Sailing Ahead
About our Maritime Mission & Vision.
The core values, storied history, and the dedicated minds -
team and authors alike - that navigate our course.
The Foundation thrives under the guidance of trustees from the Royal Cruising Club and a dedicated executive team, with the majority of operations enthusiastically supported by volunteers.
The Millenium Lighthouse was funded by the Friends of the Beaulieu River and the RCC Pilotage Foundation; it was opened on 8 July 2000 by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.
About the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation
The Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in 2005 and is a registered charity. We are proud to have Trinity House as our Patron.
What we do:
The Foundation collects and researches written, photographic and chart information relating to small
boat pilotage, navigation and operation, climate and weather conditions, including information from
remote areas of the world where other sources of information are scarce or non-existent. We then publish
this information in the form of conventional books, downloads, e-books, website passage planning guides,
and other media.
We aim to produce and maintain high quality pilotage information.
How we work:
The Foundation thrives under the guidance of Trustees from the Royal Cruising Club and a
dedicated Executive Team. The majority of operations are supported by dedicated volunteers.
Our Vision
Become the leading source of quality pilotage information for cruising areas worldwide.
Our Mission
Collate and publish small vessel pilotage information for the benefit of cruising sailors worldwide, broadening access to its portfolio, expanding coverage, and maintaining excellence.
Our Values
Rigorous and Objective
Collaborative
Pioneering
Philanthropic
Educational and Inspiring
Integrity
The Strategy to Deliver our Vision…
Collaboration and Development
Enhance sourcing of pilotage information through active collaboration with similar clubs and entities.
Expand the Foundation’s website as a central hub for pilotage information.
Resource Management
Maintain a network of experienced authors through connections with the Royal Cruising Club, other clubs, and stakeholders such as publishers and editors.
Quality Assurance
Ensure our publications’ accuracy, relevance, and authority through skilled authorship and meticulous editing.
Expansion and Innovation
Develop new areas of content based on opportunities through strong partnerships.
Adapt to advancements in publishing media to spread the Foundation’s resources.
Marketing and Outreach
Support the marketing efforts of publishers to enhance sales.
Boost the Foundation’s visibility and brand recognition in yachting media and through social media.
Foster relationships with key maritime and navigational organizations while preserving independence and objectivity.
Continually enhance the Foundation’s website to reinforce its role as a pivotal source of pilotage information.
Our History
In order to provide cruising sailors worldwide with reliable pilotage and navigation information, we have evolved over the years to expand our reach and adapt to the changing needs of the sailing community. Follow our history here.
New Website 2025
A new website was developed to provide a fresh, modern look, streamline navigation, enhance user accessibility, and optimise the display of geo-referenced data for a more intuitive and efficient user experience.
Explore with Imray
The Foundation worked closely on Imray's Explore with Imray digital service.
This provides most of Imray’s library of pilot books in digital form and enables users to download the relevant section of the pilot book for a particular location at the click of a mouse, alongside a social hub for the exchange of information.
New Name And Logo
To reflect the close association with our parent organisation, our name was changed to Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation. In addition, a new logo was designed.
These will appear on all future publications but the website will remain as www.rccpf.org.uk
Cruising Notes
A new system for managing and displaying geo-referenced pilotage information is introduced in collaboration with the Royal Cruising Club.
In time they became known as ePilots and, particularly with Kindle editions, eBooks. To start with the original work came from the records of Pete and Annie Hill's voyages to the South Atlantic.
New Website
With the aim of providing closer integration with the pilotage information collected by RCC members and to allow for the display of geo-referenced data with a more professional appearance a new website was developed.
EPilots
In parallel with publishing PPGs the Pilotage Foundation developed 'web pilots' to cover remote areas. In time, they became known as ePilots, Kindle editions and eBooks.
In time they became known as ePilots and, particularly with Kindle editions, eBooks. To start with the original work came from the records of Pete and Annie Hill's voyages to the South Atlantic.
2nd Website Launched
This site brought in a modern presentation; it provided a smooth transition from Mk1, had the capacity for expansion and transformed the public image of the Pilotage Foundation.
Website Development
The original Pilotage Foundation website was designed and built by Peter Price. The information was presented as a list of publications and current supplements. The UK Passage Planning Guides (PPGs) were also added in 2003.
The Passage Planning Guides (PPGs) from UK were added in 2003.
A "New Look"
A 'new look' set out to modernise all aspects of the Pilotage Foundation books. The broad thrust was agreed by the Management Committee and close liaison with Imray.
Its execution across the range of books was driven by the Director and Assistant Director, Martin Walker from April 2004 and Ros Hogbin. Early elements were used in FIG 3rd and Atlantic Islands 4th but the major advances were introduced and developed from Mike and Gill Barron's clear and thorough presentation of North Biscay 7th. Close liaison was needed with Imray as the Pilotage Foundation now specified the layout parameters to favour the reader rather than leave it to the publisher to make best use of space.
Classic Passages
The Classic Passages were a series of articles written by the Pilotage Foundation authors and published by Yachting Monthly. The articles were combined later into a book by Andrew Bray. Classic Passages included popular crossings and coastal passages in the English Channel and Port Guides to the French Coast, Normandy, North Brittany and South Brittany.
The articles were combined later into a book by Andrew Bray. Classic Passages included popular crossings and coastal passages in the English Channel, listed below, and also Port Guides to the French Coast , Normandy, North Brittany and South Brittany by Kitty Hampton and James Mather.
- South Coast to Cherbourg - Andrew Bray
- Dover Straits - Michael Lewin-Harris
- Eastern Channel - Michael Greville
- South Coast to Quiberon - Linda and Martin Hunter
- henal du Four and Raz de SeinC - Kitty Hampton
- Coast to the Isles of Scilly - David Batten
Foundation Of The Pilotage Foundation
Established in 1976, following a gift from Dr Fred Ellis RCC, the Pilotage Foundation was independently established as a charity. The Foundation's charitable objective was, and remains, "to advance the education of the public in the science and practice of navigation".
An independent charity known as the RCC Pilotage Foundation was formed and Dr Ellis added his house to his already generous gift of money to form the Foundation’s endowment. The Foundation’s charitable objective was, and remains, to advance the education of the public in the science and practice of navigation.