We’ve put a calendar online, and invite you to look at your diaries, talk among yourselves, and sign up with a wish-list of dates you can do.

It’s good to have mixed crews, and most comfortable if genders are balanced, so talk among yourselves, and if any four people get together agree on dates, we can plan an à-la-carte outing.

Calendar

 

Options

 

Important information

 

Contact

Lots of members have said they’re interested in offshore sailing in Maurice’s 37-foot yacht Brisbane Star.

It’s a chance to try yachting for the first time, to add sea-miles and experience if you’re aiming for qualifications, or just to have a holiday afloat.

During lockdown the boat has been massively refurbished, and we’re now ready to plan the season’s programme.

We’ve put a calendar online, and invite you to look at your diaries, talk among yourselves, and help us by coming back with a wish-list of dates.

It would be good to have mixed crews, and it’s most comfortable if genders are balanced.

Options

Two nights and two lunchtime stops in the Solent and nearby, between Poole and Chichester Harbours. Options in the Solent include historic Buckler’s Hard up the lovely Beaulieu River, Newtown Creek – probably the most beautiful anchorage in the area – Cowes (yachty heaven for shopping and posing), Yarmouth with moorings in the middle of a pretty village. These ordinary weekends can happen at any time, but because of Solent tides (especially in Portsmouth Harbour entrance) sometimes we are more limited in what can be done.

  • Long weekend (Thursday early evening to Monday late afternoon)

These extend the coastwise area from the Solent out to Brighton or Eastbourne up-channel or Lulworth, Weymouth and Portland to the west. Alternatively this gives time for a whizz across to the Channel Islands. Involving overnight passages and watch-keeping, and with two 80-mile-plus channel crossings, this option can be much more affected by weather conditions.

  • A week (Friday evening to the following Saturday evening)

Down west to Plymouth and back including stops along the way in places like Weymouth/Portland, Exmouth, Torquay, Brixham, Dartmouth, Salcombe and Newton Ferrers; or cross-channel to the Channel Islands. Eastwards are Dover and Ramsgate.

The world is your oyster – well, a small one, but with pearls: westward to Falmouth and Scilly; east to the Thames and Essex. We can run these longer trips as ‘bus-stop’ cruises, so people can join or leave at suitable ports along the way.

If people want to sail Monday to Friday, that also can be done as long as it fits with other bookings.

If any four people get together as a group and agree on dates, we can easily plan an à-la-carte outing.

Weekend taster sessions for novices: join the boat on Friday evening and spend two nights on board being introduced to the basics of sail- and boat-handling, mooring, pilotage, all in an area where we can safely sail in almost any conditions.

Brisbane Star is fully equipped and certificated for offshore charter. She has an extensive sail-set, including both spinnaker and cruising chute, heavy weather jib, and storm sails. For navigation there is a chart-plotter, GPS, on-board navigation computer and AIS tracker (so your friends and family can follow your progress). Below decks are the comforts of hot water, heating, fridge and cooker.

During lockdown the boat has been massively refurbished, and we’re now ready to plan the season’s programme.

During Covid restrictions, there are four crew places on board each weekend, with NO cabin sharing (except for people in the same family or support bubble).

  • Important information

The boat needs prepping – not just provisioning but transforming from standard basic charter boat by loading and rigging spinnaker, cruising chute and other sails, and various bits of desirable kit. We also have to derig this stuff and clean down the boat at the end of the trip. This takes a couple of hours, and you should plan this into your time off.

Wet weather gear, thermals or other layers to keep you warm, sailing shoes or boots, sleeping bag and personal stuff. Talk to us if in doubt.

There is a basic charge for the boat (Full details to follow). 
Fuel, mooring and onboard eating expenses are shared equally. 
Meals ashore and travel to and from the boat are up to individuals. 
Altogether we estimate approximately £70 pp pd, excluding personal travel.

  • Contacts

Maurice,via WHSC Yachting

Robin, via personal email