Over 60 people tried sailing at Arnside Club
A Try Sailing Day at Arnside last Sunday (May 21st) attracted over 60 people with ages ranging from 4 to over 80.
Participants got a chance to go out on Arnside’s scenic estuary in boats helmed by club instructors and volunteers,
The Try Sailing Day is part of a national Discover Sailing promotion by the RYA with sailing clubs up and down the country giving people the chance to try out sailing,
Alasdair Simpson for Arnside Sailing Club said “We had a great day taking people out sailing on the estuary. Conditions were ideal with sunshine and a gentle sea breeze.”
Since 2019 the club has doubled its membership. It was shortlisted for Sailing Club of the Year in 2019 and 2022. It now offers paddle boarding and kayaking as well as sailing, The club owns 23 sailing dinghies, 7 sit on top kayaks and 11 paddle boards giving it one of the largest fleets of club craft in the area. Club craft are available for use by members free of charge. Having club craft lowers the cost of taking up water sports as you do not need to buy your own craft to start. With membership fees of £85 a year, it has one of the lowest membership fees in the country”,
The club runs lessons for adults and children at both Arnside and Killington Lake, near Sedbergh. As well as sailing they offer paddle board and kayaking lessons. The club has a cadet programme for children and teenagers, which is free to children of club members. The clubhouse in the Old Customs House on the Promenade is used for social events and live music. It is one of the best intimate music venues in the area, with many performers saying it is their favourite venue.
Last autumn the club become a charity. It is part of the RYA’s OnBoard youth programme and a Sailability Club. It has an Adventure Activitues licence.
Alasdair continued “With beautiful surroundings and a stunning estuary, when the tide is in there are few better places in the country to sail than Arnside. With low membership fees, club boats and lessons, there has never been a better time to start sailing with us. Having paddle boards and kayaks as well means that we now offer multiple water sports.”
