Sailors from the Reading area have 'laid up' their boats for the year as they look ahead to the sailing season in 2025. 

It is traditional for sailors to have a ‘laying up’ celebration at the end of the sailing season when boats are laid up for winter.

The Reading Offshore Sailing Club (ROSC), a club for all those interested in sailing and the sea, including non-boat owners, held it’s laying up supper on November 30.

A delicious meal was provided and the celebration gave members a chance to share sailing experiences and reminisce over highlights of this year as well as to look forward to and plan future events.

The supper was held at the premises of the Upper Thames Motor Yacht Club on the waterside, next to the Mill in Sonning, the usual venue for ROSC meetings.

The Club Commodore, Jackie Bignell at the helm of her boat. Credit: ROSCIt has been a successful season with a variety of interesting and fun events.

During the winter there were monthly social evenings with a series of talks by experts.

These were as varied as the story of the Vasa, a 17th century warship raised from the deep in Stockholm harbour, the work of the Marine Conservation Society, Cruising in the Netherlands and amusing but cautionary tales of Sailing Mishaps.

The programme included a very enjoyable film review evening where six members each presented a film connected to sailing and the sea – the ‘ROSCARS’! We were lucky with the weather both for the summer barbeque, held on the waterside near the Mill, and the May weekend rally in the Solent.

Mike Boweyer, the Club’s founder, at the May rally. Credit: ROSC

The eight boats included two charter yachts, skippered by qualified members of the club, which gave non-boat owners the chance to get afloat and develop or hone their sailing skills. The year will end with a skittles evening and a Christmas walk and pub lunch, both in December. We are now looking ahead to next year when the regular monthly meetings, usually held on the first Monday of the month, will begin in February.

All the details of our programme of events can be seen on the sailing club website.

If you want to add a little nautical sparkle to the dark days of winter and beyond and to meet others with an interest in sailing and water based activities, do come and join us – visitors will be most welcome.

Accompanying pictures with captions: Mike Boweyer, the Club’s founder, at the May rally Sailing to the Cowes rally The Club Commodore, Jackie Bignell at the helm.