Sailing Network

For more information contact Susan, the Sailing Subject Network Volunteer

The u3a Sailing Network is open to anyone interested in sailing and navigation.

Our aim is to enjoy sailing and practise our skills in navigation, boat handling and seamanship.

The Sailing Network operates in bringing skippers and crew together to form a community of sailing members for the purposes of enjoying the sport well into retirement in a relaxed and enjoyable way.

Many members are experienced sailors, some owning boats, or sailing with friends, others chartering boats for holidays or joining flotilla sailing holidays from time to time. We all benefit from gaining knowledge and skills from each other and sailing in good company too. Novices are welcomed and supported in our group.

We encourage members to develop their skills through RYA sailing qualifications. Please contact https://www.rya.org.uk

The Sailing Network

Offers an introduction to bareboat chartering
Signposts to bareboat chartering
Signposts to crewing opportunities eg https://www.theca.org.uk/events/all
Signposts to sailing clubs and societies who offer sailing opportunities eg http://www.penguin.org.uk/ and https://www.channelsailingclub.org/
Signposts to flotilla sailing holidays.

How can we support sailing opportunities?

Encourage u3a members to enjoy sailing activities such as safe navigation, seamanship and boat handling
Provide opportunities for beginners and returners to sailing to develop their skills and competences, which will lead on to progression through the RYA courses
Encourage u3a members to access RYA courses to develop sailing skills
Promote opportunities for mile building and practical skills
Offer winter talks e.g. sailing techniques, safety issues, and boat handling
Encourage social gatherings to have fun on and off the water

We can also help with :

Expanding an interest in sailing within u3a leading to new groups and new members for existing groups
Supporting existing groups to develop by sharing resources and best practice
Creating new opportunities for learning beyond the local u3a group structure

u3a friends go sailing

What started as a group of u3a sailing enthusiasts meeting up in the Mediterranean on bareboat chartered yachts each summer has blossomed from one trip to two each year and can only increase to include others. This was founded by Nick Hoskins, u3a Boating Advisor, and now our team has grown to three members with Tim Steene as Lead co-ordinator. Our first trip in 2022 took us to the beautiful Croatian islands followed by trips equally beautiful in Turkey and Greece. We now want to extend the invitation to other members to join in and sail with us as part of u3a friends.

Important Please note that bareboat charter trips are not a u3a activity, it is an activity with and for u3a members. Many sailing activities are organised by individuals as friends of u3a. There is no u3a insurance cover for these activities. Whilst every care is taken for your well-being your safety must remain your concern.

It is therefore essential for everyone joining a trip to hold a travel insurance policy with an endorsement for sailing.

Subject Advice

Sailing Network

u3a friends go sailing