CRUISING

SAIL OR MOTOR, GET TOGETHER WITH LIKE MINDED MEMBERS TO EXPLORE THE SOLENT AND BEYOND

Cruising with RLymYC

Join our exciting year-round programme of cruising trips and meetups, both near and far! Whether you prefer the thrill of sails or the ease of a motorboat, our dedicated Cruising Sub-Committee offers a diverse selection of activities. From day cruises to weekend adventures and extended trips, there's something for everyone—plus plenty of social events to enjoy along the way.

All members and their guests are welcome to participate, even if you don’t own a boat. Families are encouraged to join the fun too!

When the colder months roll in, stay connected through a series of engaging lectures and informal gatherings at the bar, open to everyone.

Rally Sign-Up

Cruising Events: Sail & Motor

Day Cruises

These popular monthly events are designed for sail and power (including RIBs) and are open to ALL members. They run year-round, some weekdays, some weekend, all timed to suit the tides. Most are to a pub or yacht club for lunch, typically no more than 2 hours travel each way. Usually they begin with a skipper's briefing in the club at 09:00.

If you'd like to try one of these day cruises but don't have a boat or know a skipper, contact the cruise organiser, who will endeavour to find you a crewing position for the day.

Some of our cruises are "Pop Up" - this means we will be planning them nearer the time, according to conditions. More details will be shared via the Cruising WhatsApp Group (please contact Captain of Cruising to join)

Day Cruises Planned for 2025:

Day Cruise to Yarmouth	18th Jan	View
Cruise to Newtown Creek	14th Feb	View
Day Cruise Gins Farm	19th Mar	View

Longer Cruises (Sail & Power)

Our programme also includes cruises over two or more days (often called 'Meets'), sometimes held over weekends. They typically involve a pontoon party on one evening and an informal supper at a local restaurant or yacht club on another. How long you stay during these events is up to you, it's fine if you would just like to join us for one day. Whenever possible, boats are berthed close together to assist in socialising.

Normally over the late May holiday weekend, we arrange a long weekend Meet in Cherbourg for those cruising the Channel or West France, leaving it to individual skippers to choose their own subsequent itineraries. Thus, those who wish to meet up for meals, or to exchange local knowledge or to cruise in company, can do so. Some utilise the 'Connected Cruisers' WhatsApp group to keep in touch.

Longer cruises planned for 2025:

Cruise to Chichester	26th May	View
Portland then South or West Cherbourg and St Vaast	14th - 16th June	View

Winter Lecture Series

Join us on Wednesday evenings throughout the colder months for our engaging winter lecture series.

Lectures start at: 18:30
Cost: £5 per lecture, or £15 including supper
Supper: Served immediately after the lecture

Book your place online using the links below

Junior Lecture	29th Jan	View
Photographic Competition	5th Feb	View
Motorboat Lecture	19th Feb	View
Peter Bell: Walking the Camino in Spain	26th Feb	View
David Bickerton: The Hunt for and Sinking of the Bismark	5th Mar	View
Motorboat Lecture	19th Mar	View

Cruising Reports
Cruising Awards
Chart Room

Cruising reports offer members a unique opportunity to share their adventures, experiences, and lessons learned from their time on the water. These narratives, whether detailed logs, personal reflections, or creative accounts, provide invaluable insights into various cruising grounds, practical tips, and memorable moments.

Day Cruise to Keyhaven	25th Jan 24	View
Day Cruise to Yarmouth	22nd Feb 24	View

Each November, Members are invited to submit an account, log, or complete the Cruising Award proforma (available on the left of this page) detailing their cruising activities from the season.

Members are asked to provide a short narrative (around 1,000 words) covering key aspects of their cruise, which may include photos, sketches, or other details. These submissions will be used to shortlist and award Trophies and will also be printed and filed in the Chartroom for reference.

Trophies, returned to the Club at year-end, may be awarded to yacht owners, crews, and charterers. Winners will also receive an engraved glass for retention. The criteria for the awards are:

Seamanship Trophy – awarded for a feat of seamanship or navigation by a club member. A board listing the winners is displayed in the club.

XII Bar Blues Trophy – awarded to encourage and reward the use of modern technologies in the production of cruising yachts by creating blogs for a particular cruise.

John and Angie Bailey Trophy - awarded for a lifetime achievement in sailing.

Cadiz Cup awarded for a significant and demanding cruise under sail.

Quains Cup awarded for a significant cruise under sail.

Channel Trophy awarded for consistent support over the cruising season of rallies organised by the Cruising Sub-Committee; can be awarded to both sailing yachts or motor cruisers.

Senior Brownlow Cup awarded for the best narrative submitted with a Cruising Award proforma (available from left hand menu) by either a sailing yacht or motor cruiser.

Fen Dawn Cup awarded to a motor cruiser for a significant cruise.

Junior Brownlow Cup - awarded to a young family who have undertaken a challenging cruise, taking into account the age of the children or to a member whether junior or family under the age of 18 who has made a significant contribution to a cruise either as a skipper or member of crew.

Charts and Pilot Books

Chart Indexes:
- Available in the blue folder on the map chest, in each drawer
- Pilot book indexes are laminated near the books or accessible online under "Pilot Book List."
Usage Rules:
- Charts and books are reference-only; do not remove them.
- Charts are updated only to the date on the index; pilot books are current to their publication date.
Philosophy and Stock:
- Large-area charts for initial cruise planning, detailed charts for specific areas, and Pilot books/Reed’s Almanac for final planning.
- Stock includes UKHO/Imray charts (up to 5 years old), current Reed’s Almanac, and Pilot books for UK, Ireland, and nearby waters.
Updates and Suggestions:
- Refer to Reed’s online updates or UKHO’s "Searchable Notices to Small Craft" for the latest corrections.
- Older charts (20+ years) are being withdrawn. Suggestions for new publications can be sent to the Captain of Cruising.

Nautical Books and Journals

Library:
- A list of 350+ books on cruising, maintenance, racing, and boat history is available under "Other Books" on this page.

Members’ Cruising Logs

Logs:
- Indexed by year, area, and author under "Library of Cruising Logs" on the "Logs and Blogs" page.

Electronic Charts and Computer

Navionics:
- Access web charts for passage planning at Navionics. These are updated weekly and can be used on the Chart Room computer (instructions are on a laminated sheet).
- Regional portfolios with apps for course plotting are available for purchase online.

Recent Additions

2025 Reed’s Atlantic European Almanac and latest editions of several Pilot books, including Heikell’s Ionian and Mediterranean Almanac, are now available.