Formed in 1999, the Club exists to satisfy the sailing ambitions of its members. The Club has owned a number of yachts over the years, progressing from a Bavaria 38, to a Beneteau 411, a Dufour 455 Grand and currently a Beneteau Oceanis 45 named ‘Estela’. Estela is currently in the eastern Mediterranian having been in Greece for a couple of years.
From the first, the emphasis was on a club that was inclusive, one that encouraged its members to sail together, and one that helped members achieve their sailing dreams. Elected committee members manage the yacht under the supervision of the Club’s Bosun. Sequential cruising is organised under the co-ordination of the committeeto to give a variety of sailing grounds taking in to account member’s wishes. This helps to ensure variety and a wide range of sailing styles from family friendly short day sails to lengthy ocean crossings.
We periodically have social events where members (and prospective members) can get to know each other and organise joint sailing. We also hold our Annual General Meeting in the autumn which also gives an opportunity for land based training. The yacht is booked via our Club website. This site has two calendars, one for cruise planning where members can exchange ideas and look for opportunities to sail with each other. The second is for booking our boat ‘Estela’.
As we are a non-profit making Club, all the monies go towards paying off any loans for purchasing our boat, ongoing maintenance and other operational costs.
Members are all equal share holders of the company and therefore the boat. All have an equal voice and are able to contribute to decision making when deciding on details of this year’s plan and about next year’s overall sailing plan.
Though not done recently, we can organise sail training days on board to include all levels of RYA certification, subject to location and demand.
Although turn-over of membership is low (we like each other!), we wish to maintain a level of recruitment, and potentially a wait list, so that members are free to easily leave at short notice if they wish to.
So, yes, we are currently recruiting and welcome your enquiry if you feel the Club might be right for you!
Please use the ‘Membership Enquiry’ form via the link above.
Good Company
As any keen sailor knows, it is not always easy to find crew. Many fine yachts rarely leave their home ports. Fleet Cruising Club has members with vast experience and members with none, ocean sailors, day skippers and competent crew. If what you want is to sail, our boat sails about 5,000 nautical miles a year!
Adventure
In the early days, France and Ireland seemed like the ultimate challenges. Since then, we have sailed to the Caribbean and back, the Canary Islands and the Azores. In our past winter seasons we have enjoyed warm sun in southern Portugal, Gibraltar, Morocco, Mediterranean Spain and the Balearic Islands. Frequent sequential cruises are organised, so different crews can join the yacht on different legs as she travels towards her far flung destination and back again. These sequential cruises have taken us from Plymouth to Oban, via the Isles of Scilly, Wales, Isle of Man, Belfast and back over six individual weeks. We have enjoyed eight week cruises via the Caledonian Canal to Norway, Sweden and Copenhagen, and back through the Kiel Canal, as well as numerous sequential cruises around Ireland. Trips have included cruises from the UK going South, crossing the Bay of Biscay frequently, visiting A Corunna, Oporto, Lisbon and further still past Gibraltar, Marbella, Benidorm to Alicante as well as Ibiza and nearby islands. We have entered and completed several memorable Rolex Fastnet Races. In summary we cater for the dreams of all enthusiastic sailors who join our club, whatever their aspirations.
The pride of ownership
Fleet Cruising Club is not a charter or a timeshare. Every member owns our boat, and no member owns it. Our first boat was named Ethos, because the ethos, the spirit of the club, is so important. As a club we put the interests of all the members ahead of our own. When you take the boat out, then she’s yours, with all the responsibilities that implies. Sailing with the club does cost less than most chartering but we do not aim to sail on the cheap. We sail a high quality yacht kept in tip-top condition. We expect our boat to be a classy performer, comfortable, well-equipped and safe.
Maintaining our membership base
A club like ours needs to spread the costs of the boat whilst ensuring members can do as much sailing as they want. Our committee manages member numbers to ensure maximum use combined with reasonable access. Because members often sail with each other, this is easier than it sounds. Even though we have about 30 members, most members could sail for far more days than they in fact book.
Is the Fleet Cruising Club for you?
- If at present you can’t sail as much or as far as you want because you haven’t got the yacht or the crew…..
- If you would like to help own, manage and sail our fine yacht…..
- If you want to meet new friends with a common interest….
- Whether your idea of adventure is a day sail round the headland or an ocean passage, the Fleet Cruising Club could be just right for you.
If you are interested in joining the Fleet Cruising Club, please complete the contact form (see above) or if you prefer, email the Membership Secretary directly: membership@fleetcruisingclub.co.uk