Cruising Skills Week: Be Prepared, Stay Safe

Details

Join us for two FREE live evening webinars designed to prepare you for when things go wrong at sea. Preparation makes all the difference, and these sessions bring together the practical experience of CA members and the frontline expertise of the RNLI to help cruisers build confidence and competence in handling emergencies, whether you are on a yacht or motorboat.

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.

All attendees registered for any Cruising Skills Week event will receive a digital goody bag packed with information and resources.

Programme Overview

Each talk will last approximately 40 minutes, followed by a 15-minute live Q&A.

19:00-19:55 hrs
Safety and Skills: Emergency Procedures and Man Overboard

Speaker: Machiel Lambooij and Remko Sinck, Cruising Association Members
Talk Synopsis: This session will focus on emergency procedures and man overboard (MOB) drills specifically for cruisers, with insights from both sail and motorboat perspectives. Learn how to plan, practice, and execute effective responses to onboard emergencies, including MOB recovery techniques, fire, flooding, and medical incidents. Whether you are sailing solo or with crew, this session will help you build confidence and competence in handling the unexpected.

20:00-21:00 hrs
Top Tips from the RNLI

Speaker: Iain Greig, RNLI Water Safety Advisor
Talk Synopsis: Drawing on real-life rescue stories, this RNLI talk will highlight the most common causes of distress among leisure sailors, and the lessons learnt from them. It will offer practical, experience-led advice on preparation, onboard safety equipment, and key behaviours that reduce risk at sea. The session also explains what happens when the RNLI is called out and what crews can expect during an assistance or rescue, helping sailors stay confident, capable, and safe on the water.

What you will Learn

• How to plan, practise, and execute effective emergency procedures on cruising yachts (sail and motor), including structured MOB drills
• Practical man overboard recovery techniques, including short-handed sailing
• Response actions for fire, flooding, and onboard medical incidents
• The most common causes of distress and how to mitigate them
• The preparation, safety equipment, and onboard behaviours that materially reduce risk
• What happens during a RNLI callout, what information crews need, and what to expect

Meet the Speakers

Machiel Lambooij and Remko Sinck

Machiel and Remko, Dutch members of the Cruising Association, have cruised extensively with their motorboat on the inland waterways and coasts of north-west Europe, covering Denmark, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Machiel is the CA’s Netherlands editor for CAptain's Mate and joint Secretary of the CA’s Motorboat Section. Remko runs the Dutch-language cruising website reisboot.nl and is also part of the Motorboat Section team. They are also active members of the CA’s European Inland Waterways Section.

Iain Greig

A volunteer RNLI Water Safety Advisor at Teddington Lifeboat Station, Iain is an MCA/RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with extensive cruising experience across the UK, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the US East Coast. He recently completed a two-year liveaboard Atlantic and Caribbean circuit and is currently refitting his Rival 36, ahead of cruising Scotland’s west coast. A CA member since 2018, Iain is most at home sailing, learning, and sharing knowledge about life afloat.

Discover Cruising Skills Week

This event is part of Cruising Skills Week, 23-28 March 2026 - a series of free online evening sessions from 23-27 March, followed by a one-day in-person and online Go Affordable Boating Seminar at CA House, London on 28 March. 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. Discover more about the benefits of CA membership.

With over 6,400 members worldwide and a history dating back to 1908, the CA connects sailors, shares knowledge and supports every stage of the cruising journey. If you are serious about cruising, this is an opportunity to experience our knowledge and discover the wider benefits of membership.

Discover the benefits of membership

*First year of membership, when paying by Direct Debit.