The Cruising Association

Ready to make your first Channel crossing?
Crossing the English Channel for the first time is an exciting milestone – but it can also feel like a big step.

Where should you go? When should you cross? What about shipping, tides, unfamiliar ports, paperwork or simply being out of sight of land?

The Cruising Association’s ‘First Channel Crossing Seminar’ is designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to make that step.

Drawing on the experience of seasoned Channel cruisers, this full-day seminar covers:
⚓ Choosing when and where to cross
🗺️ Planning and undertaking your passage
⛵ Preparing your boat and equipment
🚢 Dealing with shipping and busy waters
🇫🇷 Entry and exit formalities
🛟 Arriving at unfamiliar ports and marinas
🌊 And making the most of cruising France once you get there

We won’t tell you there’s only one ‘right’ way to cross the Channel. Instead, we will share practical experience, information and advice to help you make the right decisions for you.

First Channel Crossing Seminar
📅 Sunday 31 January 2027
☕ Full-day seminar including buffet lunch and refreshments

Southampton Boat Show special: non-members can book for just £27 during the Boat Show period – 18-27 September - and you don’t need to attend the Boat Show to take advantage of the special rate.

Find out more and book 👉 www.theca.org.uk/Your-First-Channel-Crossing-2027

⏳ Just 2 weeks to go until the Southampton Boat Show!
Whether you're planning your first Channel crossing, dreaming of Mediterranean cruising, exploring Europe's inland waterways, looking for motorboating advice, or trying to untangle the latest cruising regulations, the Cruising Association is on hand to help.

📍 Visit at Stand H244, New Wave Hall throughout the show and tap into a wealth of cruising knowledge and experience:
✅ Technical & regulatory advice
✅ Channel crossing guidance
✅ Mediterranean and European Inland Waterways inspiration
✅ Motorboating knowledge
✅ Live demos of CAptain's Mate
✅ Information on seminars, cruising events and the CA Crewing Service

Plus, discover the benefits of CA membership, take advantage of our membership offers, and enter our show prize draw.

Explore our daily programme👉www.theca.org.uk/news/sibs2026-update-2
Discover at the show👉 www.theca.org.uk/southamptonboatshow

Got a cruising question? Bring it to the CA stand. We can’t wait to see you there.

📣 The 2027 CA Cruising Almanac has launched! 📣
The Cruising Association and Imray are delighted to announce the new edition of the CA Cruising Almanac for northwest Europe – trusted by cruising sailors for generations.

Covering the British Isles and the northwest European coastline from Bergen to Gibraltar, the 2027 edition has been comprehensively reviewed and updated to help you plan passages with confidence.

What’s new for 2027? Expect regional updates, revised harbour plans, new locations and chartlets, expanded tide information – and more.

Compiled using the first-hand experience of CA members alongside information from harbour authorities, marinas and other trusted sources, it brings essential navigational and practical information together in one indispensable onboard reference.

The 2027 CA Cruising Almanac is available now👉 www.theca.org.uk/news/2027-almanac-release

CA members £30 | Non-members £40 (RRP £44.50) + P&P.

And if you’re visiting the Southampton Boat Show, 18–27 September, pick up your copy from on Stand H244 and save on postage.

Imray

🛏️Member Alert: 3️⃣WEEKS TO GO TO WIN a bespoke marine mattress worth up to £2,500 🛏️
has partnered with Ship Shape Bedding to give one lucky member the ultimate onboard upgrade - a custom-made Marine+ Air-Flow Mattress.

Whether you are braving the elements or enjoying sunny days on the water, this prize promises the ultimate in onboard comfort and support.

The prize package also includes a DRY-Mat anti-condensation underlay, a 100% cotton fitted sheet, and a mattress protector, all bespoke to fit your new mattress perfectly.

CA members can enter now to transform your sleep afloat👉 www.theca.org.uk/news/2026-big-summer-prize-draw-launch

Congratulations to CA member Gary Garside, our August Refer a Friend winner! 🎉 Gary has won a £150 bundle of books from Bookharbour.

And now it’s time for September’s draw… ⛵

Refer a friend to join the CA this month and you could win a pair of premium Hyde Sails holdalls worth £155. Your friend gets 20% off their first year’s membership, and you’ll receive a £20 CA voucher too.

Who could you introduce to the CA?

Find out more 👉 www.theca.org.uk/news/refer-a-friend-prize-september-2026

HYDE SAILS

⛵ Planning a visit to the Southampton Boat Show?🚤
There’s something different to discover every day on stand at Southampton International Boat Show.

Discover what's on👉www.theca.org.uk/southamptonboatshow

Plus, has a great ticket offer for you!
🎟️ Adult tickets just £19.99 (peak and off-peak)
👨‍👩‍👧 Plus up to two FREE child tickets (aged 16 and under)

Simply use code CRUISASS when booking. Book your tickets at 👉 www.southamptonboatshow.com

How to book:
✅ Select Book Day Admission
✅ Enter code CRUISASS
✅ Choose Exhibitor Guest Tickets
✅ Don't forget to add your eligible free child tickets to your booking

We can't wait to see you at the Cruising Association at Stand H244, New Wave Hall South.

⚠️ Member Update: Temporary Admission: could your boat be approaching the 10-year limit?
An EU rule limiting the time a recreational vessel can spend under Temporary Admission (TA) to a total of 10 years could start affecting some boat owners from 2026.

And importantly, the 10-year period appears to apply to the vessel - not the owner - so a change of ownership may not reset the clock.

That could also be an important consideration if you’re thinking of buying or selling a second-hand boat that isn’t EU VAT-paid.

Members can read Regulatory & Technical Services Group (RATS) update on the rules 👉www.theca.org.uk/news/TA-10year-limit

We do love spotting our members out and about - otherwise known as a CA spot. 👀

Where was the last place you spotted a CA burgee, ensign or decal and said hello to fellow members? Let us know below. ⛵🚤👇

What are your plans this weekend?
Relaxing? Heading out on the water? Or tackling one of those jobs you’ve been putting off?🔧
Because sometimes ‘a relaxing weekend on the boat’ starts with … servicing the winch. 😄

Top tip: using a foil tray to keep those small parts from making a bid for freedom and going overboard!



📷© Ann MacKellar