Cruising Association ?

[Wife of Lofticus]

Not sure of benefits of joining CA if going cruising abroad as i thought they were based in UK. However, noticed comment on another thread about marina discounts as members.

Wondered if anyone could explain pros and cons of joining, I understand it's over £100 to join and thats a lot of widgets for Max!

Thanks

 

[CharlesSwallow]

I guess I would have saved that much in a week last month. Antifoul -6% marina costs -6% Yacht guardinage -10% I was introduced by a friend and he will get a sweetener if I join too (a discount of his fees0. However, don't get the wrong idea; it is a very very good organisation to belong to and I'm heading down there to join asap. The info they produce for liveaboards and the Med Sec info (which I've been poaching for several years) is second to none and has saved money, boats and yes "LIVES" I'm sure.

Jim B. will be along soon to endorse this, I'm also sure of this!

Chas

 

[djk]

The Cruising Association is based at Limehouse Basin, London. However their network of HLRs ( Honorary Local Representatives ) are spread around the world.
Falkland Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Russia, Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, Syria, and nearer home, France, Spain, Channel Islands, Isle of Man even Wales! Thats just some of the places- there's loads more.
Where are you planning to sail too?

 

[Moodyjim]

An absolute must!

 

[Oliveoyl]

We joined recently (thanks Jim B ). True a lot of their meetings/courses etc are London based, which are not too handy for expats or foreign members, but the wealth of info available on the "members only" website is amazing, and the discounts not to be sniffed at.

 

[djk]

One of the great strengths of the Cruising Association is the Sections which are the focal point for all CA members. There are currently 16 Sections of the Association covering locations in the UK and European cruising areas. These are Baltic, Blue Water, Biscay, East Midlands, Essex, European Inland Waterways, Kent, Lyme Bay, Mediterranean, Solent, South West, Suffolk, Thames Valley, Wessex, West Midlands and CA London.
Regular programmes and events are arranged locally. These include talks, visits, and social events in the winter and spring, and meetings and rallies during the summer months.
Some Sections have over 400 members. The speakers recently include Vyv Cox, Jim Baerselman, Frank Singleton, Jimmy Cornell, Tom Cunliffe, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Simon Fraser, Jeremy Batch, David Moody and Paul Boissier ( CEO RNLI ). All these speakers have given talks at regional Sections as well as at CA House.
PS, for expats or foreign members staying in London you can get overnight accommodation at CA House ( they are called cabins ) for £50 per night!

 

[sailinglegend420]

Membership as an "overseas member" is half price!!!!

Lots of great information on the website which is continually being updated and improved.

 

[nickf]

Have been a member for three years - boat in Med. Very satisfied should have joined earlier.

 

[Koeketiene]

Membership as an "overseas member" is half price!!!!

UK membership: £126 (£118 DD)
Overseas membership: £80.50 - not quite 50%, and still a hefty sum

 

[Roaring Girl]

Absolutely worth joining for the info, discounts, friendly co-conspirators and the representation on cruising issues.

Like any club, what you put in enhances what you get out.

 

[blueglass]

CA is a fine organisation without question, but is undeniably expensive if on a tight budget. if its discounts that sway your decision, then RYA membership gets you the same 6% for a much lower fee.

 

[vyv_cox]

CA membership saves me 10% on my HKJ insurance, 5% on annual berthing and various other benefits.

However, perhaps the most useful facility is the Mednet forum. Any member can ask a question that is e-mailed to all other members who have joined the scheme. Topics cover every aspect of cruising life, from 'what is such and such a destination like' to 'what problem with my engine would make it go whirr - clunk'. Having this facility available anywhere that e-mail can reach is of inestimable value.

 

[rivonia]

Well the good news is that I have just applied as an overseas member-now I have to wait and see if I am acceptable?? Baited breath.

Fair winds

Peter

 

[Twister_Ken]

8,000 pages of cruising info on the members-only site, all available anywhere you've got an information super highway connection.

 

[[2574]]

Been a member for nearly a year. As ever the more you put in the more you get out. Been to some good events in the past year and more to come. Much more tangible benefit, for us, than the RYA of which I was a member.

 

[samwise]

Just joined in the past week as we begin planning for our big trip to the Baltic this year. Extremely efficient, membership details, cards, magazine etc delivered almost by return of post. Log in procedure to get on line information also delivered promptly and opening up a wealth of information. Wish we'd joined before!

 

[Ubergeekian]

One of the great strengths of the Cruising Association is the Sections which are the focal point for all CA members. There are currently 16 Sections of the Association covering locations in the UK and European cruising areas. These are Baltic, Blue Water, Biscay, East Midlands, Essex, European Inland Waterways, Kent, Lyme Bay, Mediterranean, Solent, South West, Suffolk, Thames Valley, Wessex, West Midlands and CA London.
Regular programmes and events are arranged locally. These include talks, visits, and social events in the winter and spring, and meetings and rallies during the summer months.

Do they still discourage Scottish groups? I asked when I was a CA member 20 years ago and was told that they didn't do anything in Scotland to avoid treading on the CCC's toes.

 

[Tom Price]

CA - value or not?

Like any organisation - and to my mind the CA became vulnerable when applicants no longer had to be proposed and seconded - the heirarchy can become so obsessed with power that principles and good practice are forgotten.
I've known corrupt Presidents, glory-seeking Section officers, even HLR's with their own boats sinking at moorings.
In other words, just like your local Yacht Club!

Take care.

 

[superboots]

The discount on my marina berth pays the the membership subsciption with cash saving to boot - its a no brainer!

 

[jimbaerselman]

Do they still discourage Scottish groups? I asked when I was a CA member 20 years ago and was told that they didn't do anything in Scotland to avoid treading on the CCC's toes.

You do need a critical mass of members, plus a couple of volunteer enthusiasts, to set up and run a local social group, or "section". Those who cruise only in Scotland are obviously well served by CCC, so a critical mass of CA members could only be achieved if some energetic volunteers decide to get things rolling.

At that stage, I guess some of these energetic volunteers could be called power crazy megalomaniacs, bent on self glorification. So, smile, and use their energy! Better still, set the outfit up yourself, then you know it won't be run by a self . . . err, well, maybe.

A big strength of CA is the way members help those thinking of cruising further afield. 800 members cruise the Med, 400 cruise the Baltic, so those sections buzz with activity. You're thinking of basing your boat elsewhere? Even if it's just across the Channel or the North Sea, the CA has members who have been there and done it, or who live there, who share their knowledge to keep the "Going Foreign?" advice bang up to date. It's an association for those dreaming of cruising to new places - even if life circumstances limit your time aboard.

Once you've settled in as a live-aboard, and after some years, found a favourite place, then maybe your anchor leaves the ground less often. You become the family houseboat based in the Inland Ionian, or Marmaris Bay. Then you don't need the CA any more, unless you want to trumpet your experiences . . . back to those megalomaniacs again I guess.

Hmm. I guess I'd better keep quiet . . .