Introduction

One of the most important aspects of an active cruising section in a club is cross-participation, with owners and skippers taking on different people for crew, and boat owners getting to sail as crew on other peoples boats. Whilst we have about 135 sailing yachts and 25 power boats listed in the LTSC Cruising Section, we also have about one-third of the section members who are non-boat owners. These include some of our most active people. Some have a great deal of experience, wish to keep their activity up, but no longer own a yacht of their own. Some are relatively new to sailing, and may be gravitating towards owning their own boat by crewing regularly for others.

Day-sailing on a semi-impromptu basis, with crew dividing up between the yachts spontaneously at a meeting before going sailing, has proved to be the perfect way to ensure that people know each other, that new members find an immediate opportunity to get involved, make friends, and get out on the water, and that skippers find compatible people for longer excursions. LTSC in line with its tradition of being an open, warm, and welcoming club, has developed particular day-sailing activities which bring cruising members together on a regular basis. At present we have two varieties of such activity, one mid-week each week, and the other monthly on the first Saturday of the month:-

The Mid-Week Meanderers

The Meanderers are an informal gathering of L.T.S.C. members who, for whatever reason, are able to enjoy the pleasures of mid-week sailing. Organised by David Long, the Meanderers is a weekly event with a sizeable and regular attendance throughout the winter as much as the summer. Any member who is interested is welcome to meet us at 09:20 on Wednesday mornings in the Solent Room particularly so for new members to meet people and "get the feel" of the meeting.

David Long suggests the day destination according to the prevailing wind, tide and weather forecast, counter suggestions sometimes come forward and the people attending that particular week divide up between the available yachts / skippers.

See also Members Yachts

Saturday Saunterers

These are designed for those who cannot sail mid-week, and / or whose yachts are not berthed in Lymington. The basic proposition is the same as the Meanderers - be prepared to sail with new friends or on differing boats. However, the Saunters differ from the mid-week activity by going to a pre-suggested destination, e-mailed to those interested a couple of days beforehand once something is known about the likely weather. This allows those whose boats are based elsewhere in the Solent to meet up with the rest of us, either by picking up crew at the Club and then driving to their boat, or by proceeding direct to the destination / rendezvous.

Last updated 18 April 2008