Sailing
Group Leader: John Harris
Meeting place: Hawley Lake Sail Training Centre
Day of the week: Thursday
Time: 10:00am-1:00pm (Please try to arrive by 09:30 for boat set-up)
Frequency: Weekly during sailing season which ended 26th October 2023 (restarting May 2024)
Cost: £97 for 2023, and included annual group-level membership of the Sailing Club (It was £88 for 2022, the increase this year was due to general cost increases and fuel for safety boat)
Contact: Click Sailing Group Leader to email the Group Leader. Please include your telephone number in your email message.
The taster sessions for 2023 were on 14th and 28th September at Hawley Lake, the sessions had a high level of attendance. As with this year we plan to run a 1-week intensive course from 22nd until 26th April 2024 ready for the new sailing season which starts in early May 2024.
The joint-u3a sailing group, formed in September 2010, meets at Hawley Lake Sail Training Centre. The 2023 sailing season ran every Thursday from 4th May until 26th October. In addition to the u3a Thursday morning sailing, members are able to sail on one other day per week (Monday to Friday), including during the winter, at no additional cost and to use the club facilities for the open events.
PLEASE NOTE: The u3a sailing has now closed for 2023; however, paid-up 2023 members of our group are still entitled to sail one weekday per week within the club opening hours for the winter. For winter sailing additional caution and protection is required.
URGENT NOTICE: The 2023 Sailing Group Christmas Lunch will be at the De Havilland Arms in Fleet at 12:30 on Thursday 14th December. Please let Tim Lyons know if you wish to attend.
What we do:
Sailing in dinghies for beginners who will be accompanied by experienced sailors and hopefully trained sufficiently to be able to pass RYA level 1 and 2 standards by the end of the 1-week intensive course. Our normal Thursday morning session consists of rigging and launching the boats, a briefing for the day's activities and then three or four races prior the recovery of the boats, de-rig and stow sails etc.
More experienced sailors can try single hander dinghies.
Bring:
- Change of clothes, towel (you never know)
- Windproof lightweight jacket or similar
- Old trousers, warm top (or possibly long sleeved shirt if sun ever comes out)
- Something with which to tie your glasses on
- Plimsols or similar which can get wet (sandals are not good)
- Hat if it’s cold or sunny