Training
As a club we have long understood the importance of both improving the sailing skills of our members, and also of encouraging non members to get involved with sailing and to learn how to sail a dinghy. Our sailing training sessions were started over seventeen years ago by a small band of members, ably led by Peter and Denise Grant.
The importance of these sessions was recognised in 2008 when Peter and Denise Grant were awarded a Lifetime Commitment Award by the RYA which they received from HRH The Princess Royal who is the current President of the Royal Yachting Association.
From small beginnings over the years the club has invested in its training by increasing the quantity and improving the quality of the boats available, to the extent that it probably has the largest fleet of club owned boats in the area.
For this year the fleet will include; 6 Oppies, 6 Toppers, 3 RS Fevas and 3 Wayfarers.
The club has also improved the quality of the training by supporting club members in gaining RYA Instructors qualifications. As a result, it is able to draw on a pool of qualified instructors, as well as a number of experienced club sailors, who are very much involved in the training sessions.
The training takes place on the river Waveney at the Club and is available to all club members, both juniors and adults, at no extra cost. You will need to provide a buoyancy aid or lifejacket and come wearing some old clothes. It is also recommended that you have a spare set of clothes available, along with waterproofs. In the event of summer coming early it is also advisable to wear UV protection, especially as the reflection off the water increases the risk of sun damaged skin. Please note that the clubhouse now has hot showers available.
Please be advised that these sessions are extremely popular and it not always possible to get as much time on the water as we would ideally like. However we do also use the time on land to learn and practice sailing skills. All those helping with the sessions in any way are volunteers who give up their time to make the training sessions a success, so please bear this in mind when things may not go entirely to plan.