The Cruising Association is celebrating a hugely successful presence at the Southampton International Boat Show, 19-28 September 2025, where our Stand H522 in New Wave Hall was a hub for hundreds of cruising enthusiasts.
This year’s show built on the CA stand’s proven popularity, with visitors stopping by to meet our experienced team, explore our unrivalled cruising resources and discover how membership can enhance their adventures.
"We were delighted to welcome so many visitors, members and non-members, to the CA stand," commented Lucy Gray, Chief Operating Officer for the Cruising Association. "The engagement throughout the show was fantastic. It was wonderful to share the CA’s depth of knowledge to such a wide audience and welcome many new members to our community."
Expert knowledge
The CA delivered a well-attended programme of on-stand focus sessions and talks on The Boating Academy Stage, showcasing the diverse range of services provided to our worldwide membership. The CA’s Regulatory & Technical Services (RATS) Group shared practical advice on critical cruising topics, covering everything from orca to extending your stay in Europe to travelling with pets. Daily stand events gave visitors the opportunity to connect with CA specialists on specific cruising areas, including the Channel and the Mediterranean, and meet our Motorboat and Crewing Service teams.
A highlight was the launch of the 2026 Cruising Almanac, produced in partnership with Imray, which remains the go-to reference for cruising in NW Europe. Demonstrations of the CA’s award-winning app, CAptain’s Mate, which features over 20,000 worldwide cruising reports, also drew considerable interest.
A warm welcome
The CA was delighted to welcome plenty of new members to the CA, with many taking up our special show offer of ‘15 months for the price of 12’ membership offer. The show was also a great opportunity for existing members to meet CA volunteers and staff, exchange knowledge, hear about upcoming events and connect with other members at our daily stand socials.
Prizes and giveaways
Visitors had the chance to win plenty of prizes, including the show prize of two Wescom sMRT Alert man overboard beacons which were won by CA member Jane Beckett, and books sponsored by Imray on the Channel and Mediterranean days. New members were automatically entered to daily prize draws for a one-year subscription from their pick of Practical Boat Owner, Yachting Monthly or Motorboat & Yachting.
Members entered the draw for a £2,000 Musto clothing and accessory bundle, with CA member Simon Loe announced as the lucky winner. The winter prize draw was launched, offering a £3,000 prize towards yacht legs, cradles or boat stands sponsored by The Yacht and Leg Cradle Company.
30 September 2025