Suffolk
Welcome to the Suffolk Section
The Suffolk Section exists to bring together CA members who sail in Suffolk waters from time to time, who keep their boats in Suffolk or just have an interest in the region. Not all are able to attend meetings, but enjoy keeping in touch. It is a social section with a programme based around monthly meetings over the winter period when talks are arranged.
The Suffolk Area
Home waters begin in the south with the River Stour, beloved of the painters Constable and Gainsborough. The River Orwell offers good sailing in beautiful surroundings and flows past the yachting village of Pin Mill made famous by authors Arthur Ransome and Maurice Griffiths, among others. An easy day’s sail north lies the River Deben, considered by many to be the loveliest of the Suffolk (and English) rivers, although the River Ore/Alde has an appeal of its own as it flows for 11 miles past Orford and the wild shingle of Orfordness. Further north are the ports of Southwold and Lowestoft. The area is relatively un-commercialised and it is easy to find a quiet anchorage away from the crowds - even in the height of summer.
Where We Meet and What We Do
Meetings are held jointly with the Royal Harwich Yacht Club at their Woolverstone clubhouse on the banks of the River Orwell. For our Winter Talks we meet on Saturday evenings, as well as during the day on Thursdays, and there is time to socialise and to enjoy a meal.
All day seminars are normally fully booked: they focus on a sailing destination suitable for a summer cruise from Suffolk, and include presentations on many allied topics of interest to those planning such trips.
Outings to sites of maritime or cultural interest in Suffolk and beyond include a guided tour which adds greatly to the day.
One highlight of each year is the Spring Rally held over the early May Bank Holiday weekend, based at the RHYC marina. Members of the Essex and Kent Sections, and some from further afield, usually join in.
CA members have access to a wide range of RYA courses, based at the RHYC, ashore and afloat, and the CA has negotiated a discount from the cost of many of these. You may see the details of all these courses on the Royal Harwich Yacht Club website.
Being part of our Section
In the Members area of the CA website, you may register to join the Suffolk Section. You will then receive regular Newsletters giving details of coming events and other items of interest. Please contact the Suffolk Section Secretaries if you have any queries at suffolk@theca.org.uk
Forthcoming Events
Details of the Suffolk Section Events appear below and you may find out more, and reserve places, by clicking 'Read More' under each Event.
Suffolk Section - Dates for Events - October 2025 to May 2026
Date: 11/10/2025
In the spring of 2025 this list will be updated with the details of each event. Winter Talks 2025 Sat....
Read more
Harbour Master Sailing Challenge
Date: 15/11/2025
Harbour Masters, those men and women who keep our harbours open and seaways safe, are often the unsung heroes of the sailing community. This is their story. In 2019 Mark Ashley-Miller set off in...
Read moreInterested in Finding out More?
Please contact the Section Secretaries, Simon and Georgette Harrison at suffolk@theca.org.uk or
CA staff at office@theca.org.uk or +44 (0) 207 537 2828.
Cruising Sections
Baltic
Covers the Baltic Sea, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Faroes. Holds a popular introductory seminar every spring.
Biscay
Covers Western France, Spain and Portugal as well as crossing Biscay. Holds a popular introductory seminar every spring.
Blue Water
For those sailing outside of European waters. Holds a popular Blue Water seminar in the summer.
Celtic
Covers waters from Land’s End to Cape Wrath. Meets at various west coast venues to share knowledge on all aspects of cruising the region.
Channel
For those cruising the south coast of the UK, Channel Islands, and France from the Belgian border to NW Brittany. Holds an annual seminar and summer rally/cruise-in-company.
European Inland Waterways
Covers over 30,000 km of navigable rivers and canals passing through over 20 countries. Annual seminar and lunch each autumn at CA House.
Mediterranean
Covers the Mediterranean from Spain and Morocco in the west to the Levant in the east, and includes the Black Sea. Meets at CA House in the winter, and afloat in the summer.
Motorboat
The Motorboat Section aims to bring together motorboaters where ever they are and whatever type of motorboating they enjoy.
North Sea
Covers the UK, Belgian and Dutch coasts. Meets at East Coast venues to share knowledge on all aspects of cruising the region.
Local / UK Sections
Antipodean
For members who live in Australia and New Zealand and who sail in the Northern Hemisphere.
CA London
CA London events are held at our Limehouse HQ.
Essex
Meetings held at Blackwater Sailing Club and mid-week lunches arranged.
Kent
Kent Section's 'Winter Warmers', talks by a variety of speakers, will be held via Zoom for the forseeable future.
Solent
Summer rallies with weekend meets. Winter talks with ‘club’ suppers usually at a Hamble yacht club or marina.
South West
For members living in or cruising the areas from Portland Bill to the Isles of Scilly and along the north coast of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset to Bristol.
Suffolk
Joint meetings are arranged with the Royal Harwich Yacht Club at Woolverstone.
Thames Valley
Winter talks are held in partnership with the Gerrards Cross Sailing Association (GXSA) at Colston Hall at The Memorial Centre in Gerrards Cross.
Wessex
Talks are held at Lilliput Sailing Club, Poole.
