Which Poole yacht club? (2018 edition)

[TopBanana]

We've been using the remainder of the previous owners' marina mooring for our first season, but time's nearly up and it's time to find a permanent home.

I've two kids who are keen to start dinghy sailing, so a well organised club with a good fleet is important. I can't justify the cost of a pontoon mooring sadly, so a taxi service is another thing we really do need.
As far as I know, this just leaves Parkstone YC and Poole YC. Of the two, which would you choose and why?

Many thanks
James

 

[LadyInBed]

plus Lake Yard, they have swinging moorings
Prices

 

[Tranona]

We've been using the remainder of the previous owners' marina mooring for our first season, but time's nearly up and it's time to find a permanent home.

I've two kids who are keen to start dinghy sailing, so a well organised club with a good fleet is important. I can't justify the cost of a pontoon mooring sadly, so a taxi service is another thing we really do need.
As far as I know, this just leaves Parkstone YC and Poole YC. Of the two, which would you choose and why?

Many thanks
James

My choice would be Poole Yacht Club although having been member since 1987 maybe a bit biased! Nothing wrong with Parkstone, but the emphasis is different, and long term it is more expensive to keep a boat there. Both clubs are actively seeking members and you fall right in the target demographic.

Selling point for PYC are cheap marina, once you get the berth and in the meantime good swinging moorings and taxi service. Excellent youth sailing opportunities. Excellent facilities, premises and car parking with easy access (when the bridges are working!) and close to town centre.

Suggest you "interview" both by arranging a visit and tour.

 

[GrahamD]

Parkstone now has a more active youth sailing section with a fantastic Youth week each summer. . Poole used to have a better clubhouse but Parkstone opened a new clubhouse this year. Parkstone’s water taxi is very good and moorings in the Wych Channel have quite good shelter. As Tranona says, drop in and have a look at both clubs to see which would suit you best

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I don't know Poole Yacht Club too well but I can confirm that Parkstone Yacht Club has an absolutely excellent youth set up. If your children are wanting to get seriously competitive I would unreservedly recommend it.

 

[jonic]

I don't know Poole Yacht Club too well but I can confirm that Parkstone Yacht Club has an absolutely excellent youth set up. If your children are wanting to get seriously competitive I would unreservedly recommend it.

We joined Parkestone this year for the youth section and our kids took part in Youth Week last month.

It was absolutely outstanding and tons of fun.

 

[rhino_mac]

I've been a member of Poole Yacht Club for a year now - my son has just finished Oppy 1's. We hired a club boat for the year for only £80 but we've just bough this first Oppy ready for next year.

I can't speak for Parkstone but the youth training at Poole was second to none. You can still do Youth week if you're a Poole YC member - we missed it this year as we were at Euro Disney but we'll do it next year. Have a look on their Facebook page as there is a great video from 2018 - it looks like Parkstone put a lot of effort into the event.

The clubs share many events in the harbour and they do a "Commodores Challenge" each year where two Elan 333's (one from each club) are raced by the Youth groups against each other.

The emphasis on Oppy 1's was strictly fun but the group still managed to sail to Brownsea and Arne a couple of times this year. It was amazing watching how quickly the kids progressed. Poole YC has trained a few world class sailors (Kate McGregor gave a talk there last Wednesday to the kids) so you can still take the racing as seriously as you could possibly want.

Both Poole and Parkstone have just been awarded RYA British Youth Recognised Club - only 15 clubs in the UK have such a status so you can't go far wrong with either.

Visit both and see what you think of them - I've met some amazing people at Poole YC and gone from never having sailed to being at the club 4 times a week (at 44 years old - you're never too old to start). My son is completely sold on sailing now - it's been great.