London Sailing Clubs
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8550
Printed Date: 17 Jan 26 at 8:54am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: London Sailing Clubs
Posted By: MattHarris
Subject: London Sailing Clubs
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 10:01pm
Potentially moving to London with the other half and have been looking at some of the clubs. Just wondering what the clubs are like? Does anyone have any insights?
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Phantom 1175 - Alice
http://www.thelostpenguin.co.uk" rel="nofollow - http://www.thelostpenguin.co.uk
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Replies:
Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 10:08pm
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Totally depends which bit/ side of London you move to - its a big place. The club link map in the tool bar is pretty good (up there in the tool bar) for getting a general feel for how many clubs are in the area, but i think more specifically you want to sail and in what way.
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Musto Skiff and Solo sailor
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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 11:20pm
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Even more to the point there are an awful lot of clubs... river sailing, puddles, medium sized reservoirs, huge reservoirs, cliquey, friendly, soulless, common classes, rare classes, almost unique classes, you can find a club for pretty much any taste...
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Posted By: Sheetpuller
Date Posted: 17 Nov 11 at 11:32pm
What do you sail? In what conditions? There are clubs on the river; those below Teddington are tidal and sailing times are dictated by the tide. Those above Teddington are non-tidal and sailing times are less restricted but some people find sailing on non-tidal waters a bit boring. Clubs like Datchet Water and Queen Mary have big reservoir waters and better wind but are bigger (more impersonal) and membership / berthing is more expensive.
London is a very big place. There are clubs in the middle of it and around the suburbs and more around the periphery. If you live in East London and want to sail at Queen Mary or Datchet (both of which are on the western side near Heathrow) you will find yourself spending an awful lot of time travelling. Sort out where in London you're going to live first and then go through the available clubs to see what suits your sort of boat, your kind of sailing and the depth of your pocket.
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I'm not arguing. I'm explaining why I'm right.
Merlin Rocket 3545 - 'Smooth Operator'
Sprint 15 1342 - 'Still Crazy'
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Posted By: rogue
Date Posted: 18 Nov 11 at 9:22am
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public transport is the other consideration... sunday's ain't the most reliable for the networks.
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Posted By: THUNT
Date Posted: 18 Nov 11 at 3:58pm
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Some clubs outside the M25 aren't a million miles away either!
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Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 18 Nov 11 at 4:03pm
How many clubs are there within the M25? A lot I think!
The there's the DFL clubs on the cosat of course....
Like anywhere else I would look at the whole deal, what class what people, what club.
400's at QMSC looks like a good package, but equally there a loads of options which seem to work very well for people with different priorites.
A Raters on the Thames is good fun and the beer is OK at the RORC....
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Posted By: MattHarris
Date Posted: 20 Nov 11 at 8:57pm
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Well up until recently i've sailed an RS400 on a northern puddle but currently i'm between boats. Possibly going to sail with the other half or buy a single hander, depends on the club and what she wants to do.
She has family in Chiswick so this is the first area we will probably look at, this puts London Corinthian, Queen Mary and Dachet within 20 minutes by car. I've had a look at the websites and Corinthian seem to sail only ents and lasers, whilst QM & Dachet cater for a lot more but seem much more expensive. Does the more money buy you more? Not that I'm after joining only one of these, i really know nothing about the various london clubs, hence the post to find out more.
I think I'm after a friendly club with a good social side where i can get to grips with a new boat without everyone taking things extremely seriously and going home as soon as racing finishes. I'm obviously going to go visit a few but you can't always judge from a single visit what the place is like...
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Phantom 1175 - Alice
http://www.thelostpenguin.co.uk" rel="nofollow - http://www.thelostpenguin.co.uk
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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 20 Nov 11 at 9:41pm
Worth looking at Island Barn as well from your description. I sail there so I'm biased, but it ticks a good few of your boxes I think.
http://www.islandbarn.org.uk - www.islandbarn.org.uk
Its another "up in the air" reservoir club, but a smaller reservoir and considerably lower fees (I wonder if Thames Water charge rent by the acre of water!?). For whatever my biased opinion is worth there's much more of a club atmosphere than QM or Datchet.
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Posted By: ChrisI
Date Posted: 20 Nov 11 at 9:42pm
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Matt,
Do come and visit London Corinthian.
Let me know when and I can introduce you to a lot of the dinghy sailors (.... we've got yacht sailors as well).
Chris
PS I've PM'd you with my phone number.
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Posted By: oldarn
Date Posted: 21 Nov 11 at 10:18am
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[QUOTE=MattHarris]Well up until recently i've sailed an RS400 on a northern puddle but currently i'm between boats. Possibly going to sail with the other half or buy a single hander, depends on the club and what she wants to do.
She has family in Chiswick so this is the first area we will probably look at, this puts London Corinthian, Queen Mary and Dachet within 20 minutes by car.
Wembley S C, on the Welsh Harp, must be worth considering.
Matt, did your other half sail the 400 with you? W S C have a keen Merlin fleet and I think Lasers plus they used to be a friendly club with bar!
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thefastexcitingrunningasymmetric
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Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 21 Nov 11 at 10:59am
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I recall Wraysbury lake had quite a congenial atmosphere back in the day, no idea if it's still functional even and Welsh Harp was another smaller atmospheric club than the big West London Machines.
King George I never really like that much but it does serve the East and North Better, never raced at Corinithian but have heard good things about it, but times do change, the Thames Clubs can be a bit snooty or come across that way until you get your feet under the table so to speak, but hey we're all different types, I bet Broadstairs aren't all disinterested buggers, you just have to meet a few more of them than the first one you stray into.
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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 21 Nov 11 at 12:23pm
when I called in to Island Barn to collect a mast from JimC the members made me feel very welcome while I waited for him to come ashore. I had a winter membership at Datchet but it wasn't for me. There are lots and lots of little clubs scattered around that have a much more family feel.
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the same, but different...
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Posted By: ColPrice2002
Date Posted: 21 Nov 11 at 12:35pm
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Matt,
(and anyone else!) do feel free to drop into Burghfield SC.
I know it's a little outside the London area, but we do have a friendly reputation:-
Sailing is reasonable (ex gravel pit) and the club runs rescue cover on Saturays (about June to Sept) for casual sailing.
Club is open daily, well used but tidy and comfortable for non-sailing as well).
There's also a catering service on Sunday lunch (Staurdays and Wed evenings is season) - which is quite reasonable.
Colin
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Posted By: a_dowley
Date Posted: 21 Nov 11 at 1:03pm
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Marconi is one of those clubs outside the M25 which have good facilities and sailing at all states of the tide on the River Blackwater in Essex.
http://www.marconi-sc.org.uk - Marconi Sailing Club
Lots of different fleets for any boat to slot into.
We have members who travel from Surrey, Rickmansworth, Reading, Ilford and a lot of other places to sail there.
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Posted By: gordon1277
Date Posted: 21 Nov 11 at 1:29pm
Hi Matt
You would be very welcome at Lee on Solent we have class racing for 400,s and if your good lady is too light laser 2000 as well as fast and slow Handicap.
I guarantee a friendly welcome as just look for the lone Phantom and I will do my best to help.
We stop racing from beginning of December to late March but the bar is open every day.
Regards
Gordon
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Gordon
Lossc
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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 21 Nov 11 at 4:47pm
Imagine if lee on solent really was in London? How fantastic would that be! I would join for sure.
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the same, but different...
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Posted By: mo.allen
Date Posted: 21 Nov 11 at 4:50pm
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Hi Matt, King George is in East London half way between the M25 and the North Circular. You can buddy sail during daylight hours and we race every Sunday throughout the year and on Thursday evening in the summer. You are very welcome to come and have a look for yourself. I can organise a club boat or you are welcome to try out one of mine. Here's a link to a map http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&cp=14&gs_id=1c&xhr=t&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=853&wrapid=tljp1321894022467018&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=king+george+sailing+club&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=king+george+sailing+club&hnear=0x48761de1eed21a13:0xa0eae30461e4780,Walthamstow&cid=0,0,4275633270619237346&ei=h4DKTr2_F9O68gPe5tyBAQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&sqi=2&ved=0CBEQ_BI - http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&cp=14&gs_id=1c&xhr=t&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=853&wrapid=tljp1321894022467018&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=king+george+sailing+club&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=king+george+sailing+club&hnear=0x48761de1eed21a13:0xa0eae30461e4780,Walthamstow&cid=0,0,4275633270619237346&ei=h4DKTr2_F9O68gPe5tyBAQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&sqi=2&ved=0CBEQ_BI Ping me directly if you would like to find out any more and good luck for your new life in London. Cheers Mo RS700 - 806 RS200 - 997
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