Braye & Back Again

Braye and Back Again a Little Ship Club Saga

Join us on the first weekend of September as we take the Little Ship Club on a serious Channel hop to Alderney. This is the sort of passage that feels like a step up, not just a trip out for lunch. It is a chance to stretch the legs of the boats, settle into a rhythm, and arrive somewhere that rewards the effort with a genuinely satisfying landfall.

There is a moment that every sailor remembers, the point where you look around and realise you cannot see land in any direction. No coastline to lean on, no familiar headland to aim at, just sea, sky, and a compass bearing that makes it all feel very real. It is a small thing on paper and a big milestone in your sailing journey. It is the moment you stop feeling like someone who goes sailing, and start feeling like a real sailor, capable of getting somewhere by sea!

The Little Ship Club is run by sailors, for sailors, so the cruise is free, and open to all members. If you are up for a proper crossing and a stunning destination, get involved. First time leaving the Solent? Even better. You only get to claim that milestone once.

We will leave the Solent behind us, head offshore letting the day take shape. Watches, trimming, the odd tactical discussion delivered over a ginger biscuit with total confidence, and that quiet buzz of a crew working well together. Then later, Alderney rises out of the haze, Braye comes into view, and you get the best bit, the self satisfaction of making landfall after a real crossing, followed by the equally serious business of food, a drink, and replaying the interesting bits as if they were entirely planned.

Itinerary

Friday Arrival - Mid to late afternoon Friday 4th September

• Cocktails afloat - Join fellow passage makers for a sundowner or two and celebrate making it to Alderney

Saturday - Brunch on the Beach

• Crews are encouraged to join their fellow Little Ship Clubbers on Braye Beach for a cooked breakfast (Remember your BBQ's)

• Fancy a World War 2 Tour? - Explore options here https://www.visitalderney.com/explore/wwii-occupation-trail/

  
  

• Dinner ashore - The final supper before the return journey with the rest of the Little Ship Club Flotilla.

Sunday - Flotilla Departs

What to expect

• A lively offshore sail and a cracking destination

  
  

• Proper teamwork and plenty of time on deck

  
  

• A weekend that feels like you have done something, not just gone somewhere

Skippers & Crews

We know this is no ordinary cruise through the Solent, we know it may seem daunting, so we will do our level best to help skippers and crew find the right vessels for their needs. (we cannot guarantee that all members will be found a space on a vessel & ticket booking is an expression of interest whilst all reasonable efforts will be made)

If you fancy it, book early so we can build crews and start the gentle art of organising without it turning into a last minute sprint. Alderney is calling and it would be a shame to let the locals have all the fun without us.

Skills & Ability

Basic: You have little or no sailing experience and may only have been on a sailing boat once or twice.

You might still be getting familiar with how a yacht works, what the different control lines do, how the sails drive the boat, and how helming feels. Most of your experience so far may have been in calm or sheltered conditions. This level roughly aligns with the RYA Start Yachting Stage, where the focus is on getting comfortable on board and beginning to understand how a sailing yacht operates.

Intermediate: You have some sailing experience and have spent time as an active member of the crew on several sailing trips. You likely understand the main control lines and sails, can assist with hoisting and trimming sails, and may have helmed the boat for periods of time. You may also be familiar with basic buoyage and navigation marks, and have experienced sailing in moderate winds and changing conditions. This level broadly aligns with the RYA Competent Crew Course, where the aim is to become a capable and confident crew member.

Advanced: You are an experienced sailor and comfortable taking an active role in operating and navigating a yacht. You may sail regularly and might have skippered boats, chartered yachts, or owned your own boat. You are familiar with passage planning, tidal calculations, pilotage, and chart work, and have likely sailed in a wide range of weather conditions. This level broadly aligns with sailors who have completed RYA Day Skipper Theory or Practical Courses, or those progressing toward RYA Yachtmaster level.

Interested or want to know more?!

Contact the organisers and join the Whatsapp

Henry - hbg@littleshipclub.co.uk

Lewis - lewis.mcdonald@littleshipclub.co.uk

Simon - Simon.kaye@littleshipclub.co.uk

Tides

4th September

HW Portsmouth 0423hrs

HW Braye 1217hrs

6th September

HW Braye 1512hrs

HW Portsmouth 1944hrs

Tidal charts for departures & arrivals . Note these are for guidance, careful planning is required by each individual skipper.