South Staffordshire Sailing Club welcomes over 100 visitors at Bank Holiday Open Day in the Midlands
by Samuel Bailey 7 May 11:18 BST
4 May 2026
South Staffs Open Day 2026 © Chloe Nichols
South Staffordshire Sailing Club, based at Gailey Reservoir between Stafford and Wolverhampton, welcomed a fantastic turnout for its Open Day on Monday 4th May, with well over 100 visitors arriving to try sailing and paddleboarding in calm spring sunshine.
Families, newcomers, and curious first-timers arrived steadily throughout the day, creating a lively atmosphere both on and off the water. At one point, eight club boats were running simultaneously, taking guests out for taster sessions and giving many their very first experience of sailing.
On shore, the club's training stand was busy from start to finish, with instructors and volunteers answering questions, demonstrating equipment, and helping visitors understand how easy it is to get involved in the sport.
Training Principal James Ashworth highlighted the excitement around the club's coaching and development opportunities:
"Days like this are brilliant because they show people that sailing is genuinely accessible. You don't need experience, you don't need your own boat — you just need curiosity. We had huge interest in our training programmes, and we're looking forward to helping many of today's visitors take their next steps into the sport."
The galley team were equally in demand, serving a constant stream of hot food, drinks, and sweet treats to keep everyone fuelled.
Commodore Jonathan Pugh praised the enthusiasm of both visitors and volunteers:
"It was fantastic to see so many people discovering sailing for the first time. Even with the light winds, the smiles coming off the water said everything. Our volunteers worked incredibly hard to give every visitor a warm welcome and a great experience, and we're proud to show just how friendly and accessible our club really is."
The club now looks forward to welcoming many of the day's visitors back for beginner courses, junior sessions, and social sailing over the summer.
Did You Miss Our Open Day?
Fear not! Contact us on our website to arrange a FREE taster session!
www.southstaffssailingclub.co.uk/contact
Fancy Learning To Sail?
Why not book onto one of our RYA Level 1/2 courses?
Courses are available throughout the year and are a great way to learn the ropes!
www.southstaffssailingclub.co.uk/booking/type/training