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Why join us?

Joining the S&CA means becoming part of a welcoming, inclusive sailing community. Whether you’re experienced or new to boating, you’ll find friendship, shared knowledge, and plenty of opportunities to get afloat. With affordable membership and events across the UK, it’s the perfect way to sail, learn, and belong.

81%

say our events feel welcoming.

4/5

sail more often since joining the club.

93%

of members make
lasting friendships.

Do I need experience?

Not at all! Many of our members joined as complete beginners. You’ll find we have a number of patient skippers happy to take newcomers out and show them the ropes (literally).

Before any trip, you’ll chat with your skipper about your experience so they can plan the crew safely.

We’re also affiliated with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), the UK’s national governing body for boating. Our Rear Commodore Training and other experienced members can point you toward courses and tips to help you gain confidence and skills.

If you’re brand new, our “New as Crew” guide is a great place to start — packed with advice from members who’ve been there before.

Costs & getting involved

Membership starts from just £20, making it one of the most affordable ways to get afloat. Many of our skippers generously offer crew spaces on their boats during club events, so even if you don’t own a boat, there are plenty of opportunties to sail.

Crew members usually contribute to food, drinks, and fuel, and when we charter boats, the cost is shared equally among the crew — typically around £150 for a weekend trip.

You don’t need fancy kit to start, either. A decent waterproof and grippy shoes will get you far (and there’s often spare gear to borrow).

What to expect

A typical S&CA sailing weekend

Joining an S&CA sailing weekend is simple, social, and full of fresh air, laughter, and good company. Here’s how it usually goes:

1. Sign up

Events are communicated via email, the website and our WhatsApp community. Once you sign up, you’re matched with a skipper and crew - each boat usually a friendly mix of regulars and newcomers.

2. Meet your crew

We meet on a Friday evening, join our respective boats and get settled. Very often each boat arranges its own drinks or dinner before everyone turns in. There are plenty of friendly pubs by the marinas, or we eat onboard.

3. Sail out

Saturday morning, we set sail into the Solent for a day of sailing and teamwork. Stops might include Cowes, Lymington, or a quiet anchorage for lunch.

3. Evening Ashore

After mooring up, crews often come together in the marina for a drink to ‘celebrate our safe arrival’ before heading out for a pub meal or BBQ - a relaxed social evening and a highlight of every trip.

4. Home Bound

Sunday’s sail takes us back to port, with time to enjoy the breeze and swap stories. Then it’s time to tidy the boats, say our goodbyes … and think about plans for the next adventure.

Plan your next trip! ...

Go to events

Key points

Key things to remember

All experience levels welcome

From total beginners to salty sea dogs.

Shared costs

Fuel, food and mooring fees are split fairly among the crew. Usually no more than £100 on privately owned boats

Club organised charter boats

On club organized chartered boats it’s around £300-400 for the weekend sailing. These are often with instructors on board as skippers or experienced club skippers who have a Day Skipper licence.

Plenty of variety

Sometimes we’ll have themed rallies, training weekends, or longer trips further afield.