A story of Pride

A club with pride

The Sailing & Cruising Association (S&CA) began back in 1980, when a small group of sailors decided it was time to create a space where people could enjoy boating without having to hide who they were. Four decades on, that same spirit of openness and adventure is still what makes us tick.Today,

S&CA is the home of LGBTQ+ boating in the UK - a friendly, active community where everyone’s welcome, whether you’re an experienced skipper, a total beginner, or somewhere in between.

Where we sail

We’re what’s known as a “virtual” sailing club, meaning we’re not tied to a single marina or location. Most of our events happen along the South Coast (Solent, Portsmouth, Lymington, Isle of Wight) and the East Coast (Thames Estuary), but our members are dotted all over the UK and beyond.

Some of us sail in Scotland, the West Country, and even the Mediterranean, while others explore the inland waterways or race dinghies on rivers and reservoirs. Every year, we try to venture somewhere new - often forming a flotilla of charter boats for a week of adventure and fun.

We’ve even raced internationally under the Gay UK Sailing Team banner at events like the Gay Games, from Sydney to Chicago. The planet’s mostly water, after all — why limit ourselves?

Who we are

We’re a community of over 300 members - skippers, crew, powerboaters, and complete beginners alike. The S&CA welcomes everyone who identifies within the LGBTQ+ community, along with their friends, families, and allies.

We’re proud to be an inclusive and supportive club, and that means more than just words. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and have a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination - whether based on sexuality, gender identity, race, disability, or anything else.

We’re about kindness, connection, and a shared love of the water.

All hands on deck

Both women and the trans community have been a valued part of the S&CA family for over 20 years, and their presence continues to shape our club today. Whether skippering, crewing, organising events, or just enjoying life afloat, our members are a driving force behind our community’s energy and success.

We’re especially keen to see more women, trans, and non-binary sailors joining the community - discovering the joy of sailing, learning new skills, and taking the helm, both literally and figuratively.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to try sailing but don’t know where to start,” ... you’ve just found your crew.

What we sail

You’ll find just about every kind of boat represented in the S&CA fleet.
Around a quarter of our members own boats - mostly yachts between
25 and 45 feet - but we’ve also got:

• Day boats and dinghies on estuaries and rivers
• Powerboats, launches, and RIBs
• Narrowboats cruising the canals

Whatever you’re into, there’s someone here who shares your passion - and if not, we’re always open to new ideas. The club is run by members, for members, so if you’ve got an idea for a new section or event, just shout.

Why it matters?

At its heart, the S&CA isn’t just about boats - it’s about belonging.
It’s about making friends, learning new skills, and feeling the wind on your face knowing you can be completely yourself.

So whether you’re a lifelong sailor or someone who’s never stepped aboard, you’re welcome here. Come sail with us - and be part of a community that’s been making waves for over 40 years.

Club history

The Sailing and Cruising Association has its roots in the days when Gay Liberation was the buzz word; the annual Gay Pride March in London was a platform for increasing visibility and several supportive social groups had sprung from the Campaign for Homosexual Equality, especially in London. These groups often had to be discreet about their existence in the days when there was no Internet, no legal recognition of gay and lesbian partnerships and the age of consent for gay men was 21. Initial contact with one’s chosen group was often made by writing to a private mail box and members were referred to by first names and / or initials.

In the 1970s most of these groups were general interest and social; a way of meeting other gay and lesbian people at members’ homes for coffee evenings and in private bars at pubs. There were a handful of specialist groups but usually these were based upon fetishes and only a very few were based upon a non-sexual interest in sporting or outdoor activities.

In the summer of 1980 a gay yachtsman named Jack had his yacht stolen from Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. It was eventually traced to Brazil and Jack had to fly to Rio de Janeiro in order to reclaim his boat and to get a scratch crew together to sail it back to Europe. During that long crossing of the Atlantic he had to keep his sexuality a secret from his crew.

Upon his return to the UK, Jack expressed his frustration to a bridge-playing friend, none other than a subsequent S&CA Commodore, Bob Nairn. The plot was hatched to put an advertisement in the gay papers and see who turned up. The secret recognition code was to carry a rolled up copy of a yachting magazine (there was some confusion as Jack had intended for people to recognise him by the rolled up magazine but it transpired that everyone arrived bearing a suitable nautical periodical!). About 20 turned up at the Dickens Inn in the summer of 1980 and the rest – as they say – is history. We have been fortunate that founder members were able to join us for at the 25 year reunion in 2005, the Silver Jubilee in 2010 and even managed to join us virtually for the on-line Ruby Jubilee celebrations at the height of the Coronavirus Pandemic in 2020!  A few of our current members have supported us consistently since those pioneering days.

The original membership list was typed A4 paper using a second-hand manual Olivetti typewriter and photocopied. It stayed that way until it was turned into an A5 booklet in October 1983, when the membership data was held on a BBC “B” home computer.  The Newsletter followed the same format until January 1989 when the title “Newsbuoy” was first coined. From April 1987 to November 1988 the magazine went bilingual while we nurtured our sister organisation in France until they reached the critical mass to allow Viole et Croisière en Liberté to fly on its own. At one time the East Coast contingent was almost as strong as the South Coast’s. Also, power boats started to form a new force under the late Robert Lloyd, who was skipper of the famed Princess 42 ‘Just Cruising’, also known as “Patio Doors”.

With a successful racing section competing under the banner of the Gay UK Sailing Team (GUST) and a number of women only boats, the Sailing and Cruising Association soon established itself on the world wide stage. We federated with clubs in America, Europe, Australia and South Africa. We also affiliated to the RYA and were recognised in 2011 as runner up in the RYA Club of the Year!  and have come a long way since 1980.

For many of us the Club has been a life changing experience, bringing a lot of fun and enjoyment; thanks must go to all those whose energy over the years has contributed to the development of the Club. Sadly, not all are with us now, but many are fondly remembered. Long may its success continue.