Please select your home edition
Edition
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP TOP

Record number of people try sailing at Dovestone Sailing Club

by Nik Lever 2 May 2024 00:47 PDT 27 April 2024
Amber Smith, Tom Jowett and Graham Massey during Dovestone Sailing Club's Discover Sailing event © Nik Lever

A record 70 participants took the opportunity to get out on the water during Dovestone Sailing Club's Discover Sailing event on Saturday 27 April.

The day was part of a national Royal Yachting Association (RYA) initiative to give people who may have thought about sailing a chance to try it out and find out how their local club can help them get into the sport. After being kitted out with mandatory buoyancy aids, guests were taken by high-speed powerboat to join the club's expert instructors on dinghies already out on the water, for a half hour sail. A stiff breeze in chilly conditions on Saturday made for an exhilarating ride, and the hot drinks and food on returning to the clubhouse went down a storm.

Club Commodore, Iain McNeill, said "I've never seen such a buzz in the clubhouse - coming off the water everyone was saying how much they'd enjoyed it". "That was great!" seemed to sum it up for many. "Participant ages ranged from 7 to 70, with lots of family groups, some returning sailors, and guests from the local Tameside Sea Cadets", said Iain. "It really is a pastime that can be enjoyed at any age."

The club will be running RYA dinghy training courses over the summer for new members who want to learn to sail. The club has regular sailing sessions on Sunday afternoons, Wednesday evenings, and Friday evenings when the Youth group get together.

Dovestone Sailing Club is set in beautiful surroundings in the Peak District National Park,and has been part of the community in Saddleworth since it was founded in 1967. It has a reputation for its friendly, informal atmosphere and club sailing, but also has a track record of producing World Championship standard sailors. Current Flying 15 European champions Andrew McKee and Richard Jones from Dovestone are getting ready to set off to defend their title at Crozon-Morgat in France in May, while Ian Jones has been competing across Europe in the Laser/ILCA European Masters series, with next stops Belgium and Netherlands.

If you've ever thought about taking up sailing and would like more information, you can find the clubs contact details are on the website www.dovestonesc.org.uk.

Related Articles

Class40 top guns enter Rolex Fastnet Race
One of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever Now 20+ years old, the Class40 has proved itself one of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever. Posted today at 6:45 am
Thayer Trophy Women's Team Race preview
Regatta has become a catalyst for developing women's sailing teams When the Corinthian YC launched the National Women's Invitational Team Race for the Thayer Trophy in 2021, the goal was to give women sailors the opportunity to compete in a high-intensity format on par with the world's most renowned team racing events. Posted on 17 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 2
Pieter-Jan Postma leads after the second day of racing in The Netherlands Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, is leading the fleet of 307 Finns from 27 countries after everyone sailed two more races at the 2025 Finn World Masters in Medemblik. France's Laurent Hay is second with Germany's Fabian Lemmel in third. Posted on 17 Jun
World Sailing launches the World Sailing Academy
A new online learning platform for the global sailing community World Sailing officially launched the World Sailing Academy, an innovative new online learning platform designed to provide comprehensive educational resources and training to sailors, coaches, officials, administrators, and the global sailing community. Posted on 17 Jun
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom. Posted on 17 Jun
Erica Lush Completes Bermuda 1-2 Regatta First Leg
While training for the Solitaire Du Figaro Rhode Island sailor Erica Lush completed the first leg of the Bermuda 1-2 regatta as the only woman skipper in the fleet. Lush sailed solo from Newport to Bermuda, handling a boat new to her, and rough sea state. Posted on 17 Jun
Susan Widmann Sinclair Women's Championship
Winning this year's event was a very accomplished skipper, Carmen Cowles and her team The biennial running of Noroton Yacht Club's Susan Widmann Sinclair Women's Championship, presented by Fairfield County Bank, just finished a second wild and wooly event, thanks again to Mother Nature. Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality. Posted on 17 Jun
2025 GL52 Big Red Regatta overall
Katana prevails, Wizard finished second The 2025 edition of the GL52 Big Red Regatta is now in the books. John Huhn's KATANA continued its winning ways on Day 3 to wrap-up first place overall with just 12 pts. Posted on 16 Jun
Conrads, Bell win 505 Pacific Coast Championship
A single point victory at Bellingham Yacht Club After three days and 11 races, AJ Conrads and Jon Bell captured the 505 Pacific Coast Championship by one point, narrowly besting former World Champion and Long Beach legend Howie Hamlin and crew Jeff Nelson. Posted on 16 Jun
Exposure MarineLloyd Stevenson - Catalyst Yacht Tender 1456x180px BOTTOMRooster 2025