Please select your home edition
Edition
HKJ YY Leaderboard

Review of Laser Sailing at Stokes Bay Sailing Club

by Lydia Barber 5 Mar 2020 09:24 GMT 21-22 March 2020
Laser Sailing at Stokes Bay © Tanya Piper

Ask somebody where the sailing hub of the UK is, the answer? The south coast. Ask somebody where to Laser sail on the south coast, the answer? Stokes Bay.

One of the most well renowned sailing clubs, Stokes Bay SC, is situated in Gosport. The club has produced many champions and great Laser sailors such as Ben Ainslie, Steve Cockerill and Ben Elvin to name a few, many of which are current members at Stokes Bay, just waiting to race you.

The UKLA World & European Qualifier / UKLA Youth event 10 is at Stokes Bay on 21-22 March.

Numbers

The club has many Laser sailors and is normally the biggest fleet out on the water. Recently the fleet has received an influx of Students, from both Southampton Solent and the Uni of Southampton, meaning the number of Lasers sailing weekly has grown. There is a 'Stokes Bay ILCA's' WhatsApp group, where we converse times to sail, there is always somebody looking for a sail! We tend to get to the club have a chat, rig and get out sailing, with the whole Solent to play in why wouldn't you want to join us? We sail in different parts according to the tide/wind sometimes going right down to the Spit Bank Fort at Portsmouth, or all the way up to the Isle of Wight.

Our little training sessions at the weekend normally gather at least six sailors, with ten of us going out a few weeks ago, in Winter! Who knows what the warmer months are going to bring? I'm thinking more Lasers! We also rarely wait for the Weekend to sail, you can normally find some of us on the water during the week when the weather, work and university timetable align for us. Getting the hours in is crucial to getting better at Laser sailing, as we all know what a competitive class it is!

Training

As mentioned above, the 'Stokes Bay ILCA'S' group chat prompted the idea of some more 'formal' training, so towards the end of 2019 Luke South and Norman Struthers organised a training event for 10 boats with Laser sailing legend Dan Belben. Two sessions happened in 2019 with plans for more in 2020. The training is beneficial to all sailors, with starts, races and techniques all being scrutinized and put into practice. The training days were extremely affordable, less than £20 each for the day, with proper coaching from a RIB, who doesn't want that to help them improve their Laser skills?

Level of Sailing

The level of Laser sailing at Stokes hosts a great spread, from the pros competing at World and European events like Ben Elvin, the current Inland National champion, and past two-time Youth National Champion Chloe Barr. However, these front runners always have a good race against all members, knowing the tides makes a huge difference! There are also sailors relativity new to the sport learning from the best, the fleet has wide range of skill levels, all racing against some of the best, which in turn is creating a great inclusive and competitive fleet at the club!

Venue

Stokes Bay also holds a UK Laser Class Association World and European qualifier annually, why would you not want to sail at a venue that holds such a prestigious and important event for Laser sailors? The tide also has little effect on the launching at Stokes, as you can launch at high and low tide, just watch out for it on the water! You can also find most sea states on our part of the Solent, with rollers down at Portsmouth and short chop closer to the club, it's tricky to start with but I've been told once you can sail on the 'Stokes sea' you can sail anywhere. The club also has great facilities such as indoor storage for your sails, four easy to use hosepipes to rinse the boats after sailing and a great club house with a new Galley. The members are friendly and welcoming, especially within the fleet.

Final Thoughts

Overall the it is safe to say the Laser fleet at Stokes Bay is top class! The inclusive training, friendly club and amazing venue all help create the ideal place for Laser Sailors to hone their craft. The club has recently installed a new weather station too! So, you can pick and choose when to sail on the day. Come down and race us!

www.stokesbay-sc.co.uk

Related Articles

Solo and Laser open at Middle Nene
After a more than a 15 year break, these classes are together again After a more than a 15 year-long break, Middle Nene SC has re-introduced the joint Open Meeting for the Solo and Laser (ILCA) classes, and 19 competitors from MNSC and Cransley SC made the most of the near-perfect conditions on 31st May 2025. Posted on 3 Jun
Salcombe Yawls and ILCAs at Salcombe
Battling the elements in a blustery bank holiday bash The late May Bank Holiday once again saw the iconic Salcombe Yawls take to the water for the Stones Boatyard Yawl Open Meeting—a fixture now synonymous with top-class racing, fierce competition, and of course, the legendary Yeti prizes. Posted on 2 Jun
2025 Lypo-C Enoshima Olympic Week
Next-generation sailors and Olympians clash in international waters The 2025 Lypo-C Enoshima Olympic Week concluded after three days of high-level competition, bringing together 302 boats from five countries and highlighting both Olympic-calibre talent and rising youth sailors. Posted on 1 Jun
Poole Week Revitalised For 2025
New race teams and new courses for the summer's big event How do you make a great sailing week even better, without losing the elements that have always made it a great sailing week? Posted on 24 May
Get your Early Bird Abersoch Dinghy Week entry in
This ever popular family week is open to all dinghy classes and fleets Entries are now over 60 boats registered, so thanks to all of you who have entered so far, but if you want to save a few bucks please enter before the early bird rate comes to an end on the 1st June. Posted on 24 May
RCIYC Nick Cousins Memorial Spring Regatta
Superb conditions were the order of the day in Jersey Superb conditions were the order of the day for the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club's Nick Cousins Memorial Spring Regatta held in St Aubin's Bay over Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May. Posted on 22 May
ILCA 7 Spanish National Championship
Marc O'Connor takes the victory in Ibiza The final day of the Spanish ILCA 7 Class Championship concluded with three more races completed in a thrilling finish, bringing the total to ten valid races over the four days of competition. Posted on 19 May
Kai Marks Dasent Sponsored Sail Fundraiser
Raising money for Hurricane-Affected Students from Union Island Secondary School Young Sailor Kai Marks Dasent Sails from St. Vincent to Mustique to Launch Fundraising Campaign for Hurricane-Affected Students from Union Island Secondary School and Vincy Sailing Team. Posted on 19 May
The Shrink in the Drink
A world first book launch, perhaps? Andrew Hill-Smith was the third person to sail around GB in a Laser dinghy. He was the oldest person to do so, totally unsupported. It took 4 half months, and in the process, he raised over £21,000 across three charities. Posted on 18 May
Littlewood claims bronze in ILCA7 Worlds
It was a tale of two winds that decided the World Champions Zac Littlewood has claimed a bronze medal at the ILCA 7 World Championships in Qingdao, China, after an intense and unpredictable week of racing. Posted on 17 May