19 September 2026. Southampton, UK

A lively two-hour panel session packed with practical advice and plenty of time for your questions—perfect for anyone dreaming of heading offshore or making an ocean passage.

We’ll cover weather and routing, choosing the “right” boat, must-have and nice-to-have equipment, crew selection and management, and what day-to-day life onboard is really like.

Our experienced skipper panel and the World Cruising Club team will be on hand to share their knowledge, offer guidance, and answer anything you’ve always wanted to know.

There will also be time to chat informally with the panellists, the WCC team, marine industry experts, and fellow delegates.

Date: Saturday 19 September 2026
Time: 09:30–12:00 (presentation starts at 10:00)
Where: Harbour Lights Picturehouse, Ocean Village, Southampton
Cost: Free!

Advance registration is essential — please click the red button below.

Topics to be covered

• Timeline to departure - planning, routes and weather
• Preparing your boat for bluewater cruising
• Bluewater equipment - communications, watermakers, power generation, sails
• Life onboard - watch systems, sailing double-handed, selecting crew
• Sailing with children and teens
• The ‘Atlantic circuit’
• Circumnavigating

Presenters

Host: Paul Tetlow, Managing Director of World Cruising Club

Panel: skippers and crew who have sailed the Atlantic or around the world:

• To be announced

In the audience and ready to answer questions will be representatives from leading marine companies including Advance Yacht Systems (power management and generation), Mactra (Schenker and Katadyn watermakers), Peters & May (yacht shipping), Hamble School of Yachting (training) and White Dot Sailing (project management).

Questions can be submitted in advance via email [email protected], or asked on the day.