Choosing for offshore cruising at the Bluewater Weekend

by World Cruising on 23 Mar 2017 More than just a boat show, more than a seminar, and more than simply a cruiser rendezvous; the ARC Bluewater Weekend is a truly unique combination of all three and more still. Designed to encourage visitors think about all aspects of living their bluewater dream, the Bluewater Weekend is a chance to view a wide range of offshore cruising boats to suit all budgets, and meet experts in refits, sails, rigging and boat equipment, all whist mixing and chatting with experienced offshore cruisers in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

We have joined together with leading offshore yacht broker Berthon International, to host a weekend of conversation about bluewater cruising at Berthon’s Lymington UK base on 20 and 21 May 2017. The two day event is free to attend, with an optional sailing supper on the Saturday evening (£20). Attendees will need to pre-register here - The weekend has proved extremely popular in the past and we encourage you to sign up early if you are keen to join us.

Previous World Cruising Club rally participants are also invited to bring their own boats to the weekend, and share their personal experiences offering 'open boat' viewing to other cruisers - contact us at mail@worldcruising.com.

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 that 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. Members of the Berthon brokerage team will present a case study of a boat purchase and refit, and Hamble School of Yachting will help you understand the key skills to you need to master for successful bluewater cruising. Cruising skippers who have been there and done it are also on hand to share their personal experience with the visitors in one-to-one chats and in group discussions. So if you have pondered about boat size versus wallet size; centre cockpit or aft cockpit; mono or multi, then these are the questions the Bluewater Weekend will discuss.

Whilst there may no easy answer to many of these questions, as any yacht club bar conversation will prove, by holding the discussion alongside a portfolio of varying sizes, types and styles of cruising boats, visitors can look, view and think about what might be right for launching their own bluewater dream.

Click here for more information and to sign up.