Welcome to Dinghy sailing at Rye Harbour Sailing Club.
It is a short flat pull from the dinghy park to the concrete slip-way. Once launched, you can choose to sail up the River Rother to Rye, passing fishing boats and the occasional seal, or out into Rye Bay, alongside Castle Water nature reserve. In both River and Bay you can join racing, training or cruising activities. Or in the bay, simply anchor and fish, or swim in the sunshine, away from the crowds on Camber Sands. The ethos of RHSC is relaxed.
Planning your sailing on this beautiful tidal water is straightforward, using our calendar, which shows sailing times for all weekend tides until the end of October, as well as club events.
Racing: Summer series 1 and 2, Winter Series , stand-alone races and fundraising open races. All races are run on the Portsmouth Yardstick. Series racing takes place monthly. It is also a social event for all members who can enjoy the bar, food and good company in the clubhouse and on the decking overloooking the river.
Training: – We are located on a tidal river, which makes RHSC perfect for Level 3 experience, and also for RYA level 2 improvers, who can practise launching and sailing from a safe river-bank site above the busier areas of the river. We offer subsidised training to RYA levels 1 and 2 at Rye Waterports Lake at Camber to all members who are under 16. If you prefer to take your first steps on a smaller area of water, we can direct you there. We can introduce you to sailing at Rye Harbour with an RYA instructor or experienced club member, who will develop your sailing gradually, in a personalised way.
We welcome over 16s to ‘an introduction to the sport of sailing’, or a ‘taster session’. You can take out free introductory taster-session membership for one day.
Fun-sailing and cruising in dinghies and small boats: – We run these events in response to members wishes. Destinations we have reached are Fairlight, Pett Level, Camber Sands Chip shop and Rye Chip shop at The Strand, Rye. But if you would like to try somewhere else, talk to our very approachable Rear Commodore (dinghies) Simon, or the person who looks after new members (Anna).
Dinghy sailors are often put off by the fear of sailing in a river. Try crewing with a more experienced members. After a few times, you will feel more at home and will soon be confidently navigating your way up river or out to sea, where you can enjoy the freedom of Rye Bay. More experienced dinghy sailors will be very happy to help with rigging, launching, and equipment, and will give you a warm welcome at all events.
The club’s location means that we can sail when sea-based clubs cannot. In heavy weather we use the river.
Safety cover is provided for scheduled events.
If you don’t yet have your own boat, you can use the small fleet of club boats, under certain safety restrictions, naturally. Whether you take out the Wanderer (a stable training and family boat for racing and cruising), one of the three Toppers, or the Laser, we run a simple and fair booking system. There is no fee.
We have a duty rota to cover Officer of the Day (for racing), Bar and Galley (which provides food on race days). We are a small ‘family’ club and helping out once a year is a great way to get to know people. And being so small, you can ask anyone who is around to help you. You can let Simon or Anna know which you feel happier to volunteer for.
You are welcome whatever your level of experience. We ask that under 16s are supervised, but all ages are welcome. We have family members who remain members from generation to generation, so we must be doing something right!
Come and join in.
