Thames sailing opportunities?

gregmlucas

gregmlucas

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Oct 2004
Messages
221
Location
Me: Portsmouth; Boat: Hamble
www.datacentricity.net
Having sadly sold my Etap last summer when we moved from the South Coast to London I am now missing the water enough to start looking for some crewing opportunities. My preference is for cruising or very relaxed racing on something with a proper keel as opposed to dinghies or being shouted around the cans.

Thinking about joining either Greenwich or Erith yacht clubs as they are both close to where we now live (Woolwich).

Does anyone have any thoughts on which of these might best offer the type of sailing I'm looking for?

Are there any other clubs within a reasonable distance from Woolwich that have an active cruiser/racer scene that I've missed?

Thanks in advance for any input
 
Last edited:
There's also Thurrock YC. Several years ago, I considered joining. I finally decided to keep the boat in Portsmouth, but TYC struck me as a friendly place. Wrong side of the river for you, but the ferry will take care of that - outside peak hours!

The trouble with the Thames is that you can really only turn left or right and the tide seems pretty much to determine which. Have you considered the Medway? Pick your time and it's less than an hour from Woolwich (according to Google Maps)
 
There is also Gravesend Sailing Club tho our racing tends to be low key and friendly. We are the nearest club to the estuary with easy access from London (straight down the A2). See our website
 
Have a look at both Greenwich and Erith to see which you prefer. I'm a member of Greenwich as it's handier than Erith but the two clubs have a strong relationship and you won't go wrong with either as there are regular races with a mixed set of yachts of different shapes and sizes at both. The Thames is a surprisingly interesting and challenging stretch of water to sail on, you won't be bored sailing on it at all.

GYC have an open night every Tuesday - come down and have a look when you can.

If you don't mind going a little further then the Medway clubs are not that far away - I used to sail there but find the racing on the Thames to be just as satisfying, though the cruising around the Medway and Swale is superior.
 
Last edited:
Austerby said:
Have a look at both Greenwich and Erith to see which you prefer. I'm a member of Greenwich as it's handier than Erith but the two clubs have a strong relationship and you won't go wrong with either as there are regular races with a mixed set of yachts of different shapes and sizes at both. The Thames is a surprisingly interesting and challenging stretch of water to sail on, you won't be bored sailing on it at all.

GYC have an open night every Tuesday - come down and have a look when you can.

If you don't mind going a little further then the Medway clubs are not that far away - I used to sail there but find the racing on the Thames to be just as satisfying, though the cruising around the Medway and Swale is superior.
Click to expand...

I agree about the Thames as a place to sail

I really enjoyed it

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/ca...0-zero-shakedown-cruise-iow-to-crouch/page/2/

lots of wind shadows for jumbling the fleet up

D
 
Hiya,
I am a member of Erith Yacht Club.... Club/Bar night is Thursday Eve and you would be most welcome to come down and see the club and sample what the bar has to offer.

I would say the sailing conditions are better up this end of the river and further on- We do not have the Thames Barrier, shifty winds and the sometimes over officious P.L.A to deal with. We have some very relaxed yacht racing and crew is always being looked for. Thursday Eves are also club sailing nights. Moorings available also.

In terms of racing on the Thames- the best racing is actually the "inter club" races that all Thames Clubs take part in. Usually these run between clubs on the river and yachts from all the clubs generally take part- Routes are generally from one club to another with a bit of a do usually at one of the clubs- competition can be strong, So really on that level is wouldn't matter what club you joined.

As Austerby says: Medway clubs are also within range and are very good. We regularly race and join in at Medway Yacht club and the racing there is a bit better to be honest. But its only 5 hour sail from Erith or 30 mins car drive so it really is a n option to join in as and when you want to. We leave boats there to return each sunday to compete in their various events

I hope that helps. If you want to visit Erith and want someone to look out for you, please PM me.

All the best
 
We spent the last weekend at Erith Yacht Club and have to say the Club House is nothing short of fantastic and the welcome from the members just as good. We sailed round from the Medway in just a shade over five hours and back in about 4.5. When it comes to sailing on the Thames I would find the tide a bit wearisome after a while. Sailing down river past Gravesend we were doing 11 knots over the ground, over 4 of that was the current. Wouldn't like to be going the other way! Much stronger than we experience on the Medway.
At Medway YC the racing emphasis is on one designs with big fleets of Sonatas, Dragons and Squibs racing on Saturday afternoons. Cruiser handicap racing takes place on a Sunday morning and is much less intense.

In the grand scheme of things it depends on what kind of sailing you want to do and how far you want to travel.
If you want a nice relaxed club with great facilities you can't go far wrong with Erith.
 
Thank you everyone for your input.

SWMBO and I have already paid a visit to both Greenwich and Erith. Agree both seem really freindly but on balance I think we prefer where Erith is situated - when we were down there on Sunday we almost forgor we were in "that London" at all. It also sounds like the racing scene might be a bit more relaxed which suits me. Serious racing wouldn't be my first choice for getting out on the water so the more relaxed the better :-)

SWMBO is very much a fair weather boater but as Erith looks like it might be a subject to a bit less traffic than Greenwich, I might stand a better chance of her getting out on the water and enjoying it too.

@halyardmonkey - planning on paying another visit next Thursday (i.e not this week) so will PM you once confirmed to say hello if you're around.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top