The Cruising Association recruited more than 100 new members at the London Boat Show, while also welcoming existing members, Paul and Rachel Chandler, to its stand.

Following their release from Somalia after a year in captivity, the Chandlers were among the 15 per cent of the association’s 3,500 members who visiting the stand during the nine-day show, where the couple spoke about plans to restore their 38ft yacht Lynn Rival.

Alice McSeveney, the Cruising Association‘s marketing officer, said: ‘This was my first show for the CA and we had a terrific reception from cruising yachtsmen and motor boaters for several reasons.

‘Our recently launched Inland Waterways and Blue Water groups are proving very popular, the courses we run cover more topics than ever before, and our website and regional talks, meetings and social programmes are more popular and extensive than ever.

‘We’re also very active in consultative areas like marine conservation zones, wind farm planning and electronic border controls, something which seems to be appreciated by many leisure sailors.’

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