Chase, Rudyard & Greensforge kick off mega month of free sailing in Staffs
The Chase Sailing Club, at Burntwood, and Rudyard Lake Sailing Club, near Leek, are kicking off a mega month of free sailing across Staffordshire in May as they invite you and your family to get on the water on Bank Holiday Monday (2 May).
These fun-filled days at these family friendly clubs are guaranteed to offer something for everyone, whether you’re a complete novice or looking to get back into the sport after a break away, with visitors able to try sailing (weather permitting), find out what the clubs could offer you and sample the social side of sailing club life in the Midlands. The events are open to everyone regardless of age, gender or experience.
The Chase SC, which incorporates Youth Sailing @ Chasewater (YS@C), is one of the Midlands’ leading windsurfing sites so boats or boards you can get a first taste or rediscover the sport if you have sampled either before between 10am-4pm. Boardwise Cannock, the UK’s leading windsurfing store, will also be on hand to offer a wealth of experience and a van full of windsurfing and SUP paddle boards to try.
Meanwhile Rudyard Lake SC are joining up with the organisers of the ‘A Day at the Lake’ celebration event, reimagining the Rudyard Lake of the late 1800s and celebrating some of the stories of the Lake in its heyday, as part of the sailing club’s Open Day from 11am-3pm. Rudyard Lake SC was shortlisted in the final five for the 2016 RYA Club of the Year Award, recognising Britain’s best sailing club, earlier this year.
These Open Days are a prelude to the national RYA Push The Boat Out ‘have-a-go’ at sailing festival, organised by sailing’s national governing body, which runs from Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 May.
Manor Park SC at Kings Bromley, South Staffs SC near Penkridge, Greensforge SC on Calf Heath Reservoir, Tamworth SC in Kingsbury Water Park, plus Rudyard Lake SC, are the Staffordshire clubs ready to help you Push The Boat Out, with different events offering a mix of dinghy sailing, windsurfing, bigger boats, sailing for the disabled and even powerboat rides being run over the course of those nine days.
Each of these clubs are recognised RYA Training Centres, meaning they conform to the highest standards of quality and safety. All you will need to enjoy any of the free ‘taster’ events in May is some comfortable clothes and old trainers you don’t mind getting wet and, weather depending, a waterproof and/or sunscreen. Buoyancy aids, equipment and safety brief will be provided by the venues and refreshments will be available.
No fewer than 25 clubs and centres across the West Midlands are hosting 2016 RYA Push The Boat Out events, amongst more than 300 nationally. Last year almost 28,500 newcomers nationwide discovered sailing through RYA Push The Boat Out.
For full details on The Chase SC’s Open Day visit www.chasesc.org.uk, to find out what’s going on at Rudyard Lake SC visit http://rudyardlakesc.org.uk and for full RYA Push The Boat Out event details, including who’s doing what, where and when visit www.rya.org.uk/go/PTBO
Greensforge Sailing Club, Gailey, Staffs, ST19 5PU
(Only 8 miles from Stafford and 9 from Wolverhampton)
Greensforge Sailing Club are having their annual Open Day on Saturday 8 May 2016. The open day is part of the RYA ‘Push the Boat Out’ scheme which has hundreds of events being held across the country between 14 and 22 May.
The open day is an opportunity for you to come and see the Club and of course have a go in a sailing dinghy.
For anybody keen to learn how to sail we are holding a RYA level 1 training course on 11 and 12 June so the open day is an ideal opportunity to see what is involved.
Club members will be on hand on the day to have a chat about sailing and the Club as well as to take you out for a sail. All safety equipment will be provided but visitors will need to bring a pair of old trainers and a towel.
There will be refreshments available for sale in the clubhouse as well as hot food from the barbecue. Please come along and meet us, have a look around and try sailing.
Club membership only costs £95 a year for the whole family and just £15 for a junior member. Greensforge is very much a family friendly club. Members can either use their own boats or one of the club boats which range from modern fun trainers to two man dinghies to fast scary racing dinghies.
We sail every Sunday from March to December and Wednesday evenings during the summer months, with competitive racing for all classes of boat up to 4.5 metres including Laser, Streaker, Enterprise, GP14 and Topaz’s.
The club is situated off Vicarage Lane accessed from the A5 on the Cannock side of Junction 12 of the M6. The entrance will be signposted.
We will open the doors at 11:00 and will finish at around 4pm. We look forward to meeting you. For further details contact Jayne on 079 123 13363 or info@greensforge.org or visit our website at www.greensforge.org