Decent club for novice in Edinburgh?

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mattie_uk

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Hi all, I'm hoping to join a yachting club in or near Edinburgh to get to know a few more people and to build up sailing experience.

I've completed my day skipper a few years back, family issues have meant I've not sailed since so keen to start nice and easily and build up. Doe anyone have any recommendations for friendly clubs in the Edinburgh area? Keen to go on cruises with others, and an option to hire a day boat to start to build up a bit of independent sailing would also be useful. Buying a boat is not really an option I'm considering at this point.

I've had a look at Port Edgar out at Queensferry, not sure if there's any more central or out more easterly. Any recommendations appreciated.
 
May I suggest you Google (other search engines are available) "Yacht Clubs near Edinburgh"? Port Edgar good for racing and helpful to new members, Dalgety Bay for dinghies and on it goes. Cruising on the Forth is nothing compared to the west.
 
I have searched through the internet, but was hoping for a more nuanced view here - so very useful to know Port Edgar are welcoming to new members (I've had a few unfortunate experiences in other hobbies where clubs are mini-fiefdoms). Advice gratefully received.

I'd very much prefer to look a bit further west, but sadly time and distance prevent.
 
Port Edgar yacht club has racing on Wednesday and Sundays. Skippers always looking for racing crew. Look for mix and match on the website. I think there is cruising on Thursday nights. It really is a friendly club. The boat I race on always needs crew......!
 
PS.... I was never particularly interested in racing. However for me cruising never happens much due to time constraints. The Wednesday evening racing is great. Down there at 6. Race at 7. If you are on our boat you can pretty much guarantee a good view of all the other boats in front of us..... Back in at 9ish. Pie and drink. And away. Its a great thing!! And even if going round in circles dodging oil tankers and aircraft carriers isn't your thing the racing actually has taught me more about sailing that the day and coastal skipper ever did!!
 
I just joined the Forth Corinthians (FCYC) and while we don't have many facilities we are a friendly bunch and membership is certainly cheap! Racing is on Friday evenings and weekends, I can't speak for the cruising scene but I am sure there are opportunities to crew. Not much to choose from between us and the Royal Forth in terms of location or size, though they have an actual clubhouse.

As a bonus it is within cycling distance of the city centre.
 
Another vote for the Forth Corinthian YC. Just along past the Royal Forth on the Middle Pier in Granton. Cheap , friendly and cheerful. Good yard, good moorings, very basic clubhouse. (Portacabin) Racing, cruising, sometimes some instruction, people willing to crew always welcomed, but no boat hire. No Dragons, no barbed wire.
 
Friends of mine joined a royal yacht club near Edinburgh as a couple about 20 years ago. The membership committee clearly didn't care that they were both women, but the chap who looked after regalia had more traditional views and after a two year fight they had to accept that "couple" membership came with one (1) tie and one (1) headscarf. I imagine that anyone with that sort of mindset twenty years ago is now dead.
 
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