Guildford Coastal Cruising Club = About Us


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A friendly club with year-round activities

The town of Guildford, in landlocked Surrey, is not somewhere one would normally associate with the activity of coastal and offshore cruising under sail. A good 40 miles as a seagull flies separates us from the nearest coast, so what is the Guildford Coastal Cruising Club?
The club is affiliated to the RYA and has a membership of around 130 people owning approximately 60 boats. Most, but by no means all, keep their boats in or around the Solent area.

What can we offer?

The GCCC exists for those people who dont live on the coast yet want to enjoy the social benefits of a sailing club a bit closer to home.
The Clubhouse – at the Guildford Rowing Club on the river just past the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre – is open every Tuesday evening from 8pm. It has a fully licensed bar with very reasonable prices, plus a relaxing lounge area, which, when it isn't being used for organised gatherings, is a great place for members to meet up for an informal drink and talk about all things sailing and many things not.
Our summer rallies offer an opportunity for inexperienced sailors to cruise in company, non-boat owners to gain sailing experience and the short-handed to gain crew. They are of course also a great way of socialising with like-minded souls after a good day's sailing.
The club is able to offer ICC certificate tests and the hire of moisture and tensioning meters at very reasonable rates. We also now have an internet forum where members can advertise equipment for sale as well as discuss other topics.

What do we do?

In the Winter, organised presentations are held every other week, starting at 8:30pm. Attendance is good at these free events, given by a variety of guest speakers, on subjects ranging from intrepid journeys to knot tying classes. These could take the form of lectures, film shows or demonstrations. We also hold fitting out and laying up suppers and a Summer barbecue at the clubhouse. These events are particularly social, as members exchange their plans for the coming season and experiences of cruises just undertaken.
The Summer programme consists of fortnightly rallies to harbours in and around the Solent, and occasionally beyond to the West Country and France. The rallies often include a get-together in a nearby pub, or for a meal as guests of the local sailing club. At other times we raft up and anchor in a quiet creek and perhaps have a barbecue ashore.

"We cruise in the med in summer but its great to come home in winter and find out what other people have been doing"

"Having people around to offer a hand means I get to sail my boat more often"

"We are thinking of buying a boat in the future and the GCCC is a great way of gaining experience"

"I enjoy seeing a bunch of friendly faces as I moor up in a new port"

"We have just bought our first boat and all the help and advice has been invaluable"
click here for a member's testimonial.

Something for everyone

Whether you choose to take part in just the Winter or Summer programme – or both – our friendly, enthusiastic and active club offers something for everyone.
We have a wide variety of members - some are old salts while others are still looking forward to their first boat - our youngest are in their 20's and the oldest are ... a bit older. Whoever you are, as long as you like sailing the GCCC has something for you.

How we were formed

Our club was started 30 years ago by a group of local yachtsmen who were attending navigation evening classes in the Guildford area, and who wanted to maintain the friendship and enthusiasm gained during the course. All had boats based in the Solent, and the practice of meeting at weekends was started, followed by an offer from the Guildford Rowing Club to use their premises as a local meeting place.

Last updated 23th Mar 2008

Guildford Coastal Cruising Club, co Guildford Rowing Club, Shalford rd, Guildford, Surrey