About the Go Sailing Association

Originally established in 1979 as the British Gas Seafarers' Association, the now independent Go Sailing Association, is a leading UK sailing association, run by our members for our members and open to anyone wishing to join.

Although each of our yachts has its own base, that does not stop us doing other things. One year, several members organised a chain of charters to Portugal and back. Another year, members took one-week charters to sail clockwise around Britain (though we went through the Caledonian Canal rather than rounding Cape Wrath!) - this was known as the  "Round Britain Crews". Most years, one or more boats will be relocated for a time - to the Scottish West Coast, the Channel Islands or Brest being recent examples. It all makes for varied cruising.

In a nod to our heritage, we have three yachts all with the word "Flame" in their name - Celtic Flame II, Hebridean Flame II and Ocean Flame IV. Each boat has a volunteer bosun and there is a Fleet Manager to co-ordinate maintenance and member work parties.

The Association is managed by a National Committee, headed by a Commodore. Others on the Committee have special responsibilities such as cruise booking administration, skipper approval and finance, and the Trustees who are named on the ship’s documents on behalf of the members. We have members in Scotland, England and Wales.

GSA cruises can be a GSA bareboat cruise (a whole yacht) for a half or full week (or longer), or a GSA club cruise where we provide a skipper and members join the cruise on a per berth basis. We offer club skills cruises for those wishing to develop sailing skills.

Ocean Flame - the original. A Buchanan Red Admiral and something of a squeeze (36 foot and nine berths), but it was the first GSA experience for many of us.