For this year’s photo competition we asked for pictures showing a yacht sailing. We wanted to see all different sail plans, beautiful destinations, unusual crew, variety of vessels, any form of weather, or just good sailing enjoyed by our members! We most certainly were not disappointed and received over 50 images from members all around the world, from Australia to the Arctic, from peaceful spinnaker shots to dramatic close-hauled photos.
Congratulations to the winner Jonathan Schwartz. The judges felt it was a very clear, well-framed image of a nicely trimmed boat in a beautiful setting.
Our runner-up is Julian Real, with his photo “Taurus in her Element”. The judges loved the crazy angles and movement captured by the photographer.
And to show the high-quality of the entries and how close of a competition it was, the judges chose to ‘honourably mention’ three images: “West of North Haven” by Thomas Kiley, “Freshly painted in Nanny Cay BVI, we’re off to Grenada” by Tom Babbitt, and “Coffee in the cabin tastes better at sunrise” by Greg Horner.
The full gallery of photos entered in this year’s competition can be found at oceancruisingclub.org/Galleries
Thank you very much to everyone who entered this year, and thank you again to AnchoRight for sponsoring this years competition.
2025 PHOTO COMPETITION ‘Full Canvas’
“Wind, Sun and Ice – It’s Nice!” by Jonathan Schwartz
winner
runner up
c “West of North Haven” by Thomas Kiley. honourable mention
a “Coffee in the cabin tastes better at sunrise” by Greg Horner.
b “Freshly painted in Nanny Cay BVI, we’re off to Grenada” by Tom Babbitt.
“Taurus in her Element” by Julian Real
Wednesday 8 October 2025 was a gorgeous night for the waterside Annapolis Fall Reception held for the first time, at the beautiful Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) centre, an accessible and adaptive sailing centre.
So many factors contributed to making this ‘meet up’ such a tremendous success. Peter Farkas and Patty Moss (RRC Southeast USA), had every detail planned out so carefully: the tables were decked in white linen tablecloths with little sailboat decorations, drinks and appetisers were waiting for guests upon arrival and the room was the perfect setting with plenty of mingle room, colourful murals of adaptive sailing and sunny days. Lots of volunteer helpers were on hand to make sure everyone had what they needed.
As always, the main attraction was the conversation and sharing stories with fellow members, seeing old sailing friends and making new ones. We dined on a most delicious and varied buffet of hearty dishes: no one needed to go home and make dinner after such a feast!
We were also treated to two short presentations. The first, from CRAB president Bo Bollinger, described the history and mission of CRAB and was so compelling that several attendees have signed up to volunteer and a few more have pledged donations in support of their worthwhile cause.
The second presentation, from Matt Rutherford and OCC Challenge grant recipient Nicole Trenholm, spoke about their recent voyage to the high latitudes of Greenland where they have been monitoring climate change and its impact on ocean waters and coastal topography. It was wonderful to hear how OCC grants are helping to monitor and preserve the environment that we all enjoy.
I honestly don’t know how Patty and Peter managed to keep our ticket cost so reasonable when the evening was just packed with great food and presentations at one of the most delightful venues we have used for this event. We look forward to next year’s event!
The reception was a great event: a fascinating tour of the facilities at CRAB, meeting new and existing members (easily identifiable by being provided with very smart name labels), delicious food, thoughtful decorations and a fascinating presentation.
ANNAPOLIS FALL RECEPTION by Deborah Rapp
Top, left to right: The pontoon at CRAB; the Flying Fish burgee welcoming guests; Impossible Dream, an impressively fitted out accessible sailing yacht.
Todd Neville was one of the Members who staffed our display at this year’s Annapolis Boat Show. The four-day event is recognised as the world’s largest in-the-water sailboat show and attracts more than 30,000 attendees each year. The
THE GROWING PROBLEM OF MALICIOUS
INTERFERENCE WITH GPS SIGNALS
The purpose of this article is to bring to the attention of the recreational cruising community the increasing problem of interference with GNSS/GPS transmissions on which we have all become dependent.
Global Positioning System (GPS) was a development of the US Department of Defense (DOD) in the 1970s with the system becoming fully operational in 1993. Other similar systems now exist, namely Glonass (Russian), Galileo (EU) and BeiDou (China). All work in a similar manner and collectively are known as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) which is a general term describing any satellite constellation that provides positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT).
GNSS satellites are placed in a medium Earth orbit (MEO) of around 20,000km which means they circle the earth approximately every 12 hours. The electronic signal emanating from a satellite is very weak electronically and consequently is easily interfered with over a local receiving area by broadcasting a stronger false GNSS signal. When this is done maliciously it is known as “spoofing”. Essentially, this misleads the GNSS receiver into believing it is located somewhere it is not, resulting in the device providing inaccurate location data.
A related phenomenon is when a broadcast signal contains noise or interference on the GNSS frequency which overwhelms the true GNSS signal and the receiver is unable to register a position. This is known as GNSS jamming.
Until recently, instances of spoofing and jamming were relatively rare but during 2024 there was almost an explosion of incidents particularly affecting the civil aviation sector. Regional areas particularly affected were “conflict zones” of the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and the Baltic Sea. The problem became so acute that it led to a multi-agency investigation and report by the OPS GROUP* published in September 2024. This report considered only instances of spoofing in the aviation sector but one of the most startling revelations was that in
* Final Report by OPS GROUP on GPS spoofing (09/2024).
first three days of the show were sunny and warm and our volunteers enjoyed talking with current OCC members and potential new ones. Todd, who sails Cerulean, a Southerly 38, helped close the boat show down with winds gusting to 30 knots and the rain holding off until the end.
Special thanks to Jerry Latell and his team at Evolution Sailmakers for hosting us in their booth, to Karen Soule for organising our participation in the event, to Paul & Jo Jefferys, Lisa & Clynton Lehman, Diane & Carl Simon, Karl Aavik, Jim Bateman, Tom & Patty Ray and Todd Neville for representing the Club at the stand, and final thanks to all those who stopped by to visit and share their stories. It was a brilliant show.
The OCC were hosted on Evolution Sails booth. OCC volunteers from left to right: Todd Neville and Paul & Jo Jefferys from South Africa (Arabella).
by John Franklin
one month alone in 2024 there were 41,000 reports of GNSS interference from civil aircraft.
This report had such an impact on the navigational community that the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN) in August 2025 formed a working group to study the effects of GNSS spoofing on the maritime sector led by the RIN Director, Dr Ramsay Faragher. In introducing the formation of the working group the RIN stated:
“Interference have been pervasive for years now in areas such as the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. In the Strait of Hormuz alone, almost 1000 ships per day experience GNSS interference, impacting crew safety and the security of their cargo. Collisions and groundings are a very real threat, with the Front Eagle and MSC Antonia accidents being the most recent examples.
The RIN Maritime Spoofing Working Group is appealing to ALL mariners to report to it any recorded instances of GNSS spoofing or jamming and specifically to complete their survey
GNSS interference is a very real threat. It is here to stay and at present it seems there is little we can do to counter it. A White Paper published by Spirent* shows that a working spoofer may be easily constructed by an amateur using readily available components for a couple of hundred dollars. With conflict areas spreading throughout the world and an increase in drone warfare, GNSS interference is very likely to become more commonplace. Fortunately, areas in which maritime GNSS interference is presently being experienced, with the possible exception of the Baltic Sea, are not popular recreational sailing destinations, but recreational mariners need to be aware and to be prepared.
How prepared are you for loss of a reliable GNSS signal? Think about it! Do you keep an hourly position log? Are you still familiar with other position fixing methods? Do you carry a sextant and know how to use it? Do you carry paper charts or know how to plot on your electronic charts?
Be aware, be prepared!
* White Paper published by Spirent Group on GNSS Spoofing
ANNAPOLIS SAILBOAT SHOW
The Western Isles Cruise (19–31 July) was a truly memorable event, greatly enjoyed by all those who participated. Conceived by Commodore Jay Gowell of the Cruising Club of America, six clubs were involved with OCC, Royal Cruising Club, Royal Highland Yacht Club, Irish Cruising Club, and Clyde Cruising Club members all invited to participate.
A total of 60 yachts joined the cruise with 247 sailors of which 45 were OCC members. The cruise started at Kerrera Marina, Oban on 19 July with a huge and lively meet and greet. Over the next 10 days each of the participating clubs
organised a wide variety of social events in various locations around the beautiful Western Isles of Scotland.
The routing was ambitious and, as result of the weather conditions, not all of the yachts made it to every event. For those that did, the rewards of a sunflower raft, Scottish pipe music and ceilidh dancing, local seafood and dishes, fabulous anchorages and scenery, plus a Talisker distillery tour kept everyone busy and entertained throughout.
Commodore Fi was at the helm of the catering for the OCC pot-luck supper and mussel feast which took place in Loch Spelve on 30 July. Cooking up 42kg of mussels using two delicious recipes to help feed over 100 hungry cruisers she and her team of OCC helpers were kept busy. Along with the fabulous selection of plates of food to share brought by each yacht we all ate extremely well. We are very grateful to Donald and Helen who let us use the facilities at the Inverlussa Mussel Farm for the OCC party; they even provided the mussels gratis in lieu of charity donations. By the end of the evening we had raised over £700 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
The cruise finished back at Kerrera on 31 July with a grand farewell dinner and more ceilidh dancing.
A full report on the Western Isles Cruise, including Commodre Fi’s mussel recipes, in the next edition of Flying Fish
An Ode to the Western Isles Cruise
For this cruise to the Western Isles we must thank the CCA, An idea grew, then a wish came true, for their Commodore Jay. Jonathan and Rob worked all year round – on the organisation, Behind the scene Barbara’s work became a planning sensation. Treasurers two, Commodores 3 and a pair of Vices too, A Fleet Captain and Web Master, a complete committee crew.
From the CCA and the OCC some sailed here across the pond, Some more flew in by mighty jet at the wave of a magic wand. From the Emerald Isle the ICC they crossed the Irish Sea, RHYC, CCC and RCC joined, so clubs another three. Many boats from our special clubs are gathered here today, The bonds between us, ever true, are clearly here to stay.
First night on the Isle of Kerrera, spent in bar and giant shed, Was a lively meet and greet party that sent us all late to our bed. The breakfast rolls were wonderful, but one or two heads were bad, For on our boats as a nightcap a few wee drams were had. The Race and Cruise, while a little slow, filled CCC with glory, In fickle winds and quite some rain we all reached Tobermory.
We then sailed on for our next meet, up in Loch Drambuie, Thanks to Tim and the RCC we grouped around a BUOY(ee). Forty-two boats were guided in, sorted by their length and draught, The result of such good teamwork – a beautiful Sunflower Raft! Six Commodores met up on Moonstone, one brave person swam, A drone went up, fog horns blew, and perhaps, another wee dram.
To beat the wind, in pouring rain, the fleet was then disbanded, In many a sheltered anchorage much-needed food was handed. The fleet was soon regathered, anchors dropped into Loch Harport, With the ICC’s big Whiskey tasting the next group muster to sort. The Great Talisker distillery ensured that all had a great day, So much to see and do on Skye many extended their stay.
Through various routes, while braving every sort of weather, On Barra and on Vatersay once more all came together. RHYC found Vatersay Hall, a fine and friendly Venue, Good cheer and many local foods to be found on every Menu. ‘Maximoose’s Piper’ had piped the fleet crews ashore, While the Vatersay Boys performance left everyone wanting more.
After tending to all sorts of trials, and many tribulations, Most sailed on to Loch Spelve to enjoy more celebrations. With thanks to Helen and Douglas of ‘Mussels Inverlussa’, OCC’s feast and ‘Pot-Luck’ seemed to please each cruiser. With Creamy Dijon Mussels and Mussels Marinara, Then haggis rolls and salads, breads, chillis and carbonara.
So, sadly now, some of our fleet are already headed home, While back here on Kerrera we are certainly not alone. And so to a Finale Dinner with so many amazing dishes, As the wonderful staff of Kerrera attend to all of our wishes. Our thanks go to the Committee and of course to Tim and Gill, To everyone for being here and making this cruise such a thrill.
OCC Commodore Fi Jones
WEST COUNTRY MEET
by Anne Hammick
Falmouth’s annual West Country Meet, which took place over the weekend of 23/24 August, was one of the smallest gatherings in many years – perhaps OCC members have yet to recover from the 60-odd dinners, rallies, parties, barbecues and other events which took place during 2024? It may also be the timing, over August Bank Holiday, which creates problems – more on this below.
The format was largely unchanged from previous years, starting with canapés which were scheduled to be eaten on the lawn but by common consent were consumed indoors – warmer, as well as being closer to the bar – followed by an excellent dinner served on the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club’s (RCYC) ‘Upper Deck’. Only 18 members and guests attended, but this didn’t appear to decrease the general enjoyment – last year there were 54 of us, and most felt that it was pretty cramped. RCYC Commodore Shane Carr attended as our guest and made a short speech of welcome, to which Stewart Henderson (RRC GB) responded. Also with us were the RCYC’s Past Commodore Sarah Hancock and her husband Keith. As organiser, my thanks go to Sue Kendall for her stunning flower arrangements in OCC colours.
The following day nine members and four boats headed upriver for the usual Pontoon Party – but with a slight difference as, due to having relatively few people and even fewer ‘repeat attendees’ to handle assembly, the traditional gazebo and trestle tables were dispensed with. Instead we were invited aboard Ianthe, Colin Drummond’s 23ft Hardy,
for the evening. She is a true Tardis boat with an enormous and very comfortable cockpit complete with central table for the ‘bring a plate’ (or a bottle, or both) party. Thank you Colin and Ianthe! Thank you also to professional musician Nigel Higgs, who always carries a guitar aboard and led us in an impromptu post-supper sing-a-long. Next year I plan to supply song sheets.
In addition to Ianthe, the other OCC boats to make it up the river were Nessa V of Poole (Nigel Higgs and Sara Hough), Spindrift (Kendrick Oppenhuizen) and Wrestler of Leigh (Anne and Liz Hammick). Sadly missing was John Passmore with Samsara. After being the very first person to book for the Meet, a combination of flat calms and a nonfunctioning engine frustrated his arrival from Ireland.
As mentioned previously, holding the West Country Meet over the August Bank Holiday plainly creates problems for quite a few members, who either have family visiting or are themselves away visiting family. In addition, the late August weather is often unreliable. Over the next few months I will be contacting OCC members in Cornwall and Devon as well as regular attendees from further afield to ask if an earlier date, in either June or July, would suit them better, or contact me in the meantime on anne.falmouth@gmail.com. The West Country Meet has been an annual event on the UK calendar for over 30 years now and it would be a great shame if it were allowed to fade away.
Top, left to right: Before heading in to dinner; Dining on the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club’s ‘Upper Deck’.
Left: On the Ruan Pontoon, from left to right: Sue Kendall, Liz Hammick (kneeling), Chris Drummond, Christine Fairhurst, Anne Hammick, Kendrick Oppenhuizen, Sara Hough, Colin Drummond and Nigel Higgs.
It has been a fantastic season for OCC members in the Southwest Pacific this season. Setting off from French Polynesia and heading west through the Cook Islands, many members have enjoyed visiting Aitutaki, Niue, Samoa and then on to Tonga where we have had a number of social catch ups for everyone to connect and enjoy some of the local hospitality at Mango and the Hideaway floating bar.
Those who have made it to Fiji really enjoyed participating in the annual Musket Cove Regatta. This event is a highlight in the cruising calendar, with lots of fun events and activities for cruisers. The Vava’u Sailing festival at the end of September is also a perfect time to connect and enjoy some local culture and socialising with all the friends they’ve made throughout the year.
From Tonga or Fiji, many members joined the Island Cruising ‘Sail South to New Zealand’ rally. This is a great way to streamline the strict requirements for visas, customs and biosecurity and tapping into many discounts at various yards and other marine services in New Zealand. Others have
being caught stopping in islands before doing their official clearance, stopping in marine parks such as Suwwarow when it was closed, and not sending in the required pre-arrival documentation. Viki Moore (RRC New Zealand & Pacific SW) has been working with the local officials throughout the Pacific to educate them on the typical movements of cruisers and notes that people need to be aware that sailors are being watched and people breaking the rules are being extremely disrespectful, are breaking the law and can expect to be treated accordingly.
If OCC members spot any suspicious people or activity along their travels in the South Pacific, they are encouraged to report it. You can make a confidential report to the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC) where the message will be sent on to the appropriate country authorities to investigate: ptccc@ptccc.ws
Everyone in Australia and New Zealand is looking forward to welcoming the OCC members to come visit over summer and enjoy all the fabulous activities these regions have on
Top, from left to right: OCC members and friends; OCC members join the Island Cruising ‘Pacific Rally’
Special discounts for OCC Members
CRUISING THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC by Viki Moore
IN THE EYE OF THE OCEAN
by Wiebke & Ralf
Gerking
It’s hard to put into words how the quiet days spent at Minerva Reef made us feel: gratitude, awe, bliss . . .
Arriving at Minerva Reef seemed almost unreal. Like a maritime mirage in the watery desert, masts appeared on the horizon. Not swinging but standing still, even though the Pacific Ocean roars around them. Approaching, the hulls of sailboats just gently rock.
We dropped anchor somewhere in the middle of nowhere, a few hundred miles south of the islands of Tonga and Fiji, a thousand miles north of New Zealand, in the deep blue South Pacific. But it drops only 13m, immediately digging into the sandy bottom of the lagoon. This can be witnessed wonderfully from the bow of our trusty Hallberg-Rassy 43 Flora, as the water is crystal clear. No stream brings sediment here when it rains, and there’s no land in sight for hundreds of miles around. This is an atoll without an island: only an almost circular, near-perfect ring reef with a single pass encloses the lagoon.
The surf gently lapping on the reef is a constant background noise providing additional calming effect; otherwise, it’s simply quiet. The wind has died down considerably. No birds, no sounds of civilisation. Perhaps an occasional dinghy sails by, or a friendly crew member stops by for a chat.
Because, of course, we’re not alone here. It’s peak season for the flock of sailing swifts migrating to New Zealand. Yet that in no way diminishes the feeling of being in a unique place. Quite the opposite: being able to experience this special place together with friends feels even more intense,
Top, from left to right: Minerva Reef drone photo; yachts at anchor together with raft up Clockwise from above left: Raft up: Christine & Patrick (Clair de Gouêt) with host Mike (Zen Again); Lisa Pollington (Wild Iris) with Marcie (Wanderlust); dinghies mingling around Zen Again
Right, clockwise from top: Lobster hunt on the ring reef; Wiebke snorkelling at the bow of the Commonderry wreck; yellow and black diamondback butterflyfish
a little more real. Everyone seems to be enjoying the break in truly ideal conditions here on Minerva; there is no weather window for the onward journey to New Zealand until Wednesday.
Nicky and Mike, Zen Again, take the opportunity to organise a OCC and friends’ dinghy raft-up and more than 15 crews follow that call. With no beach nor bar to gather on, a dinghy raft is the perfect way to socialise (and discuss possible weather windows).
Another day Wiebke and I go snorkelling at the pass with Ralf and David, Barbarella. Spectacular drop-offs reveal just how steeply Minerva Reef rises from the depths of the Pacific. Once again, the fish world has changed slightly since we last snorkelled and this time we spotted the white, yellow and black diamondback butterflyfish for the first time.
In the afternoon, I headed out to the reef with Ralf, David, Phil and Jean-Luc. The reef top around Minerva is quite wide and mostly easy to walk on at low tide. It offers good chances of catching lobster but this time only Jean-Luc is successful in that department. Phil catches an egg-bearing female, which he immediately releases (one of the reasons we don’t use spearguns for lobster fishing).
In the evening, pot-luck on the French-flagged Inajeen with Soize and Ben together with the crews of Naida, the Clair de Gouêt and Skylark. On Sunday, Wiebke and I enjoyed some snorkelling at its finest. Near our anchorage, in the shallow waters, lie the remains of the small steel freighter Commonderry, which was wrecked here in 1969, 83 years after its launch. The bow and stern of the broken hull are quite a distance apart. On our first visit, we found only the bow, some of whose metal parts protrude to the surface even at high tide. The small wreckage of the ship’s bow harbours relatively few fish. The situation is quite different with the other remnants of the Commonderry, which we locate closer to the reef top in the afternoon when the tide is slightly lower.
In particular, schools of yellow-striped goatfish and numerous large harlequin sweetlips with their striking black and white spot patterns, along with countless other sea creatures, are found in and around the wreck. And they’re not shy, which makes this snorkelling trip in the sun-drenched, crystal-clear, shallow water truly magical for us.
Read more about our Minerva bliss at syflora.blog
ADVENTURE – A 645 NM
from
H CRUISER FRIENDLY FOCUS – No professional crews or high tech race boats. Focused on family crews, shorthanded teams and cruising designs.
H COMMUNITY AND CAMARADERIE – You’ll meet like-minded sailors, share stories, and become part of a welcoming offshore community.
H FAIR HANDICAPPING – The race uses state of the art VPP programs to rate boats ensuring the best available handicapping system.
2027 being the 50th Anniversary of the Marion Bermuda Race will be celebrating over the next two years with special videos, promotional events and human interest stories. The 2027 race will be a not to be missed experience, one you will talking about for years to come.
RACE START – June 18, 2027
For more information, visit our website at marionbermuda.com, and be sure to sign up for our race eNewsletter. Also visit our Facebook
H
bluewater adventure
historic Marion, Massachusetts to the turquoise waters of Bermuda managed in the most safe and supportive way.
Marion, MA. USA to St Davids Head, Bermuda at 50 years, is the oldest offshore race designed specifically for Corinthian cruising sailors.
MINI GLOBE RACE by Brian C Wallace
After departing Vuda Point, Fiji, the race headed for Thursday Island off the tip of northern Queensland, Australia, which entailed getting through the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) for the first part of this leg to Mauritius. There were varying conditions on each leg, but light winds prevailed for much of this passage with a few heavy squalls to keep the competitors on their toes. Jasmine timed entering
the passage at Raine Island perfectly, with slack tide and a decent wind. A highlight was a pod of dolphins at the bow.
The next 80 miles was a nerve-wracking passage in 25–35 knots of wind, surfing waves. There was very limited opportunity for sleep, but on rounding Cape York on Horn Island Jasmine was able to anchor amongst the other competitors to await Australian Border Force to clear them into the country, and prepare for the start of the next leg to Cocos (Keeling). During the five-day break, a sighting of a 3m crocodile halted any aspirations to go swimming, but the large population of Dugongs was an interesting diversion.
Each competitor started the next leg exactly 120 hours after arrival, so the departures were spread over a couple of days. As they headed out west to the Arafura Sea, the four lead boats ended up with a 500-mile lead and in a different weather system. Unlit fishing boats were a major hazard south of Timor, and a close collision with a ship kept Jasmine on her toes. The A5 sail being shredded and a broken halyard just before a nighttime entry were just a few of the challenges faced before arriving in Cocos.
Restocking for the next leg proved to be challenging. The vast amount of plastic pollution that had been washed up on the remote island of Cocos ruined what was otherwise the most beautiful paradise.
After six days, it was hands on the tiller again for the 2,000 mile leg to Rodrigues Island. After 18,000 miles, the sails were showing signs of wear. Some boats had spare sails, but there is a time penalty for using them. Rodrigues Island was an interesting layover; Jasmine had just a four-day layover before heading off to Port Louis in Mauritius.
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On approaching Malheureux Passe, a rogue wave came over the side and completely filled the cockpit. Jasmine was up to her chest in water, surfing down a wave at 15 knots, and with extra weight the boat just kept going! Fortunately the cockpit drained quickly and status quo was restored. Just a couple of hours earlier Eric on Sunbear was swept off the deck by a rogue wave. Fortunately he was tethered and able to climb back on board.
Jasmine found Port Louis an uncomfortable place with violent wash from passing vessels. Disaster struck when the bowsprit was broken. The shore team in England managed to get a new bowsprit machined out of oak and shipped to Mauritius. Five days later it was fitted and Jasmine was able to start Leg 3 with the rest of fleet, heading for Durban.
At the time of writing she is steering south, with Madagascar 150 miles on her starboard side. The most changeable and violent conditions are likely to be encountered with the Agulhas current and winds from South Africa.
A reception for the whole fleet is planned in Durban by Vince Nel (PO Durban) and hosted jointly by OCC/OSASA supported by Past Commodore John Franklin.
Meanwhile, here in Lagos, we have a quiz night with a team entered to celebrate Jasmine’s record distance; no prizes for guessing our name: “Team Numbatou OCC”!
Jasmine regularly posts updates on her Instagram page (instagram.com/jasminerharrison), or for broader race news and insights, check out the McIntyre Mini Globe Race 2025 sites (minigloberace.com/dons-tracker-updates/).
STOP PRESS: On 31 October, Jasmine had the record distance for a 24-hour run out of the whole fleet, since starting in Portugal 10 months ago: 179 miles in 24 hours. Not bad for a novice sailor!
Top: Jasmine celebrating her arrival in Cocos Keeling Island.
John Maddox and Charles Davis report that they arranged a dinner with Lars and Susanne Hellman, Roving Rear Commodores from Sweden who recently arrived in Sydney from Fiji.
John and Charles have been Members for more than 50 years, John having qualified in 1979 from New York to
Southampton UK in Ramrod and Charles from Tenerife to Antigua in 1971 in Franda11. Both have served as Rear Commodore Australia and sailed in Sydney–Hobart Races.
The Hellmans have done a cruise from Newfoundland to Cape Horn with many diversions along the way in their yacht Sea Wind. They should write about their passage for Flying Fish I told them!
Lars and Susanne are now going to go west in Bass Strait stopping in the Bass Strait Islands then down the west Tasmanian coast, round the southern Tasmanian coast then up to Hobart. Then they will cross the Tasman Sea to circumnavigate the south Island of New Zealand – all weather permitting. We chose the Rose Bay Hotel for Dinner as Sea Wind is moored in Rose Bay (part of Sydney Harbour). At the end of the dinner, the Hellmans were able to simply cross the road and row out to Sea Wind in their dinghy which they had left on Rose Bay beach.
My son John Andrew, not yet a long-distance sea sailor, joined us for dinner and took the photo of the Hellmans, Charles and me.
SYDNEY MEET UP by John Maddox
Charles Davis, Lars Hellman, Susanne Hellman, John Maddox.
This year’s dinner to coincide with the Southampton Boat Show was held on 25 September, for the first year at Bartley Lodge Hotel, Cadnam. Bartley Lodge was built in the 18th century to take advantage of the hunting offered in the surrounding New Forest. More fascinatingly, and unbeknown by the Club Secretary when booking, it transpired that the Lodge was previously owned by the grandmother of OCC members and attendees John and Angus Handasyde Dick and their sister Jane Kingsnorth. In fact, the now ‘Baronial Hall’ dining room was once two rooms; the dining room and the school room where they played as children.
Forty-three members and guests gathered for reception drinks in this atmospheric location and were welcomed by Commodore Fi Jones. Those in attendance included Past Commodore Martin Thomas, Committee Members Richard Kingsnorth and Alasdair Maclean, Port Officer for Liverpool Cliff Renshaw, Port Officer for Hartlepool John Tait, Cruising Information Administrator George Curtis and Club Secretary Rachelle Turk.
With such an interesting and varied group of sailors there was a good level of buzz to enliven the evening. Many were catching up with friends they had not seen since last year and others were forming new friendships for the future. The chat was accompanied by excellent food served by the helpful and attentive staff. Commodore Fi Jones also took the opportunity to present the 2024 OCC Award to Bob Bradfield, who amused us with some interesting stories from his time surveying for Antares Charts. Time passed quickly and all too soon the plates were cleared and the party started to break up. By last orders a few stalwarts were keeping the party going in the bar.
Whether it is a regular feature on our Events Calendar or a one-off beach event, these get-togethers offer an opportunity for newer members to share in the special camaraderie that is always present when OCC members meet up. If you would like to get involved in organising something next year please contact Club Secretary Rachelle Turk, secretary@oceancruisingclub.org
SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW DINNER by Rachelle Turk (Club Secretary)
Top, from left to right: Dinner in the Baronial Hall at Bartley Lodge; Jane Kingsnorth, Alex Drummond, John Handasyde Dick; Fi Jones & Bob Bradfield
Clockwise from above left: Martin Thomas & Chris Jones; Anneke Boon & Fi Jones; Richard Kingsnorth with Elaine & Cliff Renshaw; Penelope Curtis & Kathy Mansfield; Gill Maclean, Louise Henderson, Alasdair Maclean, Hannah & Eleanor Henderson.
BACK VIA BISCAY by David Bains
Aqua Blue had spent winter 2024–25 afloat at Club Nautico Sada, in Ria Ares, just east of A Coruña. This affordable marina always seems to have room for visitors and the staff are welcoming, and attentive to lines whenever some swell penetrates the Ria. I had bought several snubbers. It is very well sheltered from the southwest though.
I visited in April and May to complete the installation of a new Raymarine wheel pilot and returned in late June for more fitting out. Crew Matt Bailey arrived on 4 July and the main and genoa were soon out of the cabin and aloft ready for use. We then discovered the CB chain had detached, for the second year running! We had to beach Aqua Blue on the fisherman’s ramp so I could again replace the corroded bottom shackle, where I also removed barnacles from the Kiwi prop blades. Otherwise the antifouling applied by Xufre boatyard the previous year was still good.
Matt then visited Coruña while I completed sailing preparations. On 9 July we refilled with diesel at the fish quay, arranged over the phone by ever helpful marinero Oscar. Motoring north, Matt raced through the set-up wizard for the new wheel pilot, which seemed to work okay, although demanding yet more voltage! We had a restful afternoon off Ares beach, while I ran a new power cable to the pilot.
We awoke to thick fog although many yachts had already left. We followed them out and motored through the gloom to find the anchorage in Cedeira, which is popular with yachts who use the Biscay Crossing WhatsApp group. Nigel and Karen on Spindrift of Yealm were very welcoming. Fog was even thicker the next morning. We went ashore twice for exercise and the huge Gadis. There is a very affordable restaurant Meson Muino overlooking the spacious anchorage which was much appreciated. Cedeira is completely sheltered and very shallow over firm sand in the eastern half: a great spot and one could winter at anchor, especially in a multihull.
July 12 dawned clear and the Windy app was forecasting westerly 3–5 in Biscay. We motored out and began motorsailing in a northeasterly direction. Soon the Yanmar was silenced and we made good speed under full rig. In the evening a first reef in the main enabled a quieter evening meal and more restful off watches. A huge full moon illuminated the short night.
The pleasant reaching breeze continued until Sunday evening when we were overtaken by a prolonged fierce squall. Matt on the helm was winding rolls into the genoa,
while I reefed the main at the mast, watching the speeding lee float create a foaming trough in the sea surface. Matt then shouted up that the steering wires were slack. I was impressed with his sangfroid despite the alarming news, although Aqua Blue was still tracking along with the older auxiliary tiller ram just managing. I briefly tried hand steering in the rear cabin but we soon left the ram to do its work, despite it being very noisy. And so it did all night under just the genoa.
I slept only fitfully. Although the tri heels very little, the motion can be quite rapid, as she frankly bounces along the sea surface. Multis are on the water, not in the water! By 4am we were 90 miles from Benodet with the continental shelf fast approaching. At 8am it was quite lumpy crossing the shelf, with the short swells rearing up behind the rear cabin, before passing underneath and then washing over the starboard float transom, whose rooster tail I take as a warning to reef.
Conditions gradually improved all afternoon and evening as we approached Penmarch, which we rounded at dusk attentive to the many rocks and buoys. In fact the Yanmar plugged the ebb tide for several hours before we slid into Benodet at 1am to anchor off the town beach, the old ram pilot still steering. Crashout was instantaneous after three days (and two nights) at sea.
We awoke to find a pleasant spot, albeit a bit open to the SW. After a good breakfast we emptied the rear cabin to find the steering wire had ‘only’ pulled out of the Norseman terminal on the quadrant. Between the two of us we managed to re-assemble the fiddly terminal. I then replaced the pulleys and greased the rudder stock before tightening the wire again. It seemed to work. We didn’t go ashore. And next day motored back round lumpy Penmarch before close-reaching easily to Audierne to pick up one of the closely spaced but bargain buoys. The lads in their dinghy charged only €15 and returned at 9am with baguette and pain au chocolat.
Fog again delayed our departure. But after it cleared, we motorsailed through the swirly Raz de Seine before continuing north in full sun to pass inside Toulinguet and east into Camaret, picking up a marina buoy by 6pm. A marinero quoted €21/night to include the marina facilities. We ate onboard again and hadn’t been ashore for nearly a week!
Finally on 18 July, we visited the Capitainerie, facilities and supermarket. Then the obligatory moules-frites in a
Above left: Matt rowing ashore in Camaret
Above right: Josh helming Aqua Blue
Left: Aqua Blue beached at Sada
Moules-frites were welcome and
waterfront restaurant. We were back on Aqua Blue when the Capitainerie then emailed a warning ‘coup de vent’. A low north of Ireland was about to descend to the Western Channel. The marina was filling up fast. And the weekend was indeed a washout. Matt left on Saturday, after lunch at the Donegan, via the convenient passenger ferry to Brest, then flying to Manchester. I spent two nights spinning around three lines to the buoy; it was too windy and wet to row ashore even.
There was quite an exodus from the marina on Monday 21 July although the wind was still very fresh. But I did manage to collect 40 litres of diesel by dinghy. On the Tuesday morning, a race fleet left the marina so I moved over to the outer pontoon and managed to lasso a cleat, helped by a
Where would you be without sailing? Imagine your world without the feeling of freedom, exhilaration, camaraderie. I could go on, but you get the point. Imagine what sailing gives you and imagine what access to and participation in sailing, sail training and instruction can give, particularly to young people, in places where facilities and opportunities may be less developed.
fisherman. Later that evening Josh, an Irish student from Groningen University, arrived by expensive taxi after a long train journey. We spent another day in Camaret as he needed to be online for a job interview. Meanwhile I managed to complete the online submission to the UK Border Force. We had a couple of good meals ashore; Camaret is an enjoyable place to spend several days.
On Thursday morning we motored out into the Rade de Brest and motorsailed in a northerly to the Chenal de Four. The flood tide carried us north, round the rather rough Portsall shoals, before we turned east and made it into the calm anchorage of L’Aberwrach. The well-tied-down dinghy was not relaunched before our early night.
I refilled the diesel tank at 7.30am and we followed a few yachts back out into the Western Channel. Josh gained his sea legs and could now admire the many dolphins. We motorsailed north in a light westerly till 5pm, when I could silence the Yanmar and maintain good enough speed under full rig. Novice Josh enabled me to get a few hours’ sleep.
We reached the Eddystone Light in the early hours, before finally coasting into Cawsand Bay inside Plymouth entrance at 5am on 26 July – several decades after Aqua Blue had left Brighton marina to ‘spend a few years in the Med’! postscript Only a few hours later I was on my knees (in the rain!) in the engine bilge, trying and failing to get the seawater pump to cool the Yanmar. I called the Multihull Centre and they kindly towed Aqua Blue to her winter berth at Foss Quay, Millbrook. Cornwall will be her new home.
The OCC Charitable Trust (OCCCT) was set up in 2020 (see occtrust.org/about/) and since then has donated funds to the Craignish Boat Club, to the West Indies Sail Heritage Foundation (WISH) and to the Scaramouche Sailing Trust, the latter specifically empowering girls’ sailing experience.
Another branch of the OCC’s investment in young people’s development has, for some time, been the Youth Sponsorship Programme enabling young people who would like to make ocean passages to get in touch with suitably experienced members who are looking for crew. The YSP help to cover their expenses.
The YSP has recently been taken under the umbrella of the OCCCT so that all our charitable giving comes from one source.
Please do consider making a donation this Christmas, or at any other time. Donations can be made through Paypal. Please let us know if your donation should be used for the YSP or for the Trust’s general funds and, if you are a UK taxpayer, whether you would like us to reclaim Gift Aid on your donation. Thank you very much. Donate: paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=KWCNX6DJLX644
You can contact us at admin@occtrust.org
Helen Holden, one of the founding Trustees of the OCC Charitable Trust, is now coming to the end of her second and final term and will be stepping down in February. She has done a tremendous job and will be missed.
The Trust receives charitable donations and makes grants to sailing related good causes worldwide. The OCC Youth
Sponsorship Scheme is now operated by the OCCCT.
The OCCCT is now seeking a new Honorary Secretary / Trustee to replace Helen. All meetings are held virtually. The OCCCT is a registered charity in the United Kingdom. If you would like to volunteer your services then please contact me by s.currin@OCCTrust.org
THE OCC CHARITABLE TRUST
Above: Antiguans enjoying sailing the WISH Foundation’s traditionally built sloop New Moon
Above: Camaret town square.
delicious.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST RENDEZVOUS by Daragh Nagle
From 9 to 11 September 2025, 45 OCC members from the Pacific Northwest gathered at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (RVYC) outstation located on Scott Point, Saltspring Island, British Columbia. 12 boats participated, including Jeremi Radwaniecki on Hauru from Poland and Tom Sperrey’s Night Owl from the UK. These two boats completed the Northwest Passage during the summer of 2025. This made up a total of two of the four OCC boats to complete the Northwest Passage last year and we are delighted that they are all overwintering locally. We were pleased also that many of our local American members attended. That participants came by boat, campervan, plane, train, car, ferry, bus, taxi and hitchhiking was huge kudos to the OCC!
The Rendezvous was organised by Liza Copeland, our Regional Rear Commodore, who expertly assigned tasks to the numerous volunteers that made the event so successful. We are greatly indebted to RVYC for sharing their fabulous facility.
A pot-luck meet and greet took place on the first evening followed by a sea shanty sing-a-long in the clubhouse. More members arrived next day by road in time for a substantial luncheon feast of salmon, chicken and numerous exquisite salads and desserts.
Boat visits were the highlight of the afternoon and many took advantage of the heated swimming pool in what was an exceptionally warm mid-September.
Dinner was again on a pot-luck basis, this time using the BBQs resulted in a hearty meal. After dinner Tom and Jeremi
gave presentations of their Northwest Passage voyages which included stunning photography.
Next day we had a farewell breakfast together before the members made their way home. Jeremi took the wonderful drone photo (above) of the fleet before we all departed.
All in all, a terrific Rendezvous and many thanks to Liza Copeland for making it happen!
Top, left to right: OCC boats gather at RVYC outstation, Scott Point; OCC members share ‘appies’ at RVYC upon arrival
Below: David & Scarlet Zaharik (PO Vancouver), Liza Copeland (RRC Canada W & USA NW), Bob & Lois Stevenson (POR Comox), Daragh Nagle & Catherine O’Neill (PO Victoria).
Bottom: OCC members pose for a group photo at the RVYC Scott Point Clubhouse.
SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY ANNUAL DINNER by Chris Burry
On 16 October 2025, close to 40 OCC members attended the Southern Chesapeake Bay annual dinner held at the Mathews Yacht Club (MYC). The event was hosted by Port Officers Chris & Bill Burry and attended by both OCC and MYC members. The OCC is a MYC reciprocal club allowing members to use the club facilities. This is the fifteenth year that MYC has hosted the event.
After happy hour and a group photo on the steps of the Club, members convened in the dining room. Bill Burry made opening remarks and introduced the MYC Commodore, Katy Breuer. She is the first woman Commodore in the Club’s 75year history and is leading a team of mostly women board members. The Club served up a delicious buffet dinner of Chesapeake Bay fried oysters, pork BBQ, baked beans, creamy coleslaw, cornbread and spiced cupcakes.
After dinner, Chris Burry introduced the guest speaker, Peter Whatley, an OCC member visiting Mathews on his boat, Henry, from the UK. He has many miles under his keel. Peter joined the OCC in 1999 and served as Vice Commodore. He and his wife Wendy live in Hampshire and are also members of the Royal Cruising Club and life members of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, of which
Peter is a Past Commodore.
Chris asked if anyone was at last year’s OCC dinner and whether they remembered meeting a young man named Will Whatley on a boat named Henry? Will is the Captain aboard the Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, which sails to Antarctica. Chris and Bill were confused last year when Will contacted them, since there were listings for two Whatleys in the OCC directory with the same boat name. It wasn’t until Will visited that they learned that he coowned the boat with his father Peter!
Peter gave a fascinating talk about whether to ‘make or buy’ a boat and described the build of Henry, a Samoa 48’. They had the aluminum hull built in Poland then shipped to the UK where father and son spent a few years outfitting the yacht. Peter showed pictures of their adventures in the Mediterranean, the UK, and across the Atlantic. He also shared photos of Henry sailing alongside Sir David Attenborough and told how Will qualified to join the OCC at the age of nine after his first transAtlantic passage.
At the conclusion of the evening, the MYC Commodore presented Peter with a MYC burgee as a token of appreciation for his excellent presentation
Top: OCC members at Mathews Yacht Club (MYC).
Clockwise from left: Commodore Katy Breuer and Chris Burry (PO Deltaville/Mathews) recognising Peter Whatley; Building Henry; Henry alongside Sir David Attenborough; Guest speaker Peter Whatley and his wife Wendy; Dinner guests (left to right): Iris & Mikkel Schiotz, Peter & Wendy Whatley, Chris & Bill Burry, Peter Farkas & Patty Moss (RRC USA SE).
Long-distance, long-term cruising adventures had been a dream of mine since I was in my early twenties. The destination changed, the life partners I wanted to join me changed, but the method of getting to those exotic locations remained constant.
One of the wonderful things about planning to live fulltime on a boat is dreaming of the adventures lying in wait. The thought of those monotonous days spent in the office or sitting in traffic becoming a thing of the past and the taste of adventure being sweet on your tongue.
Then reality hits. The realisation that knowing how to sail is only a small fraction of the knowledge needed to live on a sailboat. I had underestimated how much time would be expended fixing and maintaining our floating home. For the next four years and over 20,000 miles, we explored many countries but also found, explored and learnt about every nook and cranny on our 43ft yacht. We crossed oceans, climbed mountains, wondered at historic buildings, dived into clear blue seas, snorkelled in pristine waters, were invited into fascinating cultures, drank sundowners and found ourselves part of an inclusive, special and brilliant community of fellow cruisers.
After four years of living each day without knowing what adventures would unfold for us, the distinct outline of Northland slowly came into view and, with it, came the realisation that the adventure was over. The feeling of disappointment outweighed the sense of achievement and overwhelmed me as I started to come to terms with a life more predictable and on land.
For the first 12 months I felt that I had lost my purpose. All my life something had defined me – I was a mother, project manager, sailor, world traveller but now all those things were behind me and I struggled to find my new identity. We settled in Whangārei, bought a house and, while trying to navigate the disturbed waters churned up when you settle in a new community, I continued to socialise with cruising friends we had met during our time away and meet new ones in the social whirl of Whangārei’s Town Basin.
I was asked to crew on yachts heading to Fiji, take care of friends’ boats while they returned home for a few months, took delivery of items they needed on their return, stored
treasured belongings in boxes while work was being done during haul-outs, lent our car so provisioning runs could be organised, provided accommodation when time was needed off the boat . . . and I loved it! I had found my tribe and wanted to remain part of the community, so why not continue doing what I loved, but turn it into a business? If my friends needed it, other cruisers must need it too – so Whangarei Yacht Support (WYS) was born.
Offering gardiennage/caretaker services, we look after boats while the owners are away – whether it’s for a couple of weeks, or several months. I know, from personal experience, how much stress was taken off my shoulders when we arranged for someone to keep an eye on our floating home while we travelled on land for a month in Costa Rica. Drawing on our experience and needs, we now offer a menu of tailormade options, ranging from one visit a month to air the boat, check batteries, bilges and mooring lines, to a much more involved service including cleaning, project management, local address to have items delivered (like new sails) and even modern, self-contained accommodation for when time is needed off the boat.
If coming to Whangārei, please get in touch, even if it’s just to share adventures over a cup of coffee, but particularly if you want someone to look after the boat while you continue land adventures: wys.co.nz or info@wys.co.nz
From left to right: Cerulean sailing in Grenada; Christmas with OCC friends in Panama; Helen in Nuku Hiva, Marquesas
MAINE RALLY 2025 GATHERS A CROWD by Amy Jordan
The Maine Rally, this year held on 17 August, is a very popular get-together for those cruising the coast of Maine during the summer season. This year was no exception. 75 members, new and old, gathered at the lovely Camden Yacht Club (CYC) on a beautiful Sunday for a delicious luncheon and socialising. The event was well organised by long-time member Sid LeFavour.
Bruce Bachenheimer, the brand-new Regional Rear Commodore for the Northeast US and Eastern Canada, was master of ceremonies for the day. After a letter of welcome from Commodore Fi Jones was read by Rear Commodore Moira Bentzel, Bruce introduced the numerous Club officials, past officials and new members in attendance. Of those given special recognition were Herb and Ruth Weiss, Ancient Mariner, who are among our Club’s most senior members at 107 and 100 respectively, and who have been coming to the Rally for many years.
Before lunch began several presentations were made. Jinny Eads, Over Budget, amused attendees with a humorous recap of the just-completed Maine Mini-Cruise. Organisers Joanne and Jim Matthews, Grayce, pulled it off once again, with beautiful Maine destinations and lots of get-togethers, hikes and competitions to keep participants entertained. Many thanks to Joanne and Jim!
Next on the agenda were two awards. The Vertue Award is made annually to a member in North America for an outstanding voyage or service to the Club. Winners are selected by the North American Regional Rear Commodores. This year’s Vertue Award was presented by Dick and Moira Bentzel to Jack and the late Zdenka Griswold for their years of service to the OCC. Jack and Zdenka, Kite, served the OCC in their home waters of Maine as Port Officers, with their writing for the Club’s publications, as Roving Rear Commodores and with Zdenka’s long participation on the Club’s GC and Board. It was an honour to be in attendance for this presentation.
The final presentation was also an award for service. This special award, designed in a unique streamlined fashion, was made to Dale and Doug Bruce in recognition of all manner of contributions made to the Club over many years. Consisting of an unframed certificate with handy fridge magnets and accompanied by a glitzy card, the award conveyed the Club’s gratitude without placing a burden on the couple’s new downsized lifestyle.
Presentations were followed by a delicious lunch. Many thanks go to the CYC for their many years of hosting this event. The OCC acknowledges the Yacht Club’s generosity by making a contribution to its youth sailing program
Top: OCC members at Camden Yacht Club (CYC).
Clockwise from above left: CYC clubhouse; Welcome table for OCC guests; Fine weather for pre-lunch socialising; Sailboats in the foreground are OCC boats: Kelly Rae and I Wanda; Presentation of the Vertue Award to Jack Griswold; Speeches outside CYC; Hartley Gardner.
MAINE CRUISE 2025 by Jinny Eads & Joanne Matthews
One of the comments you often hear from boaters is that “it’s the people you meet more than the places you’ve been that adds the noteworthy richness to the boating experience”. That is what the Maine Rally has provided for the last few years hosted by Joanne and Jim Matthews aboard Grayce Joanne and Jim have introduced Maine and the ‘off the beaten coves and hideaways’ to those of us who escape the heat and humidity of our homes on terra firma; Florida, Texas, Colorado, Virginia, North and South Carolina and beyond. This year, two new OCC qualifiers were welcomed; Cathy and Todd Barr (Critical Path) and Carl and Diane Simon (Sonas). In addition, there were long-time members such as I Wanda, Equinox and Panacea that could add both practical and effective Maine wisdom.
The rally began in dazzling and rugged Seal Bay with Bill and Bunny Bailey (Onset) and Jim and Joanne Matthews (Grayce) rafting their boats together to welcome cruisers for our first ‘meet up’ happy hour. The food was both plentiful and as varied as the boats in attendance. Cruiser swag bags to include chocolate and practical items were handed out as a welcome gift. During the gathering the customary questions were asked: what’s the name of your boat, where are you from, where have you been and where are you going? Discussion of toilets, engines and batteries – the usual banter of a cruiser gathering – came later!
The following morning we gathered for the second ‘Annual Blindfolded Dinghy Race’. The teams converged at the start line, strategies were murmured amongst teammates and enthusiasm was high; so much so, there was an early start at the warning horn. Hearts pumping, muscles pulling, those that jumped the gun reluctantly returned for a proper start. The manoeuvering began and the spectacle was a hoot to watch. The race is built around a rubber dinghy and a twoman team; a blindfolded rower and a navigator whose job is to convey instructions on where and how to make short work of the race course. As racers find their groove, the track to the first mark can be rife with zigs and zags, all the while knowing there is always the danger of getting whacked by the oars of a nearby competitor. The race is a combination of muscle and persuasive instructions by the coxswain, the latter holding more weight. History has noted equipment damages and this race was no different. We didn’t have a dismasting or a rudder loss; however, we did have a dinghy seat crumble into pieces (Cinnabar), as well as limp oars (Onset), both significantly affecting forward momentums. Awards were presented not only to the winners, Russell and Lynn Frasier (Blue Highway) but to the last-place finishers as well JW and Jinny (Over Budget). It therefore becomes challenging to strategise a race plan when Joanne is in charge of the awards.
Top: Gathering at Banks Cove; In the row boat: Bill & Bunny Bailey (Onset) with daughter Emily and Finn (the pooch)!
Clockwise from far left: Blind dinghy race: chaos and triumphs; Dick & Moira (Equinox); Jinny & JW (Over Budget); Raft-up at Seal Bay; Morning walk, 700 lb Island, Cradle Cove; Pizza at Calderwood Hall, North Haven; Bill (Chase n Sadie) and Emily (Onset) at Raft-up.
Post-race recovery, each boat slipped away towards Banks Cove, a broad and new anchorage for most cruisers that offered protection from the prevailing afternoon sea breeze. What better could there be than a sandy beachfront with ample picnic tables, walking trails and the requisite porta-potty, all provided by the North Haven municipality. In short order, the tables were filled with nibbles and wine in abundance. Let the party begin. Once the wine took effect, Joanne revealed our first challenge: a wine quiz. Hartley and Leslie (Atsa), racked up the most points, but the post-quiz conclusion was that the cruisers ought to stick to what they know best, cruising and sampling the wine.
Now that the group was primed for competition, we rolled right into a game with no name. The object of this no-name game was to “wrap your balls” around a “ladder of sorts” to gain points for your team. Cheers, chants and pointers could be heard from the fervent onlookers. Those not yet on the mound had plenty of time to catch up with fellow cruisers. Jim did a commanding job maintaining harmony as the wine kept flowing. Bill Baily (Onset) and Dick Bentzel (Equinox) put on a masterful team performance to garner a dip in the winner’s bag.
The following morning we awoke to typical Maine fog; however, it soon burned off enabling us to move on to the other side of North Haven for pizza at Calderwood Hall. Built in 1908 as a community space, it is now host to a muchacclaimed brewery and pizza hub. By the smiles on everyone’s faces, the camaraderie and pizza were a hit. It’s been a goal of Joanne and Jim to introduce local small businesses to the cruising community, and no doubt Calderwood Hall has been added to the cruising radar.
Our final anchorage was Cradle Cove, a short distance from Camden off West Penobscot Bay. Here, we were invited by Pam and Denis (Glide) to their island beach for our final happy hour ashore. Joanne put out a call for makeshift tables to hold our food and beverages. No better a group to call upon to cobble together an effective and creative solution. Joanne had one more test of our intelligence, a word game that she and Jim ‘borrowed’ from pub coasters. It was a game of riddles of sorts and we found that our newest members of OCC, Diane and Carl (Sonas) had the most brain cells to decipher the puzzles. Hmmm?
The last morning we set off to decompress and relax while exploring 700 Hundred Acre Island. It is said that some of the rocks were shaped during the tectonic period roughly 400 million years ago. Finally, there was no better way to end the cruise but by hoisting the sails for a spirited beat across Penobscot Bay to Camden where we would meet the following day for the annual OCC Luncheon.
Joanne requested the wonderful weather we experienced from a higher authority and it was surely granted. It was yet another rally filled with frivolity, good eats, libations and camaraderie extraordinaire. Special thanks go to Hartley Gardner (Atsa) who generously gave of his time once again to be our cruise photographer. As noted earlier, it’s all about the people . . .
MEDIA by Simon Currin FOR NOSTALGICS
I love being connected to all things digital 24/7 and freely admit that I have a nerdy part of my brain that can be dismissive of analogue evangelists.
But this year something changed. The imminence of a significant birthday sparked a nostalgia for the early days of our ocean passage making. This coincided with our buddy boats all having rubbish VHF aerials, a crossing of paths with a passionate radio HAM and the existence of some terrific SSB nets a thousand miles away.
Single Sideband Radio (SSB) is a high-frequency, decadesold, radio communication technology that’s powerful enough to span a hemisphere. Until the millennium it was the only way boats communicated when crossing oceans. Those that had it used SSB to get weather forecasts, report their positions and summon assistance when sinking. It worked most of the time but it had its quirks and propagation of radio waves could be a bit too hit and miss for my liking. Nevertheless, we used it loads in the 1990s.
When we built Shimshal 2 we installed our old SSB radio from her predecessor but it sat at our chart table both unloved and unused for two decades as satellite technology
extinguished the need for old-fashioned radio. Many, including me, have said that SSB is dead and cannot be resuscitated.
Then, on a lovely afternoon in Tonga, Mike called by in his dinghy and offered to test our SSB set in the hope that we might tune into an impromptu group of friendly cruisers all heading in the same direction. Mike is, perhaps, more nerdy than me but embraces old technologies as well as the new. He measured the power our SSB sent to our backstay aerial and smiled at his findings. He then spent 90 minutes reprogramming our set to make it almost analogue-idiot proof. How could we say no to joining his fledgling ‘Impromptu Net’?
My first problem was that the net was to be run at 0700Z and I hadn’t a clue when that was but it did sound awfully early for a notoriously late riser. Google helped by explaining that HAM radioists call UTC ‘Z’ for reasons that remain unknown. So 0700Z translated into a much more acceptable 2000 local time. I was so amazed that anyone heard me at all when I made my first, faltering SSB call in 20 years. Indeed, I was so shocked that I lost my powers of ‘radio-speech’. All that I had learned on a long-range radio course in 2003 deserted me and I fluffed and jumbled my lines. For that transmission I was given the ‘dog’s breakfast’ award by the silky-smooth net operator and took my rightful place at the bottom of the class.
Luckily, there was some stiff competition for the bottom of the class and soon I was joined by those who reported their position in decimals of a degree and those that mixed their SOGs with their COGs. The harder we tried, the harder it became to string radio-fluent words together.
It didn’t matter. The background noise from radio waves bouncing off the ionosphere blurs the message and, in the days when analogue was all we had, clarity counted. But now a quick WhatsApp clears up a mis-spoken word and the muddled messages can easily be unscrambled by a glance at our digital gizmos that broadcast SOG and COG to giant public databases every minute of every day.
What did matter is that we were communicating by voice in a time-honoured fashion across hundreds of miles of ocean. It was, unexpectedly, rather lovely. Human voices, wrapped in crackles and punctuated by weird, otherworldly noises were bouncing from boat to boat with a little help from the upper atmosphere and a mysterious thing called propagation. Magical. We had our own, old-style, social network.
As with all social media, I quickly became re-addicted and, within a few days, I was reaching out for more with growing enthusiasm. I hooked into Gulf Harbour Radio in New Zealand and had nightly chats with Patricia and David whom we hope to meet up with when we make it to Auckland. Patricia even complimented me on the strength of my signal!
Most enjoyable of them all was the ‘Broken VHF Net’ between us and our buddy boats with the wonky aerials. Being just over the horizon their signals came booming in and we all enjoyed the nightly chatter that is part of being human. We were proud that our own mini-net may not always have been in perfect radio-English!
So SSB is not dead. It’s a wonderful social media for the nostalgics amongst us who value friendly voices mixed with a little static and a smattering of ionospheric distortion. We will be reaching out to our SSB-equipped friends when we next cross an ocean.
SOCIAL
CHASING DREAMS by Barry Perrins
In August, I finally returned to home waters after spending nine years sailing 30,000 miles around the world singlehanded on my trusty 36ft sailing boat, White Shadow of Poole. In so doing, at the age of 68, I have fulfilled a childhood dream, completing an epic voyage of adventure and personal discovery and now, returning to Plymouth where I will resume my service as a RNLI lifeboatman.
My journey started from Plymouth in June 2016 with a plan to ‘keep going and see where I end up’. However, with every mile came confidence and the assurance that ‘yes, I can do this . . .’ and so I did. I also wanted to take my time: ‘there’s lots of people to meet, lots of restaurants serving good food,
Left: Barry Perrins, known to a huge YouTube audience as ‘Adventures of an Old Seadog’.
Below: Playing music around the world
all kinds of things.’ So I spent a lot of time stopped as well as sailing.
After a stop in Portugal, I crossed the North Atlantic –which felt very daunting singlehanded – and headed for the Caribbean. A stopover in Panama, then across the mighty Pacific Ocean, where windless weather and bad conditions made the passage weeks longer than it should to cross. At one time I was posted as ‘missing’ in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I have since been told that my friends and family had almost given up hope, when a French Air Sea Rescue aircraft spotted me and reported back to Falmouth coastguard in the UK. I arrived on the island of Hiva Oa, French Polynesia 71 days later.
Then came Covid which meant having to stay in New Zealand for a year. Here, I kept spirits up by playing music to entertain the locals. My next stops were Australia and Indonesia, followed by a crossing of the Indian Ocean to South Africa. From there I made my way back to the Caribbean, crossing the Atlantic for a second time. With a third Atlantic crossing I sailed my home run, via the Azores, returning at last to Plymouth.
Facing danger and how to cope with it, was one of the things I had to learn. There were times when I knew that if I didn’t make the right decision within the next few seconds, I would be dead. When on occasion I heard myself say “I don’t know what to do,” I knew I was in big trouble! I only had to call for help once, and that was when a lifeboat crew rescued me off the coast of Northeast Australia. At the time they didn’t know I’d also been a lifeboatman!
During my epic journey I started what is now one of the UK’s most successful online sailing channels: Adventures of an Old Seadog: youtube.com/@AdventuresofanoldSeadog or facebook.com/adventuresofanoldseadog
White Shadow of Poole returning home
MEMBERSHIP CHANGES
NEW MEMBERS
Brenda Begg Asiodu (Associate), Leannan
Ken & Lynn Baehr, Bistari
Dwight Beal & Jane JepsonBeal, Red Sky
Éamonn Beatty, EdAnna
Kevin & Sarah Braddell (Associates), Ditto
Ron Bray & Julie Denton, Night Sky
Katia Cikurel & Daniel Szor (Associates), Cavale
Jessica Clause & Gerard Galster, Amor
Caoimhe Culhane & Eoin Moorhouse, Aishling
Marianne Daetwyler (Associate) & Markus Tanner, Castella
Anaïs de Kernadec, Saudade II
Matthew Donald & Paige Grogan, Constantia of Rame
Daniel George (Associate), Miles
Sue Atherton-Green (Associate) & Julian Harper, Blue Pepper
Nick Guest (Associate), Song of the Sea
Kieron Guilfoyle & Frank O’Beirne (Associates), Taranis
Feije Haadsma (Associate), Tuatsi
Petra Hirschberger & Jan Scheer, Sutje
Julian Hussey (Associate), Silver Paws
Taryn (Associate) & Paulo Irulegui, Samba
RECENTLY QUALIFIED FULL MEMBERS
John Ahearn, Afaro, aboard Afaro, 2025, from Denarau
Fiji to Marsen Cove NZ
Jack Carter, Cloud, aboard Cloud, 2025, from Cork IRE to Madeira
NEW OFFICERS
Simon and Kim Forth
RRC Northeast Australia
Simon and Kim have been sailing for over 18 years and have sailed the Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, US east coast and Western Australia. Kim and Simon currently live in Brisbane, Queensland and look forward to supporting OCC members across the region.
Steven Dews, Wolfhound, aboard Wolfhound, 2016, from Gran Canaria to BVI
Frank Jester, Kelsea, aboard Kelsea, 2025, from Neah Bay WA to Long Beach CA USA
Angie & Wayne Johnson, Kashmir
Corey Johnson
Dawn Jukes & Ken Overdevest (Associates), Adiona
Tim Lane, Naga
Sally & Simon Parry, Jemma II
Heath Phillips (Associate), Philyria
Kate & Ned Phillips, Samivel
Graham Levy, Karmino
Amy & Lance Lindsay, Lorien
Jacqueline Lu & Wayne Sillick, CathayOz
Jo & Paul Masters (Associates), Skybird
Tim Meedendorp & Else Muilerman (Associates), Suvella
Milan Müther, Lovis
Ruth Narramore, Remi
Georgie (Associate) & Jay Olenicz, Rejane Rose
Kevin O’Sullivan, Endeavour III
Diane & Jeremie Mailloux, Lema, aboard Lema, 2024, from Bermuda to Azores
Sally Parry, Jemma II, aboard Jemma II, 2025, from Marsden Cove NZ to Bundaberg AUS
Morrie Piersol, Grace
Julie Renfrew (Associate) & Jeremy Gassman
Drew Smith
Heather Sowell (Associate), Wild Spirit
Mira & Toine Straathof, SeaQuest
Patty Terhune (Associate), Shacaro
Tad Thompson, Swim Call
Bart Van der Ree, Parel
Floris van Vugt (Associate)
Sally (Assoicate) & Paul Weston, Kadash
Peter Williams, Rosiere
Doreen Taylor, Saphir, aboard Saphir, 2021, from Lanzarote to Grenada
Bruce Bachenheimer
RRC Northeast USA and East Canada
Bruce has been an active sailor for over 40 years, including competing in the Sydney–Hobart Race. Bruce is based at the Saugatuck Harbor Yacht Club in Westport, Connecticut, and is also a member of the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua & Barbuda. He is PO for Connecticut and Northern Long Island Sound.
Colin Butterworth
PO Allaban, Australia
Colin has competed in many offshore races, including sailing as part of a crew of five from Wellington, New Zealand to Ushuaia via Cape Horn in 2013. Colin and his wife Susanne have been cruising full time on the Australian east coast from Tasmania in the south to Townsville in northern Queensland since 2018.
Beth Browne
PO Porto Santo, Madeira
Beth cruised full-time on her first boat in the 1990s, took a break to raise her children. She returned to cruising, where she met another single sailor – who is now her husband – with whom she has been sailing ever since. They have settled in Porto Santo which they find to be extremely affordable, friendly and the climate pretty much perfect
EVENTS
14 April 2026 AGM
17–18 April 2026
25 September 2026
1 September 2026
Annual Dinner & Awards Weeekend
Solent Rally
Islesboro Gam
CLUB DETAILS
Zoom
The Royal Scots Club, 29–31 Abercromby Street, Edinburgh
Bartley Lodge, Lyndhurst Rd, Cadnam, Southampton
Maine
Please check the website oceancruisingclub.org/members/events for full Events listings and more information. DATE
Annual General Meeting (AGM): at 1500utc on 14 April 2026 we will be holding the AGM entirely electronically via Zoom. The registration link to attend the 2026 Zoom AGM will be available in due course. The business of the AGM will be followed by a talk and a discussion, details of which will also be sent out. Our voting process has been electronic for some years now and as usual there will be no voting during the meeting. AGM papers including voting details will be sent out in the usual timeframe.
CLUB DATES, DEADLINES & CONTACTS
eBulletin Monthly 24th of each month
Rachelle Turk: secretary@oceancruisingclub.org
Stewart Henderson: sjsh4135@gmail.com
Mary Phypers: mary@phypers.net
Dick De Grasse: dickdeg71@gmail.com
Annual Dinner & Awards Weekend: on 17 and 18 April 2026 in Edinburgh. The weekend will start on Friday night with an informal social gathering at an Edinburgh pub. The Annual Dinner & Awards on Saturday night at a truly special venue, The Royal Scots Club on Abercromby Street. Also on Saturday, there will be a chance to explore the city and visit attractions such as The Royal Yacht Britannia and the Scotch Whisky Exchange. Sunday could be a chance to follow the Dark Secrets of the Old Town Walking Tour or to visit Edinburgh Castle. Further details will be available soon.
ebulletin@oceancruisingclub.org
Newsletter Quarterly 20 January, 20 April, 20 July, 20 October newsletter@oceancruisingclub.org
Flying Fish Bi-annually 1 February, 1 August flying.fish@oceancruisingclub.org
AGM papers etc Annually 28 days prior to the AGM secretary@oceancruisingclub.org Club Awards Annually 31 December awards@oceancruisingclub.org
Membership renewal Annually 1 February secretary@oceancruisingclub.org
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CONTACTS
General enquiries: secretary@oceancruisingclub.org
Media: pr@oceancruisingclub.org
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Europe network: network_europe@oceancruisingclub.org Indo-Pacific network: network_indopacific@oceancruisingclub.org
Ocean Cruising Club Ltd
Registered in England No. 4919549.
Office: Westbourne House, 4 Vicarage Hill, Dartmouth TQ6 9EW, UK
Information published in this Newsletter is intended solely for personal use by OCC Members. Photographic or facsimile reproduction on social media or elsewhere is expressly forbidden without written consent of the editor.
