20 September 2025, Southampton, UK
A popular two-hour panel discussion with plenty of opportunities to ask questions. Ideal for anyone interested in casting off and sailing offshore or across an ocean.
We'll talk about weather and routing, the 'right' boat, essential and luxury equipment, choosing and managing crew, and enjoying life onboard.
The skipper panel and World Cruising Club team will answer your questions and share their knowledge and experience. Panelists will have sailed across oceans in boats of all types - production family cruisers, catamarans and specialist bluewater boats.
The programme includes time for mingling and chatting with panelists, the World Cruising Club team, marine industry experts and fellow delegates.
Date: Saturday 20 September 2025
Time: 09:30-12:00
Where: Harbour Lights Picturehouse, Ocean Village, Southampton
Cost: Free or upgrade £10
£10 upgrade - includes a complimentary Southampton Boat Show ticket - an e-ticket will be provided by email during the event. Plus six-months' basic membership of Noonsite.com (worth $2.99/month) Noonsite is the only trusted resource on the web for cruisers covering ports of entry and clearance procedures for over 200 countries worldwide. Noonsite membership will start when payment is received.
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 round the world:
- Laura Bradley, Fisk Oyster 46. ARC+ 2023 and World ARC 2026-27
- John Boughton, Juniper, Grand Soleil 50. ARC 2024
- TBC!
Last year's panel pictured below:
 |  |  |
| The Smith family on Blue Pearl | Michael & Sarah Loftus and crew | Will & Sarah Curry |
In the audience and ready to answer questions will be representatives from leading marine companies including Mailasail (satellite communications), Advance Yacht Systems (power management and generation), Mactra (Schenker and Katadyn watermakers), Peters & May (yacht shipping), Hamble School of Yachting (training), North Sails and White Dot Sailing (project management).
Questions can be submitted in advance (email [email protected]), or asked on the day.