Cruisers

 The members of Southampton Sailing Club own a variety of sailing cruisers, which range in size from 17 ft to 33 ft. The experience and aspiration of our skippers is similarly wide ranging, from absolute beginners to those who have been sailing for 40 years or more. Our programme of events is therefore designed to suit all tastes, but concentrates on local events suitable for the majority. Cruiser sailing events are run between April and October, and are organised by the cruiser subcommittee. All cruiser owners are encouraged to have an input in planning the events by attending the meetings of this subcommittee.

Day Races mirror the SWSA series of races offering our own club trophies along with a chance to win SWSA silverware. See Cruiser Programme for race dates.

Rallies take place throughout the summer, to various ports on the central South Coast and Isle of Wight. Six of these rallies also incorporate a passage race on the way there; there are prizes for the winner of each, plus the winner of the overall "Rally Officers' Challenge Cup" series. Once in harbour there is usually some sort of organised social event e.g. pub meal or a barbecue, followed by drinks on board the boats. With the Solent becoming increasingly busy, we make bookings wherever possible for the boats which are going. A highlight of the calendar is the annual sailaway of cruisers and dinghies to the Isle of Wight. Dinghy crews either camp or are hosted on board the yachts. 

The ports of Cherbourg (France) and Braye (Alderney) are both within a 12 hour passage of the Solent for a modest (25 ft) cruiser. We try to organise at least 1 rally across the English Channel in each year. The club makes an award to each skipper for his or her first crossing of the English Channel in their own boat. 

We organise an annual cruise-in-company for our members' boats. This is not a flotilla cruise - rather we set a relaxed itinerary and meet up as we go along.

Cruiser Trophies

Cruiser Race Series
Bert Drought spring series (BDS 1 to 6)	Ideal Cruiser Challenge Cup & The Commodores Cup
SWSA round the Island race	Long Distance race cup
Race to Cherbourg	Alderney Cup
Single handed race	Riley Challenge cup
Bert Drought Autumn series (BDA1 to 6)	Woolston cup and the Millbrook challenge cup
Nab Tower	Don Crook Memorial Trophy
Evening series (E1 to E9)	N.E.Marten Cup
Cruiser Rallies
Greatest Fortitude	Spray trophy
Greatest attendance	Sims Cruiser Challenge Cup
Hanging basket competition	Best Hanging Basket on a cruiser trophy