What We Do

Our most obvious activity is the meeting we organise once a month (except in high summer) when we have informative and entertaining speakers to talk about nautical matters. A look at our programme for this year and the reports on past speakers will give you some idea of the range of topics we cover.

We also organise some technical visits: last year we played on a big-ship simulator and watched a liferaft being serviced. On top of this we have a social programme with a summer event or two and an end-of-year dinner.

But perhaps most importantly we get yachtsmen and women together to talk about their favourite pastime: messing about in boats. You'll meet people who have sailed round the world or cruised the Arctic Circle, some who know the Eastern Mediterranean with a passion and others who enjoy the coastal waters and harbours of the Irish Sea. Some just sail the blissful English Lakes or cruise the French canals. So, whatever you interest, you are likely to find someone to share it with.

We offer some practical help to sailors too. Our burgee is seen around the world so our Port Information service can put members planning extended cruises in touch with others who know the area. The crew and skipper register (have a look in the members' area of the site) helps match boats, skippers and aspiring crews.

Our History

The Manchester Cruising Association was founded in 1913 by 14 yachtsmen, based on an original idea of one Colonel R.S. Newton. They all sailed Liverpool Bay and the Welsh coast, but lived in the busy city and port of Manchester. The first meeting was held in the December of 1913 at the Bush Hotel, in Deansgate, when the ten yachtsmen present elected Sawley Brown as Chairman.

The early meetings were held in the back room of The Rising Sun Public House (a city centre bar) and the Association's toast "to they who go down to the sea in ships, a safe and speedy return" was created because the yachts of the day offered neither speed nor safety with any degree of certainty. The burgee was designed to incorporate the International Code Flags - M, C and A - which can just about be recognised if it is studied carefully!

Between the World Wars, sailing became available to an increasing number of people and the huge number of Mancunians who took the "Pines Express" to join the Navy in both conflicts greatly added to the enthusiasm of these landlocked sailors when the wars were over.

By the early 1960's, the 'Dinghy Section' of the MCA had been formed, comprising the Budworth Sailing Club and the Debdale Sailing Club - which has now died of vandalism. Around this time women were allowed to attend Association meetings!

Meetings describing members' experiences evolved to talks by experts on every aspect of moving and maintaining boats many of whom were, or later became, internationally known.

Olin Stephens was the first speaker to attract over 100 members and the Association outgrew the Rising Sun - and other venues, in rapid succession - until it gained the use of the Mechanics Institute. The quality of speakers was maintained, as a glance at the current programme shows. Tom Cunliffe has become a 'regular' and just a few years ago, Chay Blyth's Great Britain II was roughed out on a café table after one of his visits to the Association!

The nature of the meetings have changed little, providing an opportunity for a drink, a cheerful chat (often with recollections of situations we were glad to get out of 'in one piece') and a speaker who gives us the opportunity to gain a little more understanding (often about getting out of even more tough corners) of a hobby where learning has no end. Meetings are held once a month.