OFFSHORE CRUISING CLUB

 Overlord in the Crinan Canal, June 2006.                                                Photo © Maggie Petrie

Enjoy Sailing Overlord, a Classic Yacht

            
Our club is built around Overlord, which is a magnificent 10-berth, 58 foot Bermudan sloop built in 1936 by Abeking & Rasmussen of Lemverder for the Luftwaffe.   She was part of a fleet of 100 sq.metre, 50 sq.metre and 30 sq.metre yachts used at Lemverder for Officer training and in particular, for training Luftwaffe navigators.   In 1945, Pelikan, as Overlord was then named, plus many more yachts in the fleet were taken as prizes of war at Kiel and later included in the reparations agreement.  Many of the yachts were distributed amongst the British Services and Pelikan, was used by The Sappers at Chatham who re-named her Overlord.  Between 1946 and 1955 she had a distinguished RORC record with the Sapper Yacht Club.  In 1961 she was bought by Tony Venables, a 33 year old retired Army Officer who had been her skipper whilst serving in the Royal Army Service Corps.  Tony, who was planning to sell her after two years, to recoup his capital and the running costs, was persuaded to retain her and formed the Overlord Sailing Club, now the Offshore Cruising Club.  Even though we now have 200 members we still consider ourselves a group of friends and Tony is now the Admiral of the club.  
 

Our members range from very experienced sailors, to those who had never set foot on a boat before sailing on Overlord. We are well aware that a crew has to be made up, not only of good sailors but also people who can cook, wash up, lift the spirits of the crew when they are feeling down, have a sense of humour and loads of enthusiasm. 
 

The sailing programme varies each year, depending on where the members wish to sail. Overlord is usually berthed at Gosport and sails the home waters during the spring and early summer, before setting off for cruising grounds that could include either the West coast of Scotland to the north, South-West Ireland to the west, the Canaries to the south or Greece, Turkey and Croatia to the east. In 2008, Overlord is sailing to the Baltic, visiting Germany, Sweden, Finland and Estonia.

In addition to our sailing programme, we hold several social functions throughout the year, the annual Barbeque, Dinner Dance, Commissioning Party, and the Regatta.

How to contact us

If you would like to receive our Sailing Programme and Newsletter please e-mail the OCC Membership Secretary, including your name, home address and telephone number.