Seminars
GGS Seminars
The GGS Group have seminars running over the winter months on topics that encourage us to go sailing. Please see below the upcoming events as well as information from past seminars.
Friday 21 November 2025 | 7pm Preston Room | End of Season Review and Supper| Review of the Year – hearing of members of GGS adventures over the summer of 2025 | 8pm Restaurant Area for Bring and Share Supper. Finger buffet of canapés, main course and puddings.
Friday January 31st 2026 | 7pm Preston Room | Informal Chat – Emily Wright adventures in 2025 – time for questions and discussions.
Friday 13 February 2026 | 7pm Preston Room | Informal chat – Tink and crew on Exeat – cruising across the Bay of Biscay to the Spanish Rias and home.
Friday 27 March 2026 | 7pm Preston Room | Informal chat – Karen Melling and crew – Ocean Hound – cruising from Exmouth to Cardiff, Ireland and West Coast Scotland.
Winter Seminars for 2024/2025
Friday December 13th 2024 | Christmas meal
Friday 24 January 2025 | Film Maiden | The story of Tracey Edwards racing around the world with an all female crew on board Maiden.
Friday 28 February 2025 | Light supper followed by talk in Preston Room by Jenny Hart and Bel Bailey “Racing around Ireland a Foxy Tale”.
Friday 21 March 2025 | Talk by Rob Adams | Trimming Sails. Second hand sailing clothing for sale too.
Friday 4th April 2025 | Start of Season Meal
Winter Seminars for 2023/2024
Thursday 7 December – Christmas Dinner
Friday 19 January 2024 – Health and Well Being on the Water.
Friday 2 February 2024 – Staying Safe on the Water to cover how to look after yourself whilst sailing a dinghy or yacht.
Friday 8 March 2024 – Sailing Kit – what to wear and new developments in sailing clothing for dinghies and yachts.
Friday 12 April 2024 – Start of Season Meal – Social event.
Winter Seminar Key Points
Weather and Tides
Weather forecasts are a prediction of what might happen and can be modelled in different ways therefore get a range of forecasts.
- Met Office https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/gbvxfqgpf#?date=2022-04-05
- WindGuru https://www.windguru.cz/712
- Windy https://www.windy.com/50.620/-3.426?50.622
- Met Office Specialist Forecast https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/coast-and-sea
- Inshore https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/coast-and-sea/inshore-waters-forecast
- Shipping Forecast https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/coast-and-sea/shipping-forecast
- Long range Forecast https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/coast-and-sea/extended-outlook
- Tides
- Easy Tide https://easytide.admiralty.co.uk/?PortID=0027
- UK Hydrographic Office
- Tide Times tables from local chandlery/marina
- Tides on the River Exe https://exe-sailing-club.org/assets/documents/Dinghies/GetRacing/exe_tides.pdf
- Use the clues around you such as: Where the moored boats are pointing/Look out for tide lines
- The RYA SafeTrx app or website
- Monitors your boat journeys and can alert emergency contacts should you fail to arrive on time. Allows you to track your journey on your phone.
- For all recreational boat users, particularly dinghy cruisers, PWC users, RIB users, canoers, kayakers, wind and kite surfers and smaller boat users.
- With an easily accessible and simple to use means that can inform HM Coastguard of their voyage plans and dynamic location in the event of distress.
- Free to download and there is no charge to use it.
- For more info
https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge/safety/keep-in-touch/safetrx
Buoyancy Aids and Life Jackets
- Buoyancy aids (BAs) are suitable for any water craft where there is a chance you may well end up in the water – ie dinghy, windsurf, jet ski, SUP, kayak, etc.
- BAs allow the use a greater movement when they are in the water and you are often able to swim and get yourself out of the water.
- A BA will have a buoyancy of 50 Newtons (N) or more – we are assuming help, or the sea bed is close by and the user will be able to self recover or be recovered fairly quickly.
- Make sure it fits and how to adjust – do not want it to float above you when you enter the water – so get hold of the shoulders and check that it does not rise above the ears when you pull upwards.
- Where to purchase – Mike from AllGadgets has some lifejackets for sale at the moment – go to https://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/home.asp for more info.
Also see links at the bottom of this page for more outlets.
- If you are wanting to do a bit of dinghy sailing tasters and not yet commit to buying one – they can be borrowed during the Improver Sailors sessions initially.
- Remember to get a BA with a minimum of 50 Newtons and if doing online know your chest and weight.
- Useful Guide to Life jackets & BAs from the RYA – click here
What to Wear! Sailing Kit Fashion Show
What to Wear when Dinghy Sailing
Footwear – grippy saling boots/wetsut suits or old trainers to protect feet
Wetsuit – warm/comfortable long/short legs
Rash vest – optional – thin top designed to be worn under a wetsuit, or in hot weather on its own. It offers both UV protection and makes wearing a wetsuit more comfortable.
Board Shorts- optional – protect wetsuit / good if you feel self concious in a wetsuit
Under wetsuit – something comfy when wet
Spray top – sailing spray top or waterproof jacket – aim to protect from wind and water
Hat- in the sun a baseball cap/sun hat for sun protection – in the colder weather a wooly hat or ear band for warmth
Gloves – optional – useful for warmth and protection from ropes
Suncream – always wear suncream – even when it is cloudy you can still get sunburnt
Sunglasses – UV protection – see below for more info
Taking Care of Your Eyes
It is so important to protect your eyes from UV when out on the water, and for ocular comfort to minimise glare. Non prescription sunglasses are widely available. Non prescription or prescription sunglasses can be purchased from any Optical practice.
Local shops and websites as recommended by the ESC Dinghy Racing group
Mike at AllGadgets Marine https://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/home.asp
Seawood Chandlery, Exmouth Marina
MacAusland Optomestrists, Victoria Road, Exmouth
Edge Watersports, Exmouth Marina
Sideshore, Queens Drive – preloved second hand wetsuits
https://www.coastwatersports.co.uk based in Axminster
https://jimmygreen.com based in Beer
Other websites where kit can be purchased
https://www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk
https://www.marinesuperstore.com
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk – cheaper end of the market
Last updated 10:51 on 30 October 2025