The Topper Open at Hastings, 2018
PICTURE: Hastings & St Leonards Sailing Club

From 10am until 4pm, weather permitting, the club’s most experienced sailors will be on hand to take all-comers out for a taste of the sport. There is no prior booking system, all you have to do is show up and put your name down.

One club member who is particularly enthusiastic about the initiative is Rachael Roser. Having never sailed before, she turned up this time last year with three children –Tilda aged 10, Will 12, and Joe 13. Despite living in Hastings all their lives, none of  them had ever sailed before. They met members of the Sailing Club, including some older teenagers, and were each taken out in a small boat. 

“We really enjoyed the day, so we decided to join the club” says Rachael. “ I thought the family membership was very affordable. All three children signed up for Junior Sail training, which took place all through the summer. By September they had all learned to sail a boat on their own and had RYA 1. Joe also had RYA 2. He loved it, and is going to continue this summer. I also completed RYA 1. So, thank you to everyone who organised Push the Boat Out! It got our whole family into sailing”.

As the club press release expresses it, sailing can be as physical or as relaxing as you want to make it, you can sail with others or on your own, do it competitively or potter about and just enjoy the gentle escape of being outside in the elements.

For purposes of novice training you need to be able to swim 50 metres, and climb into a dinghy from the water, which is roughly equivalent to pulling yourself out of a swimming pool without using a pool ladder or steps. “Oh, and you mustn’t mind getting wet!” is advice you’ll get.

The Club was formed in 1953 and has been providing both social and competitive sailing ever since. The racing and cruising programme runs from March until Christmas. Club racing generally takes place on Sundays with three races (the first two back to back) each week; there are cruising events on some Saturdays and novice racing on Wednesdays. 

There are also open competitions. This year’s programme includes a Topper Open on Sunday 23rd June; the East Sussex Coastal Sailing Federation Cups (both youth and adult sections) on Sunday 14th July; a Laser Open on Saturday 24th August; and a Double Hander Open on Saturday 28th September.

The clubhouse is below the seafront promenade at Marine Parade near the Azur Pavilion. There is substantial capacity for members to keep boats there, but visitors can get theirs down onto the foreshore via a ramp from the car park opposite St Leonards Parish Church, though they may need a club member to remove the bollard.