Over 80 members gathered in Harwich 30 January – 1 February, 2026 for the AGM weekend. Feedback has been wholly positive with people noting that although they’d perhaps sailed past Harwich many times, or used the ferry, did not realise how interesting this historic little town is. Members were welcomed on Friday evening at The Alma Inn and Lambard’s Salt House for an excellent supper in these two adjacent historic hostelries dating back to the 1850s. This allowed plenty of time to ‘mingle’ as Gaffers from Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland, Wales and English Areas made their introductions or renewed old acquaintances.
Activities on Saturday morning ranged from visiting the RNLI station, touring ‘Mi Amigo’, the gloriously vivid red restored lightship LV18, moored on Halfpenny Pier and guided walking tours of the town. The RNLI trip included going aboard both lifeboats and on LV18 we heard all about the Pirate Radio stations of the 1960s which were supported by LV18. The tours allowed members to explore those hidden corners inhabited by Samuel Pepys, Daniel Defoe and Christopher Jones (master of the ‘Mayflower’) amongst others, old and new lighthouses, inns, hotels, the church, the pier and, of course, the historic buildings of Trinity House. Old Harwich now shares the harbour with the 2nd biggest container port in Europe across the water at Felixstowe and a major ferry terminal at Dovercourt.
The ‘main event’ or Association AGM was held in the Harwich Town Sailing Club who made us very welcome facilitating the meeting, including Zoom connectivity and a bar in a large room overlooking the Harbour. The assembled group then took the short walk to the splendid Pier Hotel, built in 1860 at the height of Continental rail/sea travel and now offering fine dining and accommodation overlooking the Harbour. In their beautiful dining rooms we were served an excellent two course meal using fresh, locally-sourced produce. The evening entertainment was back at the Sailing Club with the room converted for use as a music venue with the Black Deep Shanty Crew and Claudia Myatt to lead the singing.
On Sunday morning Claudia hosted an excellent talk ‘Sketchbook Sailor’ recounting, through her lively illustrations, passages aboard ships and sailing boats from the Antarctic to the Arctic. This was very well-attended aboard the D-Day Landing Barge Kitchen LBK16, now the home of Harwich and Dovercourt Sailing Club. Thanks go to the Club for hosting the morning, opening the bar and to Claire’s Coffee Lounge for providing an excellent buffet lunch to round off an excellent weekend.
Thanks go the the East Coast AGM26 Sub-Committee who worked tirelessly to ensure the weekend ran smoothly, to Harwich Town and Harwich & Dovercourt Sailing Clubs for accommodating us for the AGM and Sunday talk, The Pier Hotel for Saturday night dinner, Alma Inn and Lambards Salthouse for the Friday reception meals, Walking Tour guides, Harwich Society, Harwich Tourism Group, Black Deep Shanty Crew, Claudia Myatt, Radio ‘Mi Amigo’ LV18 team, RNLI Visitor Officers, Claire’s Coffee Lounge and all the Members who joined in with the weekend activities.
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