Haven Knox-Johnston announces the line up for its 2026 expert led, free to attend, webinar series

by Haven Knox-Johnston 3 Feb 12:00 PST

An expert-led free series of webinars © Haven Knox-Johnston

Following strong attendance and excellent feedback in previous years, Haven Knox-Johnston has announced the line up for its 2026 free webinar series, "From The Helm". The four webinars cover a diverse range of topics and reflect the company's ongoing commitment to providing practical, real-world guidance for boat owners, cruising sailors, and dinghy sailors, helping them make the most of their time on the water and take their boating to the next level.

As in previous years, the 2026 programme brings together experienced sailors and subject matter experts to share first-hand knowledge on destinations, boat preparation and alternative cruising challenges. Each session will include practical advice and a Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions directly to the experts.

The upcoming webinars include:

Single-handed ocean crossing - learnings from an everyday sailor (in partnership with the Cruising Association)

In this webinar, CA Member Martin Sutcliffe shares his story of sailing single-handed to the Azores and back. He is a sailor many people will recognise themselves in, and his honest account of mistakes, successes, lessons learned, and reflections from real long-distance sailing is both engaging and relatable. There are plenty of practical takeaways for all sailors, even if their own plans never take them quite so far offshore. This webinar is organised in partnership with our sister company, Haven Knox-Johnston Specialist, who arranged insurance cover for Martin for his solo trip.

When: Thursday 12th February, 7:30pm GMT

Cruising the Isles of Scilly (in partnership with the Cruising Association)

For cruising sailors, the Isles of Scilly are a firm favourite. This webinar is not to be missed by anyone planning a trip to the Isles of Scilly this year. Robin Baron, President of the Cruising Association and South West England Regional Editor for the Cruising Almanac, shares practical, first-hand knowledge to help sailors plan and enjoy a successful visit. The webinar covers passage planning, key navigation considerations, preparation, and what to expect when cruising between the islands.

When: Tuesday 10th March, 7:30pm GMT

Wayfarer Cruising

Experienced Wayfarer sailor Jonathan Ferguson shares how he accomplishes multi day, longer distance cruising in his 16' open dinghy. From boat setup and storage to clothing, victualling and sleeping aboard, this session offers a realistic insight into what is possible when it comes to dinghy cruising.

When: Thursday 19th March. 7:30pm GMT

Insurance isn't a breakdown policy - how to maintain your boat, with Ben Sutcliffe-Davies

Unfortunately, despite what some people might hope, an insurance policy is not a maintenance contract. Across all insurers, rejected insurance claims often come down to one simple issue: lack of maintenance. In this on demand webinar, Ben Sutcliffe-Davies draws on more than 45 years of hands-on experience in the marine industry, specialising in boat building and marine surveying.

He explains what is expected of boat owners when it comes to maintenance, and where things commonly fall down. This webinar helps you understand how to avoid being caught out, and how proper care can keep your boat in better condition for longer. This webinar is aimed at all boat owners.

When: on demand, available late February.

Subscribe to Haven KJ's social media for more information, or see www.havenkj.com/boating-webinar-series

Paul Knox-Johnston, Sales and Marketing Manager at Haven KJ, said, "Our webinar programme has become a key method for us to support the boating community. We simply could not deliver these sessions without the generosity and expertise of those who partner with us. By working with experienced sailors and trusted experts, we aim to provide practical, honest advice that helps boat owners make the most of their time on the water, whatever their ambitions."

All webinars are free to attend and open to boat owners and sailors of all experience levels. Each webinar will be recorded and uploaded to the Haven KJ YouTube Channel. Those who are registered for the webinars, but unable to attend live will be sent a link to the recording after the event.