Channel Section Seminar

Keynote presentations include "Cruising the Isles of Scilly", "Medical Emergencies at Sea" and "Collision Avoidance" plus member presentations of favourite destinations, and lunch.

CA House, Saturday 27th January 2018

Keynote Presentations

Cruising the Isles of Scilly - Graham Adam

With over 50 islands and hundreds of drying rocks the Isles of Scilly are a tempting and attractive destination for sailors. Despite being under 30 miles from Lands End, many are put off visiting them for the first time because they are out in the ocean. This presentation will cover getting there from the mainland, the best anchorages and moorings and where and what to visit as well as looking at the special challenges that the weather and tides present in these beautiful islands.

Graham Adam is the author of the RCC Pilotage Foundation's 'Isles of Scilly', published by Imray. He is an RYA Yachtmaster who has sailed from the age of 10 and has been visiting the islands for almost 50 years.

Medical Emergencies at Sea – Peter Lyle

Illness or injury can occur at any time and place, but on a boat help may not be close at hand.. This presentation will discuss how to anticipate and prepare for medical problems at sea, what drugs and equipment to carry and what to do in various situations. This talk will NOT be (yet another) first aid course, more a discussion of ways of coping and helping if a sailor becomes unwell or is injured.

Peter Lyle was a GP for thirty years before a five year career as medical school teacher / lecturer.  He has considerable sailing experience having explored the Northern and Western Isles, the channel and Brittany and Biscay as far as the Spanish Rias.

Collision Avoidance – Cameron Sawyer

The Channel area is one of the busiest waterways in the world with four Traffic Separation Schemes and the same ships travelling between these.  Crossing the Channel is, for many recreational sailors, their first encounter with serious collision avoidance challenges, sometimes including crossing situations with more than one ship at a time.  This presentation will convey useful information for sailors contemplating a Channel crossing, including: what the COLREGs require; common misconceptions about collision avoidance; effective detection and evaluation of collision situations; when, and when not, to use the VHF; practical techniques of collision avoidance.

Cameron Sawyer is an American born lawyer and life long sailor currently writing a guide to Collision Avoidance. With a yacht based in the UK his current cruising grounds are the Baltic.

Member Presentations

Home and Away

You could attend this seminar free of charge!
As last year, we are looking for CA Channel Section Members to talk for 10 minutes about their home port and 10 minutes about a favourite Channel destination. This is to provide personal and local advice plus ideas for places to visit – from a visitor's perspective.

For 2018 we have presentations agreed for River Yealm, Weymouth, Hamble River, Sark, Paimpol, Swanage, St Peter Port and Herm.

If you are interested in presenting please email .


Hot buffet lunch and tea/coffee included.

Book Now to take advantage of early pricing offer

Book your place(s) now by clicking here and selecting the Channel Seminar.