Workshop - Knots and their Uses, and How to Throw a Line!

Hosted by Jane Osborn

Delivered by Paul Armstrong

A General Workshop.

Do we ever have enough ropes, lines and sheets? Do we use the right knots for the right application? This is the opportunity for us to share knowledge, and understand why using the correct knot is so useful and important.

To make it slightly different, please come along with a new or surprising knot to share! 

And .... this year I have seen so many examples of poor line-throwing when berthing that have almost resulted in accidents, that we should revisit the techniques. And then probably have a small competition, with prizes!!

Organiser: Paul Armstrong

Annual Laying-up Supper

& The Music Quiz with a Difference!

Saturday, 14th November

With the 2026 sailing season now ended, and many boats laid-up for the winter, please join fellow members and friends at one of our most popular social events, the annual Laying-Up Supper .... this year with a Fantastic Music Quiz with a Difference, being laid-on by Paul Armstrong and Nigel Sergeant!

You think you might know a Music Quiz when you see one - oh no, you don't!! This will be VERY different! You need to be there!!

Come along with your best tastebuds and some musicality! 

• The club and bar (note card payments only) will open at 19:00 hrs and from 19:30 hrs, Supper will be served, catered by our fantastic in-house “Pancakes R’Us” crew!  A choice of different One Pot dishes, namely:
• • Fish Pie
  • Chicken Casserole with white wine & mushrooms
  • Vegetable Lasagne
  • All followed by a choice of Lovely Desserts
  • And then the Music Quiz .....  We promise it will be like no other Music Quiz that you will ever have taken part in before!! Music by Nigel; Front of House, Fun and Games and Party Time courtesy of Paul. There might even be prizes!!

All of this for the exceptional price of £12.50 per person!  If you want to eat, it is essential that you register in advance and pre-pay by Tuesday, 10th November, so we know how much food to buy and prepare.

Booking/Registration is via the website ONLY.  For couples, just one member need register and give the 'number of meals' as 2, and provide both names. Your menu choice(s) must be advised during the booking process.

Pre-payment of £12.50 per person, (£25.00 per couple), must be made to the Club Bank Account quoting your name as reference. Bank details here

Please note there can be NO cash or card payments for food on the evening.

Please also bring your own plates/pasta bowls, plus dessert dish and cutlery.

The small print: We regret no bookings after 10th November, likewise no cancellations without incurring the full cost.

We regret that we are unable to accommodate specific dietary requirements and cannot guarantee that any of our food is suitable for those with allergies.  However, if you have concerns, we will be able to provide a list of the main ingredients upon request.

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For any questions, please contact:  commodore@guildfordsailing.org

Of course, all Members are welcome to attend on the night, even if you don't want to eat!

As always, this will be a great night - we hope to see a really good turnout! 

Talk - What is the Ocean's Role in driving changes in climate and fisheries?

Guest Speaker: Dr Colin Summerhayes

The oceans play a major role in climate change because they carry heat and salt slowly around the world.

When warm salty water (e.g. The Gulf Stream) nears the Arctic, it becomes dense enough to sink, gradually moving at depth all the way to Antarctica, where it influences the climate, thus connecting the poles. Warming oceans release water vapour through evaporation, and water being a greenhouse gas, adds to global warming.

Colin will explain how other greenhouse gases are released and the effect this has on warming our planet further. He will enlighten us on warm El Nino and cold La Nina that seriously affect fisheries, especially in the Pacific. 

Dr Colin Summerhayes speaker bio

Marine geochemist Dr Colin Summerhayes is an expert in determining past climates and estimating future ones. An Emeritus Affiliate at the Scott Polar Research Institute of Cambridge University, he has been Executive Director of the International Council for Science's Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). Director of the Global Ocean Observing System at UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission in Paris, Director of the UK's Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Deacon Laboratory (Wormley), and Deputy Director of the Southampton (now National) Oceanography Centre. He has worked in academia, government and industry (BP and EXXON). He is a current member of the International Anthropocene Working Group. His books include ''Oceanography - an illustrated guide'', ''Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment'' and ''Earth's Climate Evolution'', amongst many other titles.

In January 2026 an International High Seas Treaty entered into force. The UK officially ratified this treaty in July 2026. This helps the UK support the 30by30 commitment to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030.

• This talk will be live in the Papercourt clubhouse. We encourage members to attend the clubhouse, have a drink, and enjoy catching up with friends.         

Organiser: Jane Osborn, Vice Commodore        

Talk - Our East Coast Adventure, Gosport to Ipswich

Our very own Joyce Herve is going to tell us about her sailing trip from Gosport to Ipswich in her boat Alcine. Her late partner Peter was skipper and they were taking part in a Westerly Owner's club Summer Cruise, to celebrate the club's 60th anniversary.

Her talk will include many pictures of marinas, wildlife and interesting structures taken along the way, with plenty of historical facts thrown in. During this trip they berthed in St Katharine's Dock, London Bridge was lifted specially for them and they sailed up the river Orwell to Ipswich.

This talk is dedicated to Peter.

Brief Biography Joyce

 Joyce worked as a podiatrist for the NHS for many years and also ran her own private practice. She also has a degree in Landscape Archaeology and was a Director of Butser Ancient Farm. She worked with Time Team on two occasions. 

Joyce's two daughters work as health professionals and her son was a specialist engineer.

Most of her life she had a love/hate relationship with water, until she was introduced to sailing by friends. She then qualified as Day Skipper, joined a sailing club and met her late partner Peter. They purchased Alcine in 2019 and mainly sailed in the Solent and to the West Country. Their plans to sail around Britain were curtailed in 2023, due to Peter's ill health, so they joined the Westerly Owner's Association rally to Ipswich.

Brief Biography Peter

Peter was a very experienced sailor, having sailed across the Atlantic several times and taken part in the Fastnet on three occasions. He was a very calm and immensely capable man with a great sense of humour.

Organiser: Jane Osborn, Vice Commodore        

Commodore's Christmas Party, and Award of the Annual Club Trophies

Host: Commodore Noel Cockle

All Members are welcome to join in the Christmas festivities with some winter warming drinks and plenty of nibbles.

And don't forget to put on your best Christmas Jumper! 

The Club Trophies will be on display, for all to admire and after some drinks and nibbles and a lot of chatter, the Commodore will be delighted to announce this year's Award winners.

Please do come along to see if you have triumphed, and if not, still enjoy an evening celebrating with the winners, and your fellow members.

• Drinks & nibbles will be available from 7.30pm
• Presentation of Annual Trophy Awards at 8.30pm
• A list of the Awards available can be found here: Club Trophies

As the last Social event of the Calendar year, this is always a great night out for all to enjoy!

Event Organiser Commodore Noel Cockle

       NB: The Bar will be open from 19:30 hrs. as usual. This event will not be provided on Zoom.

Tales from a single handed, unsupported circumnavigation of GB in a laser dinghy. Andrew will tell us about the highs and lows of his mammoth 2,200 mile journey.

Dr Hill-Smith has been a child psychiatrist for over 30 years and a consultant for 25 years. He embarked on a six months challenge to sail solo around Great Britain in a Laser Dinghy.

He is otherwise known as -

" The Shrink in the Drink"

He set off from Gosport in April 2023, in his 4.2m long boat, HMS Betty, named after his late mother. We will hear how he overcame emotional exhaustion, survived capsizing in strong winds and heavy seas and dealt with damage to his Laser. 

Andrew did all this to raise money for Children's Charity Place2Be, The Motor Neurone Disease Association and sailing Charity The Andrew Simpson Foundation. He is still raising money for these Charities.

Organiser: Jane Osborn , Vice Commodore        

The work of the National Coastwatch Institute ( NCI)

 Nigel's talk will explain the three main areas the NCI covers.

Firstly, the formation of the NCI and its evolvement into a Declared Asset to HM Coastguards. He will explain how NCI interact as a member of the Search and Rescue community and how NCI further contribute to that service.

Secondly, the work of NCI Gosport. This is a unique station as it is situated inside a secure MoD facility, overlooking Portsmouth Harbour, the Harbour Approaches and the Eastern Solent.

Thirdly, General water safety. This will also include some of the incidents ( with images) that we see from Gosport ---- the good, the bad and the ugly!

A brief Biography: 

Nigel is a Guildford resident who spent his life working in the motor industry. He learnt to sail on the Norfolk Broads and Norfolk Coast. He has sailed Dinghys, Lasers, Folkboats and Clipper Yachts. He has been a boat owner for the past 25 years based at Haslar Marina, Gosport.

For any queries please email: jane.osborn.jo@gmail.com

Event - Shrove Tuesday - Pancakes of every possible style!!

Our "Pancakes R'Us" Chefs, club Members Jane Barbour and Jane Shott, ably assisted by Jan Baynham, Isabelle David and Margaret Barlow, will again be teasing our taste buds by offering a selection of both sweet and savoury pancakes for our enjoyment, with a full Pancake service commencing around 20:00hrs.

Join fellow Members for a relaxed and informal evening after the gloom of winter.  Enjoy a drink from the bar, and a catch-up with friends whilst tucking-in to a pancake or two (or three!) with the compliments of GCCC. The choice of flavours and fillings is only limited by your imagination!!

Members can also vie to become holder of the pancake "Tosser of the Year" award. New, and previous, challengers are advised to bring your best technique for this hotly-contested 2027 competition. A prize might even be available!! 

Whilst pancakes are free for club Members, friends and visitors are also very welcome, but we would ask for a small £3.50 contribution towards costs.

Organiser: Jan Baynham

• Legendary sailor, author and professional speaker

We anticipate a high turn-out for this event which will also be open to local sailing clubs, friends and prospective members.  Online Registration is therefore necessary. 

A maximum of 100 places in total will be available.

Registration is free for all GCCC Members and Partners, and £10 for each "Visitor". Booking/Registration is only via the website. 

GCCC Members

• GCCC Members and Partner members must each Register individually. Note: for Partner members without an email address, the main Member should first register and then send an email with details of the Partner registration to jane.osborn.jo@gmail.com
•  Alternatively they can create/update their Partner profile to make it easier!

• GCCC Members can also bring non-member Guests but the Guests must be paid for in advance by the Member and their names listed in the 'Information for Organiser' box.

• Non-members need to Register individually, using the website. They need to have a unique email address, and pay in advance of the event, by Monday 22nd February 2027.

• Pre-payment of £10.00 per person.  Please pre-pay into the Club Bank Account quoting your name as Reference.  All relevant GCCC Bank details will become visible during the Registration process. 

No physical tickets will be issued but confirmation emails will be sent, and a list of pre-paid attendees will be checked on entering the club.

Sorry, but because of seating limits, we cannot accept Visitors, or any cash payments, on the evening.

For any queries please email jane.osborn.jo@gmail.com

Organiser: Jane Osborn, Vice Commodore    

Event - The Annual GCCC Winter Walk and Lunch 

• Sunday 28th February 2027. Arrive 10.15am for a 10.30am start

The walk will be about around Brookwood Cemetery. We will finish back at The Nags Head 

where lunch has been booked from 12.45

Please note that all Members intending to walk and participate in the lunch, including Partner Members, need to Register individually on the website to make sure we get the numbers correct. Thank you!

Non Walkers are welcome to join the lunch, subject to restaurant space. Walkers will get priority. Please let Isabelle know of your details by emailing her directly.

• Please email isodavid60@gmail.com for any additional info.

• Organisers: Isabelle David and Denise Granger 

Organiser: Jane Osborn - Vice Commodore