Thames Valley

Welcome to the Thames valley Section

Formed in the Spring of 2010 to meet the needs of CA members living in the Thames Valley area. Despite the name, the Thames Valley section is not just about river cruising but, with a partnership with the Gerrards Cross Sailing Association (GXSA), we have a series of talks on Wednesday evenings (October to Dec and January to March).

Where We Meet

We meet in Colston Hall at The Memorial Centre in Gerrards Cross. All CA members and their guests are very welcome and you don't have to be a member of the Thames Valley section to attend.

Forthcoming Events

Wildlife of Ascension Island, John Hughes
Date: 08/10/2025

With the aid of stunning images, John will tell stories of Ascension Island’s history and its birds. Boobies and Noddies are among the amazing seabirds that nest on...

Reflections of a Female TransAtlantic Co-Skipper, Julia Tybura
Date: 15/10/2025

Julia will describe her journey from novice sailor to transatlantic co-skipper with her husband and crew on a 42-foot sailing boat. Teamwork, problem solving, enjoyment,...

Thames Sailing Barge Trust, John Rayment
Date: 22/10/2025

Based in Maldon, TSBT maintains and operates two Thames Barges (Pudge and Centaur) in sailing condition. Sailing barges carried cargo around the UK and into Europe in the...

History of Fort Nelson, Lewis Sharp
Date: 29/10/2025

Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill and the major fortifications of Portsmouth developed from a Royal Commission in 1859, driven by fears of a French invasion. It is difficult...

South Caribbean and a Panama Canal Transit, Wolfgang Ansorge
Date: 05/11/2025

GXSA members Wolfgang and Elizabeth celebrated a special occasion with a fine cruise on a 4 masted barquentine from Barbados, taking in Tobago Cays, Grenada, Cartagena,...

Cruising through Croatia, Elizabeth and Charles Thorp
Date: 12/11/2025

Charles and Elizabeth brought their Westerly Ocean 33 across France to the Med. After exploring Spain, France and Italy, they arrived in Croatia in 2015. Then to Greece...

Antarctica, in the Footsteps of Shackleton, Andy Beharrell
Date: 19/11/2025

In 2022/23 Andy sailed from Tenerife to Antarctica via the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands. He visited some of the places where Shackleton went as...

A Lifetime at Sea, Russell Carnelley
Date: 26/11/2025

Russell’s early career was in the Merchant Navy, starting age 16 as a deck cadet but rising to Captain (Master) with P...

Solo Circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle, Ella Hibbert
Date: 03/12/2025

From her base in Gosport, Ella sailed her 38-foot boat Yeva single-handed via Iceland, the NW Passage, Alaska, Russia, Norway and back home – an impossible passage just a...

To see all seminars and lectures see here, or the calendar of all events see here.

Interested in Finding out More?

Please contact the Section Secretaries at thamesvalley@theca.org.uk or
CA staff at office@theca.org.uk or +44 (0) 207 537 2828..

Cruising Sections

Baltic

Covers the Baltic Sea, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Faroes. Holds a popular introductory seminar every spring.

Biscay

Covers Western France, Spain and Portugal as well as crossing Biscay. Holds a popular introductory seminar every spring.

Blue Water

For those sailing outside of European waters. Holds a popular Blue Water seminar in the summer.

Celtic

Covers waters from Land’s End to Cape Wrath. Meets at various west coast venues to share knowledge on all aspects of cruising the region.

Channel

For those cruising the south coast of the UK, Channel Islands, and France from the Belgian border to NW Brittany. Holds an annual seminar and summer rally/cruise-in-company.

European Inland Waterways

Covers over 30,000 km of navigable rivers and canals passing through over 20 countries. Annual seminar and lunch each autumn at CA House.

Mediterranean

Covers the Mediterranean from Spain and Morocco in the west to the Levant in the east, and includes the Black Sea. Meets at CA House in the winter, and afloat in the summer.

Motorboat

The Motorboat Section aims to bring together motorboaters where ever they are and whatever type of motorboating they enjoy.

North Sea

Covers the UK, Belgian and Dutch coasts. Meets at East Coast venues to share knowledge on all aspects of cruising the region.

Local / UK Sections

Antipodean

For members who live in Australia and New Zealand and who sail in the Northern Hemisphere.

CA London

CA London events are held at our Limehouse HQ.

Essex

Meetings held at Blackwater Sailing Club and mid-week lunches arranged.

Kent

Kent Section's 'Winter Warmers', talks by a variety of speakers, will be held via Zoom for the forseeable future.

Solent

Summer rallies with weekend meets. Winter talks with ‘club’ suppers usually at a Hamble yacht club or marina.

South West

For members living in or cruising the areas from Portland Bill to the Isles of Scilly and along the north coast of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset to Bristol.

Suffolk

Joint meetings are arranged with the Royal Harwich Yacht Club at Woolverstone.

Thames Valley

Winter talks are held in partnership with the Gerrards Cross Sailing Association (GXSA) at Colston Hall at The Memorial Centre in Gerrards Cross.

Wessex

Talks are held at Lilliput Sailing Club, Poole.

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