Cruising Skills Week: From Inland Adventures to Coastal Confidence
- 27/3/2026
Details
Join us for two FREE live evening webinars designed to support cruisers navigate both inland waterways and coastal routes with confidence. Discover the accessible world of European inland waterways, then gain essential harbour entry and etiquette advice for your coastal cruising.
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
Cruising Routes on the European Inland Waterways: Preparation, Routes and Planning
Speaker: Gordon Knight, Cruising Association Member
Talk Synopsis: Each year, thousands explore Europe’s inland waterways in everything from luxury cruisers to humble wooden skiffs, including sailing yachts navigating ‘mast up’ rivers or ‘mast down’ canals. In this session, Gordon will highlight the attractions of these waterways, explain how accessible and enjoyable they are, with little experience or paperwork required, as well as the low costs compared to saltwater cruising. He will offer plenty of practical insights to make the most of these diverse cruising routes.
20:00-21:00 hrs
Insights from the UK Harbour Masters Association (UKHMA): What Cruisers Need to Know
Speaker: To be announced, UKHMA
Talk Synopsis: This session will share harbour masters’ insights for safer, smoother visits - from pre-departure checks and paperwork to local notices. It will explore harbour approaches, traffic patterns, speed limits, and proper radio etiquette. Attendees will learn about the importance of local knowledge, such as shifting hazards, seasonal changes and environmental protection zones, as well as berthing protocols and anchoring restrictions. It will also highlight sources of information, including harbour websites.
What you will Learn
- How to plan and enjoy European inland waterways, even with limited experience
- Why river and canal cruising can be a cost-effective alternative to coastal sailing
- The pre-arrival checks and communications that harbour masters value
- How to safely navigate harbour approaches, traffic, and local regulations
- Protocols for responsible approach, berthing and anchoring
- Where to find reliable, up-to-date navigational and harbour information
Meet the Speakers
Gordon Knight
Gordon is a member of the CA’s European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS) and publishes the Section’s portfolio of 25 digital and printed guides and 12 free Guidance Notes to the European inland waterways. A CA member since 2013, he spent 40 years cruising under sail, mostly in Northern European waters and throughout the Mediterranean. During that time, he was an active administrator on the World Cruising Wiki, creating several Mediterranean sections. In 2015, Gordon purchased a Dutch steel cruiser and now spends much of the year cruising the inland waterways of Europe with his wife, Soophy.
UK Harbour Masters Association (UKHMA), To be announced
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.
