Royal Air Force YC (Hamble)

[Adrian]

Our boat is based at Hamble Point Marina and for some time have wanted to join a local yacht club. RAFYC is the nearest to us , in fact we can see it from our berth. I'm interested to know from anyone who is a member if it is a family oriented club (we have 2 children 14 and 11). We also want to do some racing but would like to crew on other boats before we venture out on our own!

 

[IanR]

RAFYC Hamble Open Day 27th June

Adrian

I am very biased but I am sure that you can make up your own mind. Why not come and see for yourself.

The RAFYC is a club that is open firstly to all members who have an interest in boating and has not been only for RAF or ex RAF for many years . There are a wide range of backgrounds and careers represented which makes it a great place with an interesting tradition that is loaded with great enthusiasm and without any of the airs and graces that you might expect.

The age groups range from young to retired and there are children and grand children involved as well.We tend to be occupied more with yachting and motor boating rather than dinghy sailing. There are some other great dinghy clubs that we have as neighbours - for example we work with the Hamble River Sailing Club to operate a trust to sponsor kids to learn to sail in dinghies. We have a good mix of members who cruise and our family rallies are tremendous fun. We also have some highly successful racers who pick up the trophies in a number of well respected classes from J Class to OSTAR and XOD to Sigma

We have walk ashore access from Port Hamble and a well stocked bar and restaurant for visiting yachtsmen.

We are having an open day on Sunday the 27th of June which is Free. Its open to anyone who wants to come along and see all the benefits we have to offer! It is a bit of a fete with lots of things for adults and kid of all ages plus demonstrations of water related activities.

For anyone who wants to visit and see us please feel free to drop me a line at the club or PM or email to vicecommATrafyc.co.uk (replace the AT with an @)

We also have a web site at www.rafyc.co.uk that you can see what activities are under way for the youngsters this summer, see Cadets section and the Flagstaff Trust.

Hope others don't mind too much the full response / advert

 

[Judders]

The RAF are not the nearest club to Hamble Point, Hamble River SC and the Royal Southern YC are both closer, as are Warsash SC though not without a boat. Do you mean Port Hamble? (An odd mistake if that is where you keep your boat but a regular one among the rest of the world).

I was watching the original series of Howards Way last night (don't ask why) and we realised that the RAF facilities had not been updated since! Which gave us a good laugh.

 

[IanR]

I was watching the original series of Howards Way last night (don't ask why) and we realised that the RAF facilities had not been updated since! Which gave us a good laugh.

Judders, don't know when you came down last, you might like to pop down and have a look you might be surprised......

 

[Adrian]

Thanks for the reply Ian, sadly we're not down that weekend as it would have been ideal (going to the Glastonbury Festival of all places!), i'll drop you a line next time im down and call in for a chat.
Judders, although my nav is not the best in the world , i do know where my boat is berthed ;-). I'll have a look at the clubs you mentioned, any sales pitches like Ian's from members of the other clubs would be appreciated!

 

[rwoofer]

Our boat is based at Hamble Point Marina and for some time have wanted to join a local yacht club. RAFYC is the nearest to us , in fact we can see it from our berth. I'm interested to know from anyone who is a member if it is a family oriented club (we have 2 children 14 and 11). We also want to do some racing but would like to crew on other boats before we venture out on our own!

I think you will find all the clubs quite family orientated, you just need to visit them and see which one and it's members feel right to you.

 

[ianat182]

I'm a member of the Warsash Sailing Club on the opposite bank of the Hamble,with a membership of some 1600 including many dinghy sailors. There is a child oriented part of the Club which gives training in Optimist dinghies with fully qualified instruction. Parents are encouraged to participate in the running of the Kippers,Sprats and Cadet sections of the training.
There is a Family Fun Fiesta weekend on the 10th and 11th July, and regular weekly racing on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Club is an RYA Training Centre for powerboating certification as well as sailing.
Two separate clubhouses and helpful members. Family membership available. Feva Club dinghies for the more advanced cadets and some included in the RYA squad systems to National and regional levels.
From a big boat point of view there is the premier event of the Warsash Spring Series,run by the members of the Club as well as Pursuit races and cruises in company
Not all dinghy sailing is racing oriented, and a broad mix of family dinghy classes are found at Warsash too.
A prior telephone call to view the Club should be made on 01489 583575 and details of fees etc can be given by the Club Administrator,Annie O'Connor.

I've been a member since 1970 and moved through most dinghies to my present Westerly yacht, so know the Club well. Come and see us.

ianat182

 

[Poignard]

I am a member of a another club that holds an annual dinner at the RAFYC and it has always seemed to me to be a very well run and comfortable clubhouse with excellent food.

 

[paulmaroliver]

RAF Yacht Club

Thanks for the reply Ian, sadly we're not down that weekend as it would have been ideal (going to the Glastonbury Festival of all places!), i'll drop you a line next time im down and call in for a chat.
Judders, although my nav is not the best in the world , i do know where my boat is berthed ;-). I'll have a look at the clubs you mentioned, any sales pitches like Ian's from members of the other clubs would be appreciated!

Adrian

Shame you can't make it to the RAF Yacht Club Open Day, it's a good day out and a free opportunity to see what the club has to offer. I recommend you pay the club a visit one Friday evening at Happy Hour (18.00 - 20.00 yes two hours!) you will get to meet several members who will happily give you a tour of the club.

To me, the great strength of the RAFYC is the breadth of its membership. People from all walks of life enjoy a sense of esprit de corps which is hard to find nowadays. That's why I joined eight years ago and I haven't been dissappointed.

As for Howards Way, the only similarity the RAFYC shares with the Mermaid Yard (Elephant Boat Yard in reality) from that programme, is a strong blend of traditional quality and a modern and progressive approach to sociable sailing. In fact membership is good craich, as Jack Rolfe from Howards Way would no doubt agree. Yes sadly, I do remember the programme - dodgy sailing shots, suspect plots and more gaffs than you see out on the Solent. Brilliant. (I hope you enjoyed it Judders)

Enjoy the mud at Glasto.

Paulo

 

[paulmaroliver]

RAF Yacht Club

The RAF are not the nearest club to Hamble Point, Hamble River SC and the Royal Southern YC are both closer, as are Warsash SC though not without a boat. Do you mean Port Hamble? (An odd mistake if that is where you keep your boat but a regular one among the rest of the world).

I was watching the original series of Howards Way last night (don't ask why) and we realised that the RAF facilities had not been updated since! Which gave us a good laugh.

Judders

Perhaps my memory is as suspect as the continuity in Howards Way, but wasn't it the Royal Southern YC which featured in the series? The RAF Yacht Club now has facilities which weren't around in the 80's when HW was filmed. The club was extended in 2003 and now has a range of facilities several local clubs can only aspire to.

Happy sailing (and viewing)

Paulo

 

[Twister_Ken]

Judders

Perhaps my memory is as suspect as the continuity in Howards Way, but wasn't it the Royal Southern YC which featured in the series? The RAF Yacht Club now has facilities which weren't around in the 80's when HW was filmed.

Happy sailing (and viewing)

Paulo

So does the Royal Southern. And it no longer has Edward Heath getting the best Stilton!

 

[hsboardman]

The RAFYC's Commodore takes his children on the club rallies - so if you are looking for a child friendly yacht club the RAFYC is well worth a look - the tone is set from the top.

Also worth thinking about is the range and type of waterside facilities and services the club offers as the yacht clubs on the Hamble differ in this respect.

The yacht clubs on the Hamble also differ in the emphasis of the sailing activities they organise and the degree of formality and the social mix found in their clubhouses.

These days you don't have to have been in the RAF in order to join the RAFYC - and there is a scheme for joining as a temporary member to allow time to make friends and get yourself a proposer and seconder.

If you are thinking the RAFYC might be of interest to you do look at its web site (www.rafyc.co.uk) and, if you'd like to be shown round the club, contact the office (023-8045-2208) to book a meeting with the membership team or e-mail them on office@rafyc.co.uk.