Range of Dinghy Types
A variety of traditional and modern design dinghies are sailed at Seafarers including Optimist, Topaz, ILCA, Laser (Pico, Stratos, 2000), RS (Feva, Vision, Aero, 200, 400), Wayfarer, Bosun, and Enterprise. At present the ILCA is the most prolific class.
The slide shows an RS Aero, a Contender, a Solo, an ILCA 6, and a Wayfarer.
Sixty-five Years
Seafarers Sailing Club was founded in January 1961
For full Club History – click here
The monochrome picture is of “Airborne” in April 1971. The colour picture shows “Airborne” in the 1980s.
Race Series
’Combined Series – Race 8 – August 2006
RYA Training
The Club is an RYA Training Centre. It runs courses for complete beginners of all ages from 8 to 68+ and courses for more experienced sailors.
The Start Sailing/Basic Skills courses include capsize recovery drills. The drills, illustrated in this slide, may appear “scary”, but everyone who takes part agrees it’s great fun.
For information on the Training Team, the courses on offer and how to book go to Training.
Rowing
The Club’s Bursledon Gig is often taken to events run by other clubs and organisations locally and further afield.
Here a crew are about to set off to race in the 2024 Hamble Regatta.
For more information, go to Rowing.
Cruising
Situated where it is, the Club is spoilt for choice when it comes to cruise destinations. For more information, go to Cruising.
This slide illustrates Club boats beached at one of the favourite destinations, Wootton Creek.
ILCA Open
Our Laser/ILCA meeting in 2023 was Seafarers Sailing Club’s first Open event for more than a decade.
We were so delighted by the turnout and the very positive feedback that the Club has scheduled an ILCA Open each year since then.
Club Boats
Seafarers Sailing Club owns a number of dinghies. These include larger and smaller crewed boats such as the Laser Stratos and the Hartley 12.2, and a variety of single handers such as Fusions, Oppies, and an ILCA.
These are primarily for training and to encourage new and novice sailors to develop their sailing skills and build their confidence before purchasing their own boat.
Club boats may also be used by suitably qualified and/or experienced members for cruising and/or racing. For details, go to Club Boats.
Families' Day
A fun day for all the family with a picnic lunch and a barbecue on completion.
Overnight Cruise
A highlight of the cruising calendar, the overnight cruise does not involve sailing overnight; it is one where you stay away overnight. The first recorded Seafarers’ overnight cruise was to Bembridge in 1977.
Corf campsite in Newtown Creek on the Isle of Wight is a popular overnight cruise destination. The slide shows an RS Venture and two Wayfarers secured to the bank of Shalfleet Lake.
Interclub Races
Seafarers has a good relationship with neighbouring Hill Head SC and Lee on the Solent SC. An interclub race, or series of races, known as the SLOSHH (Seafarers – Lee On Solent – Hill Head), has been running since 1989.
Patrol Boat Training
Patrol Boat (PB) training is carried out at Seafarers to provide a cadre of skilled helms and crew to support Club sailing. In addition to initial training, refresher training is provided to ensure all helms remain up-to-date and familiar with Club equipment and procedures.
The slide illustrates a Club Hartley 12.2 dinghy being deliberately capsized to support PB refresher training.
Practice Sailing
Practice Sailing Sessions are available on Tuesday evenings from early June to the end of August and on Saturday mornings during July and August. Precise dates and times are published in the Programme.
Although aimed primarily at Cadets and Novices, these sessions provide an opportunity for anyone that fancies going for a gentle sail with Patrol Boat cover and, if required and available, guidance from experienced sailors or qualified instructors. For more detail, go to Practice Sailing.
Evening Racing
There is racing on Thursday evenings from the end of April until the beginning of September, when the days are longer.
End of Season
This is not the end of an evening race. It is the end of an afternoon race late in November.
The Frostbite Series is proving increasingly popular.
Since the introduction of over-winter berthing in 2009/10, some “out of season” racing has taken place. This has included the New Year’s Day Race and, occasionally, a winter SLOSHH series.
Round the Island
Round the Island cruises began at Seafarers at the beginning of the 1980s and appeared in most annual programmes from 1980 to 2004.
One of the Club’s current members considers his sailing year is incomplete unless it includes at least one circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight. Consequently these marathon voyages, although not in the Programme, still usually take place once or twice each year.
