Welcome to KPCA
affiliated to the
Updated: 16-05-2012
Updated: 07-01-2012
Sailing Programme for 2012
See the Sailing Trips page for the sailing programme for 2012.
REMINDER: There will be no Winter meetings this year. (Contact us)
"Polbream" reflected in the Helford RiverKPCA Celebrates 23 Years of Cruising
Keynes Park Cruising Association began life in 1989 after Keynes Park dinghy sailing club lost their facilities in what is now the Cotswold Water Park. A group of keen sailors, keen to keep dry, formed KPCA to organise and enjoy charter cruises for fellow members, most of whom live in and around Gloucester, Bristol and Swindon in the UK.
KPCA is affiliated to the Royal Yachting Association.
We welcome new members keen to sail without the hassle of boat ownership. (Contact us)
We charter yachts for members of the Association in the best sailing areas around the British Isles. Whether it is a weekend, long-weekend or week long charter, each voyage is both memorable and rewarding. Experience is gained on a variety of vessels and we get to visit parts of the country that are often difficult to reach by road. When sufficient demand exists we charter more than one yacht and cruise in company from one port to the next, normally meeting up for socialising in the evenings.
Here is a short video clip of a lively hop across Falmouth Bay from the Helford River to St Mawes from one of our previous charters from Falmouth aboard "Freyja III", Sadler 32 in Sep 1999
and a quiet sunset cruise from a charter in Suffolk aboard "Just Fleur", Kelt 31 in July 1999
Go to the Gallery for more videos and photos.
News and Crew Notices
REMINDER - No Winter meetings are planned for 2011/2012
Updated: 27-10-2011
May Day - Plymouth - May 2012
Updated: 15-05-2012
Ominous sky over Fowey
Mayday Weekend 2012 This year's Mayday Weekend featured Lis Jones, Simon Stannard , David Gist and myself sailing a 1999, Westerly Typhoon going by the name of "Sea Fox". It's a long time since I sailed on a Westerly so was quite looking forward to it.
Solent - Winter Warmer - November 2011
Updated: 14-11-2011
Mick and Peter aboard "MiSue"
There was apparently little interest in the Winter Warmer this year but what a great long weekend's sailing it proved to be. With the news that Mick Barber had put "MiSue" back in the water in September there was no need for a Charter Boat, so planning was a fairly simple affair for me at least.
Falmouth 'Booze Cruise' - September 2011
Updated: 25-09-2011
"Jester", slips rigged, ready to go
Mid September saw the annual KPCA visit to Falmouth and all points South West on "Jester", (Dufour Classic 41) and "Tigger Too" (Dufour Classic 36) skippered by Nigel Owen and myself with crews of Mick Barber, Colin Winter and David Gist on "Jester" and Lis Jones and Hilary Roberts on "Tigger Too".
Scottish Cruise - August 2011
Updated: 31-08-2011
Crew at Jura Hotel
Summer Cruise - Plymouth - June 2011
Updated: 28-06-2011
"Jester" in Salcombe
May Day - Plymouth - May 2011
Updated: 11-05-2011
River Yealm
Solent - November 2010
Updated: 13-12-2010
Evening Sky
One of the 'Winter Warmer' attendees, Mick Barber had offered the use of his Sadler 290 "MiSue" as she is moored at Hythe SC in Southampton water. David Gist kindly offered to join "MiSue" at her mooring, so we sailed down to the Hamble to pick up our other crew Nigel Owen, our victual requirements and weekend directions from David Blogg.Two reports for this cruise, from David Blogg aboard "Ariam" and Mick Barber aboard "MiSue" More...
Falmouth - September 2010
Updated: 09-10-2010
MevagisseyThe issues and drama that preceded the event on land fortunately did not carry over onto the water, and everyone who came along had a very enjoyable 3 days sailing in the paradise that is the south Cornwall coast. The "Polbream" incident which overshadowed the build-up to the weekend is reported by Steve Worner on the website. Fortunately Cornish Cruising were able to offer us an alternative yacht, "Me-Go" a Bavaria 36 Cruiser to replace "Polbream", to join "The Raymond" a Beneteau Oceanis 331 Clipper. Two reports for this cruise, from David Blogg aboard "The Raymond" and Nigel Owen aboard "Me-Go" More...
Ever wondered what a 'Cill' was for?
Updated: 18-09-2010
Falmouth Marina Cill at (very) LW Springs, Inner Basin to the left
You can see why marina rates are lower if you have a berth behind a cill. This cill is in Falmouth Marina and on our recent 'Booze Cruise' in September, Lis Jones took these photos to illustrate "a 'tide' in the life of a cill".
"Polbream" - Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 - suffers loss of keel
Updated: 19-09-2010
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"Polbream" without her keel, ashore in Falmouth MarinaOne of the yachts we have chartered from Cornish Cruising in Falmouth over a number of years suffered a major incident during a charter a couple of weeks before we were due to charter her in September 2010. "Polbream" - Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 was apparently in Scilly when she is alleged to have struck the submerged 'Little Kittern' rock in Old Grimsby off Tresco.
Scotland - August 2010
Updated: 10-09-2010
The Paps, Jura
Having travelled up on Friday to a B&B just outside Lochgilphead, the whole crew had dinner in the Argyll Arms. We were able to pick the boat up early this year and after shopping in the Co-Op we left the basin for the short journey to the sea locks about 3 o'clock. The wind outside the canal was 5/6 as forecast and from the west, the tide going north would have made the Dorus Mor dangerous, so with double reefed main we headed south for Craighouses on Jura, by the time we arrived off Small Isles Bay it was a steady 6 and rising. A windy night on a mooring buoy saw Sunday dawn to a cloudless blue sky.
Summer Cruise - June 2010
Updated: 09-07-2010
Summer Cruise crewThis year's KPCA Summer Cruise aboard "Polbream" was up there with the best we've ever had. The weather was good, providing some fantastic sailing. We met-up with the Littlewoods and cruised in company for a couple of days. Visited new places and some much enjoyed old favourites.
Report: It was the middle of May when the crew of the good ship "Polbream" met to discuss options for the forthcoming KPCA Summer Cruise. The boat was being chartered from Cornish Cruising, giving rise to the possibility of visiting Brittany, the Scilly Isles, the Channel Islands or if the weather was really foul maybe just a West Country cruise. The tides were difficult for Brittany. No problems getting there, but given the limited access time for many places and the prevailing tidal streams, the options for passage making were limited. The Scillies were ruled out as they had been visited by a number of the crew the previous 2 years. A Channel Island cruise got a luke-warm response - no strong desire for Jersey or Alderney - albeit Guernsey was still a popular choice. More...
May Day Cruise - May 2010
Updated: 09-07-2010
Getting ready to 'slip'We arrived at the Marina at 12.30'ish having victualled in Exeter on the journey down. We prepared the boat and slipped the mooring at 15.00hrs. Destination - The river Yealm. The skipper decided to put in 2 reefs when we hoisted the main sail in the Tamar. We sailed through The Bridge, kept the breakwater to starboard and the Mewstone to port and navigated our way safely into the Yealm and moored up on the visitors pontoon. We (or rather the electric pump) inflated the dinghy and then headed for some evening fare at The Ship in Noss Mayo. More...
Frostbite - Solent - Feb 2010
Updated: 19-07-2010
South Cardinal
The Frostbite weekend has become the traditional starter to the KPCA sailing season, usually in the Solent, as it offers the opportunity to sail (almost!) irrespective of the weather forecast. Also, at this time of year there generally aren't queues of people beating a path for boats, giving the charteree the upper hand when it comes to negotiating the charter fee. This year was no different and 2 all round first class boats were chartered, offering both great sailing performance and comfort. In this instance comfort means a dry and secure cockpit and central heating down below! David Gist, Keith Walker and Nigel Owen were the crew of "Blue Lady", a Hallberg Rassy 342. Whilst David Blogg, Chris Winter and Pete Keating, were the motley crew of "Bugsy II", an Oceanis 311. More...
'Gentlemen Never Sail Upwind!' - Solent "Winter Warmer" 2009
Updated: 17-11-2009
Spinnaker Tower in PortsmouthDavid Blogg, Janet (his mother) and friend Rip Hunter took a Beneteau Oceanis 323 from Hamble Point Yacht Charters at Port Hamble for a most enjoyable trip round the eastern end of the Solent on the weekend of Friday 6th to Sunday 8th November. Due to careful planning (and a bit of luck) they were able to use the elements to their advantage. More...
Falmouth "Booze Cruise" 2009
Updated: 12-11-2009
"Polbream" reflected in the Helford (Colin Winter).
For some of us the trip down to Falmouth started pretty early - 07.00! It was worth the early start however as 3 out of the 4 crew of "Chantan 11" were able to do the victualling en route and were able to pick up the boat shortly after midday. In fact most of the crews arrived early-to-mid afternoon. More...
Ellen MacArthur Trust Skandia Round Britain 2009
Updated: 05-10-2009
Lis Jones meeting Dame Ellen MacArthur
In August 2009, Lis Jones met Dame Ellen MacArthur during her Cardiff stopover on her Ellen MacArthur Trust Skandia Round Britain voyage. During the voyage the trust was raising funds and awareness to ensure that more young people in the future have the opportunity to experience the challenge of sailing and regain their confidence as they recover from cancer and leukaemia. More...
Scotland 2009
Updated: 03-09-2009
Bellanoch
Force 5 to 7, 8 later! That sums up the forecasts that we got courtesy of the coastguard for our week's charter in Scotland at the end of August 2009. More...
Scilly 2009
Updated: 06-07-2009
Lis and Ruth navigating upriver in Falmouth
20th June 2009 saw Lis, Ruth & and Steve joining "Rudius", a 41 ft Hanse for a week’s sailing out of Falmouth. Steve wrote: We rather rattled around in her as we were one short as the 4th part of our team, Nigel, was unable to join us.
We stayed in the marina overnight, for a number of reasons, not least being the boat needed a bit of sorting to satisfy my thoughts on how a yacht should be. More...
Dutch Lady moves for Martin Palmer
Updated: 20-06-2009
"Vrouwe Alberdina"
For those following the progress of founder member Martin Palmer and his wife Pauline with their 100 year old Dutch Barge, "Vrouwe Alberdina", after a year in the old sand dock at the Cumberland Basin, Bristol she is finally on the move... More...