Best yacht club

[Searush]

Don't think I've ever been to a yacht club as such, apart from as a soggy kid launching a dinghy at Emsworth. I've used the showers at Fowey Gallants and Salcombe, and am grateful to them, but have never been in the clubs themselves or spoken to any members.

I guess I don't really have a feel for how the visiting thing works and would feel a bit self-conscious. Nothing to do with them being posh or not, btw.

Pete

Pete,
Next time you visit a harbour with a club, pop in for a beer & a chat. You will almost certainly be welcomed, encouraged to join in any activities going on. They will want to know where you have sailed from & what in & where you plan going next. They will probably offer guidance to local anchorages, restaurants etc.

You will certainly be welcomed at the Royal Welsh, Caernarfon - in their 700 year old Barbican clubhouse.

 

[Otter]

Isle of Man Yacht Club in Port St Mary

 

[TamarMike]

I don't often visit other clubs but Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club was certainly the friendliest of the few I have been into

 

[longjohnsilver]

I don't often visit other clubs but Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club was certainly the friendliest of the few I have been into

Good to hear that, I shall be having a few pints there tonight. And if you happen to be around on a Saturday night then don't miss the steaks, excellent quality and a great price. And there's a visitors buoy for boats up to about 36'.

The club house has to be one of the most interesting being the old Brunel pump station for his atmospheric railway. Certainly the most distinctive building in Starcross if not the whole of the Exe estuary.

 

[Seajet]

As others have said, I haven't found an unfriendly club, but I admit there are some I haven't visited through appearing intimidating.

On the particularly friendly list;

Redcliffe YC, near Wareham

Brixham

Royal Fowey

Royal Western, Plymouth

When a grotty teenager I and a similar chum visited Bosham SC, which was friendly enough, we surveyed the beers on offer as the white-jacketed barman read the list available, " and there's Whitbread Best "

my chum blurted out " But that's the worst ! "

" Indeed Sir, it IS the worst "...

 

[sighmoon]

Is that some sort of euphanism?

I told him it was bigger than I could really accommodate. He said yes, it's off a dragon.
So I chopped it in half.

 

[Angele]

Royal Channel Islands at St Helier, they made us feel we'd made their day by coming along, couldn't have been pleasanter.

(Excellent meal too! Better than we got in any St Helier restaurants)

Very nice of you to say so, as it is "my" club. However, from the description ("at St Helier") I think you may actually be referring to St Helier Yacht Club.

The RCIYC is at St Aubin - the other side of the bay to St Helier - in the parish of St Brelade.

Having said all that, the RCIYC (especially the food) is very good too!

 

[tonijon]

Dont think I have ever come across any unfriendly yacht clubs though found the squadron a bit intimidating but was there with a member.
Island sailing club very friendly good for a chin wag with Ivor the bar steward if people are a bit thin on the ground.
Royal Corithian in cowes very friendly tend to meet the same croed who go to the island and vice versa. Blackwater sailing club of course very welcomming to new members to the point of having a bbq for new members had been working on our boat for all of a day before the rear commerdore came up and introduced his self.

 

[beerbiker21]

RBYC

I found the Royal Burnham to be pretty friendly...sign in book near front door...decent choice of ales on the bar and a fantastic view of the estuary....good food at reasonable prices too..south facing so plenty of sun..when it's got its' hat on! Interesting maritime museum a short walk west and in the other direction a boatyard with plenty going on...a few interesting cats there as well.