Programme 2025-2026
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8 October 2025
Rebuilding Varuna (an 1895 Essex smack) is the latest and ongoing project in a long line of my unusual and off beat sailing misadventures. Somehow these, and some other experiences, combined to influence the saving of a piece of local maritime heritage. From naivety of the sea to naivety of the shipyard and an introduction to shipwrighting, my often daunting journey has been as rewarding as the destination.
12 November 2025
This talk looks at the golden age of smuggling on the east coast in the 17th and 18th century. It examines what was smuggled and why and considers the various highly creative methods used by the smugglers to evade capture. The various government attempts to prevent smuggling are considered and why they ultimately failed to prevent the smuggling gangs.
10 December 2025
Camsail AGM; election of Committee for 2026; a chance to share sailing experiences and to get to know other members better (with Christmas refreshments), including reports from any Camsail trips since last season.
14 January 2026
Chris Gomersall is a professional wildlife photographer, author and tour leader, whose work has received awards in many international competitions, including once being chosen as the overall winner of European Wildlife Photographer of the Year. His travels have frequently involved photographing wildlife at sea, from sailing vessels, small cruise ships, pelagic trawlers and even fisheries protection vessels. For the last twenty years or so, he has also acted as a wildlife guide on around 50 live-aboard cruises in the Hebrides. In this presentation Chris will share with you some favourite images from his seagoing adventures.
11 February 2026
Cameron Jones is a marine pilot responsible for navigating ships in and out of Ipswich, Harwich and Felixstowe (the largest container port in the UK). During his 14 year career at sea he has worked on commercial and military vessels before taking his experience into piloting vessels. He will offer an insight into what it takes to safely navigate some of the world’s largest ships and what can be done by recreational water users to keep themselves safe when sailing near large vessels.
11 March 2026
Edward Gildea’s experiences of sailing around the world powerfully connected him to the beauty of our planet. What is it like to helm during a Pacific storm? How do you cope with big waves? What is life like below decks for weeks on end? He learned, paradoxically, how very small the planet is and how delicately balanced, even if it feels powerful. He encountered whales and albatrosses and saw graveyards of bleached coral. Now overheated, our future will be determined by our oceans.
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