Grafham Water SC Welcomes Sailors for Winter Racing
by Peter Gee 1 Nov 17:48 UTC
Winter racing at Grafham Water © Paul Sanwell / OPP
As many sailing clubs wind down and pack away their marks for the winter, Grafham Water Sailing Club is gearing up for another busy cold-weather season — offering sailors of all classes the chance to stay on the water and race through to spring.
With winter membership starting from just £110, Grafham provides an open invitation to dinghy, catamaran and windsurfer sailors who don't want to hang up their wetsuits when temperatures drop.
Located conveniently between Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Peterborough, Grafham Water is one of the UK's largest reservoirs, offering 1,550 acres of consistent breeze and open-water racing. The club is renowned for its large, competitive inland fleets — including ILCAs, Flying Fifteens, Solos, D-Zeros, Spitfires, F18s, A-Class Cats and RS classes — ensuring top-level competition across the board.
The Winter Series runs from 29 November 2025 to 31 March 2026, with three back-to-back races held each Sunday morning across four starts. The series is complemented by a Sprint Series — one Sunday each month in January, February and March — featuring five short, high-intensity races per day, and the traditional Christmas Pursuit Race followed by a festive club dinner.
Winter members also receive discounted entry to the Grand Prix on Sunday 4th January, along with access to Saturday coaching sessions and the ability to sail seven days a week.
For many sailors, Grafham's winter racing provides an invaluable opportunity to stay sharp during the off-season. The expansive lake, well-drilled race teams and competitive fleets make it a perfect venue to keep fitness and boat-handling skills up to scratch over the colder months.
Grafham is proud to be an inclusive community that believes sailing is for everyone. We promote diversity and strive to make the sport accessible to people of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experience levels.
Winter membership costs £110 for a single-hander (including boat park space) or £130 for a doublehander with two members. There is a 50% discount on these prices for under-25 year olds.
For full details and online entry, visit www.grafham.org, email , or call 01480 810478.