clubhouse” but now that I am a cruising sailor, I can fully appreciate the aim of our founding fathers and support them wholeheartedly. What better way can you possibly think of to ride out a storm, than lying snug in harbour, and making new friends. As one would expect, with the approach of autumn, the weather improved. So our final events have, in part, made up for the most disappointing summer.

All Branches appear to have very successful end of season events with gentle winds and pleasant weather, which will help us all in justifying the time and money spent on cruising to our wives and partners - most of whom can usually think of much better ways of spending both…ways that involve sun, beaches and luxury hotels! Ugh. May I wish you all happy cruising in 2008.

2007 Cruising Season As winter turned to spring, I really did believe that we were in for a wonderful season’s cruising, but then c....

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