Bluewater Weekend set to inspire offshore sailors

Bluewater Weekend - Open boat © World Cruising Club

Rally organisers World Cruising Club, best known for the annual ARC - Atlantic Rally for Cruisers have joined together once again with leading offshore yacht broker Berthon International, to host a weekend of conversation about bluewater cruising at Berthon's Lymington UK base in June 2018.

This popular weekend is designed to encourage visitors think about all aspects of living their bluewater dream, providing the opportunity to view a wide range of offshore cruising boats and meet experts in refits, sails, communications and boat equipment, all whist mixing and chatting with experienced offshore cruisers in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

The two day event is free to attend, but prospective bluewater sailors will need to pre-register. During the weekend, a selection of fine examples of bluewater boats will be open for viewing, hosted by experienced offshore skippers, many of whom have sailed the ARC or around the world. Mix, mingle and chat about bluewater sailing is the aim of the weekend.

Balancing out the dockside chat will be a series of seminar presentations and discussions about how to embark on your bluewater dream. For those in the market, Berthon's brokerage team will share the story of a boat purchase and refit, drawing on their years of experience guiding purchasers through the process. Using practical examples, the session will cover the journey of a boat from a broker's cradle ashore to far afield cruising grounds, covering common questions on surveys, VAT, refitting priorities and budgets.

Planned in to this year's programme is a special 'Coffee with the Experts' session, providing a focussed opportunity for assembled representatives from leading marine companies to answer questions on boat refits, communications equipment, sail training; charts and pilot books; boat management; marine insurance; buying a boat and selecting sails. This session will provide the opportunity for one-to-one questions and small group discussions, ideal for those fitting out their boats for offshore adventures. ARC sailors will also be on hand to share their own experiences of equipment set up and practical advice.

Inspirational presentations will provide plenty to whet the appetite of those in the planning phase. "Living the Dream" is one family's story of their life changing decision to quit work and sail away. Sharing cruising tales from around the world, the presenters will talk about their experiences exploring oceans and anchorages from sail set up and on board power generation to visa formalities and keeping in touch with those at home. Sunday's seminar session 'Cruising as a Couple' will focus on tips for enjoying a life afloat together, including transitioning to long-term life afloat and maintaining harmony on board.

For those setting sail with the ARC in 2018 or beyond, a briefing session is also included on the seminar line up. The session will cover rally specific information including the route, ports, programme, and safety equipment requirements, led by World Cruising Club with previous ARC sailors on hand to share their own experiences. Members of the ARC Safety Team will also do a walk through on board a former ARC boat highlighting key equipment considerations.

The annual Bluewater Weekend is hosted at the Berthon Marina, Lymington over the weekend of 16 and 17 June. Visitors can attend for either or both days and admittance is free. For those wanting to make the most of a delightful weekend in Lymington, there is an optional Sailing Supper on the Saturday evening at Lymington Town Sailing Club a short walk from the marina.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged as capacity is limited. For more information and to register, please visit www.worldcruising.com/training.