Cruising Skills Week: Go Affordable Boating Seminar
- 28/3/2026
Details
Join us for this full-day hybrid event dedicated to practical, affordable ways to get afloat. Take part in-person at CA House, London or tune-in online.
Tom Cunliffe
Hosted by sailor, author, raconteur and CA member Tom Cunliffe, the day will explore practical and budget-friendly approaches to boating. The Go Affordable Boating Seminar will cut through the misconception that cruising is expensive. Instead, it focuses on resourcefulness and smart decision-making - the foundations of confident, cost-conscious boating.
Open to non-members and members, Cruising Skills Week reflects the CA’s commitment to growing participation and supporting both sail and motorboat cruisers. Cruising Skills Week Week is an opportunity to experience the depth of expertise and supportive community the CA is known for. If you are considering joining the CA, it offers a clear introduction to how membership can support your cruising ambitions - whether under sail or power - at every stage of your journey.
"You do not need a brand-new boat or a lottery win to go cruising. Some of the happiest sailors I have met have done it simply, sensibly and on a budget. The Cruising Association’s Go Affordable Boating Seminar is about cutting through the myths and showing you the reality of how to get afloat for less."
Image: ©Roz Cunliffe
Online attendees can attend any or all of the Sessions, based on the timings below. After the Seminar, attendees will receive a digital goody bag, packed with practical tips, information and resources to help you make the most of your affordable boating journey.
Programme Overview
10:00-10:30Registration with Tea/Coffee
10:30-10:45Welcome by James Parnell and Tom Cunliffe
James and Tom will set the tone for the day, with the focus on realistic, experience-led boating without unnecessary expense. Drawing on the Cruising Association’s heritage since 1908, they will explore how knowledge, shared expertise and sound seamanship have always mattered more than deep pockets.
10:45-11:45Session 1: Cruising on a Budget
Speaker: Camilla Herrmann
Synopsis: What does affordable cruising really look like today? Camilla, who edits the CA’s Cruising magazine, shares her thoughts based on input from a multitude of CA members, and her own experience. She will give an overview of many of the ways where you can save money while still enjoying a reasonably comfortable cruising lifestyle - from boat choice and cruising location to sharing costs and doing your own maintenance. Expect honest lessons and unexpected ideas on how to reduce spending while still cruising well and safely.
11:45-12:00Tea/Coffee with Boat Chat Café
In-person attendees can take part in informal breakout tables hosted speakers and CA representatives, including the CA Crewing Service, the CA Regulatory & Technical Services (RATS) Group and others.
12:00-12:15Session 2: Sailing on a shoestring
Speaker: Lu Heikell
Synopsis: Lu introduces her ‘SWAMP’ approach to affordable cruising: Shopping, Weather, Anchoring, Maintenance and Planning. With a focus on cruising in the Mediterranean, Lu’s video presentation is packed with practical strategies and clever cost-saving tactics, demonstrating how thoughtful preparation can dramatically reduce cruising costs without diminishing the adventure.
12:15-13:15Session 3: Zen and the Art of Boat Maintenance
Speaker: Malcolm Denham
Synopsis: Understanding your boat is the ultimate money-saving strategy. Malcolm will explore four critical areas that can ruin your day if neglected: hull integrity, rig and sails, engine care, and the electrical system. The focus is observation, prevention and calm attentiveness - spotting early warning signs before they become failures - the ‘Zen’ of boat maintenance. Learn how to reduce dependency on expensive contractors, source cost-effective parts, and build the confidence to diagnose and resolve problems yourself.
13:15-13:55Lunch with Boat Chat Café
Sandwich buffet lunch, Tea/Coffee for in-person attendees – and a further opportunity to connect with the speakers, CA members and fellow attendees.
13:55-14:00Introduction to afternoon Seminar sessions
A preview of the themes ahead.
14:00-14:15Session 4: Getting afloat without a boat / Practical Boat Owner
Speakers: : Laura Hodgetts and Ali Wood, Practical Boat Owner
Synopsis: Think you need ownership to go boating? Think again. Drawing on Practical Boat Owner’s experience and reader case studies, in this video presentation Laura and Ali explore alternative routes afloat and debunk the theory that you have to have a boat to go boating. A clear-eyed look at how to get on the water as affordably as possible.
14:15-15:15Session 5: Learning from Experience
Speaker: Tom Cunliffe
Synopsis: Tom reflects on decades at sea - the mistakes, the economies, the false savings and the genuine ones. This is not theory but lived experience: where to economise safely, where cutting corners costs more in the long run, and how judgement develops over time. Expect stories, candour and practical wisdom drawn from a lifetime afloat.
15:15-15:30Tea/Coffee with Boat Chat Café
Opportunity to connect with the speakers, CA members and fellow attendees.
15:30-15:45Session 6: Boat Owning Hacks / Practical Boat Owner
Speaker: Katy Stickland, editor of Practical Boat Owner
Synopsis: What do seasoned boat owners wish they’d known at the beginning? Drawing on Practical Boat Owner readers’ collective experience, Katy’s video shares hints and tips on what they wish they had known before taking the plunge. First-hand tips from people who have already learned the lessons.
15:45-16:00Session 7: How the Cruising Association will enhance your journey
Speaker: Tom Cunliffe
Synopsis: In this video session, Tom explains how shared knowledge, cruising reports, technical expertise, local contacts and a global membership network reduce both risk and unnecessary spending. Discover how the CA’s resources can shorten your learning curve and support you at every stage of your cruising ambitions.
16:00-16:45Session 8: Plenary, Q&A and close
A panel session chaired by Tom Cunliffe, drawing together themes from the day and answering questions from both in-person and online attendees.
The Cruising Association Galley restaurant and bar* will be open after the Seminar – and all attendees are welcome to stay and continue cruising chat.
*Drinks and evening meals may be purchased from the bar.
Discover Cruising Skills Week
The Go Affordable Boating Seminar is part of Cruising Skills Week, 23-28 March 2026. Discover the full programme.
Exclusive 20% Membership Offer
Use CSW20, the unique Cruising Skills Week 20% off discount code, to join the Cruising Association, reducing Full Membership (one member, or two members at the same address) to £137.60* instead of £172.
With over 6,400 members worldwide and a history dating back to 1908, the CA connects sailors, shares knowledge and supports every stage of your cruising journey. If you are serious about cruising, this is an opportunity to experience our knowledge.
One membership, endless opportunities - Cruise, Explore, Connect with the CA.
*First year of membership, when paying by Direct Debit.
