At the heart of the Cruising Association are our volunteers – whose dedication, passion and hard work keep the CA moving forward.
To recognise their often-unseen contributions, we launched a new Volunteer Spotlight feature, to celebrate the people who make the CA community so special. It is our way of saying thank you and showcasing how member volunteers shape the CA today and into the future.
Introducing Tania
Now retired, Tania enjoyed a career in the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry and as co-owner of a clinical prosthetics business.
Tania brings a wealth of expertise in interpreting complex regulations and ensuring compliance. She now applies this skillset as a valued member of the CA’s Regulatory & Technical Services (RATS) Group.
Tania’s love of sailing began aged nine in a Mirror dinghy on a small reservoir in Northamptonshire. Since then, she and her family have sailed and raced various dinghies and catamarans. Fifteen years ago, they bought their first yacht. They now own an X-Yacht which they cruise along the UK South Coast and Northern France, having previously spent two years cruising the Baltic. She holds several boating qualifications, including Yachtmaster Theory. Tania and her husband, Richard, joined the CA in 2023.
Image: ©Tania Nieveen
From Professional to Volunteer
It was this combination of professional rigour and personal cruising experience that led Tania to the CA. After relying on CAptain’s Mate during their Baltic cruise and receiving RATS’ guidance on VAT, she was encouraged to join RATS as a volunteer.
Reflecting on what inspired her, Tania shares, "When I retired, I didn't realise that I would miss being needed and involved in something in a professional capacity. Rather than going back into my industry, I looked for an opportunity to use my skills in something related to sailing."
Since joining RATS in September 2024, Tania has become a go-to expert, particularly on ‘travelling with pets’ - presenting at events, writing for CA publications and the wider marine press. She has found particular satisfaction in the results of RATS’ work being published in publications she has been familiar with through her years of sailing and cruising.
"The most rewarding aspect of being a RAT has been the opportunity to research a technical area (pets) and become the expert for the CA, supported by very kind and knowledgeable colleagues. Very quickly my project gained momentum when I was asked to talk at ‘An Evening with RATS’, followed by requests for newsletter updates, an article for Cruising magazine and articles for magazines, culminating in a talk at the Southampton International Boat Show."
Giving Back and Gaining More
Volunteering has also enriched Tania’s own cruising, broadening her understanding of regulations that affect international travel by boat.
"Since volunteering I have enjoyed reading the discussions and answers to members questions to RATS and have become much more aware of the intricacies of regulations for cruising, particularly crossing borders into the EU and beyond."
In a short time, Tania also built strong connections within the CA, even reconnecting with an old friend. She now leads the RATS Publicity Team, which she describes as "a lovely group of committed, supportive and professional people who work hard together on tight deadlines."
For those considering volunteering, Tania offers this encouragement, "RATS is a very friendly group who rely on volunteers to provide most of the intellectual input to the projects they are involved with. If you are someone who has a day a week to spare, or less, and you enjoy researching cruising related topics and questions and turning them into well-structured pieces of advice or information for members or wider publication, then this is definitely for you."
A Passion for Cruising
We asked Tania where her favourite place is to go sailing.
"It is difficult to choose! But one of the most stunning places we have sailed to is Verdons Ende (World's End) on the south-west tip of the Oslo Fjord in Norway. It is part of a national park sculpted in granite - even the marina showers are carved into the granite rock!"
On whom is her dream crew, Tania added, "I am lucky enough to have a dream crew - my husband, our two daughters and their partners, not forgetting our spaniel, Jack. Now they are grown up and have left home it is a privilege that they still want to come sailing with us. Good sailors in their own rights, we come together for long weekends of fun, both aboard and ashore."
If she could choose a crew of famous sailors, the line-up would include Pete Goss, Pip Hare, Shirley Robertson and in spirit Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, who she describes as "the kindest and most generous person, let alone sailor, I have had the pleasure of knowing." Rounding out her dream team would be Sir Ben Ainslie, as Tania concludes, "Well why wouldn't you have probably the most famous sailor, ever, onboard!"
A lover of sunrises over the Purbeck Hills, Tania counts dawn departures and dolphin encounters among her most cherished moments afloat. Future sailing plans include the Isles of Scilly, South Brittany, the Rías of northern Spain, and more exploration of the European inland waterways.
Tania with her daughter Image: ©Tania Nieveen
