Learn

Learn with Arnside Sailing Club

 

You can learn sailing, paddle boarding and kayaking with Arnside Sailing Club. 

At Arnside we offer

  • Paddle Board Lessons
  • Beginner Sit on Top Kayak Lessons
  • Taster Sailing Sessions for adults and Arnside
  • Adult and Youth Improver Sailing Sessions

Our beginner paddle boarding and kayak lessons at Arnside take place at  low tide when the water is generally shallow enough to stand up in,

Our lessons at Arnside are based at our Boat Park, which is located on the beach 10 minutes from the end of Arnside Promenade. You can download a location plan for our boat park by clicking on the following link Boat Park Location Plan

At Killington, near Sedbergh we offer the following RYA courses

  • Two day adult sailing courses
  • Four / two day  youth sailing courses
  • Adult and youth improver sessions
  • Taster windsurfing lessons

We run Club nights at Killington where you can practise your learning.

We are  an approved RYA Training Centre at Killington. We  use Killington as we can offer a longer day's sailing than at Arnside, which is tidal. On the successful completion of a course, if you attain  the necessary standard, you will receive a certificate, 

Enquiries about water sports lessons

chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk

People with Disabilities

If you are disabled we may be able to accommodate you, if you let us know your needs by contacting chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk for further advice.

Gift Vouchers

A gift voucher for a water sports lesson makes an ideal present. It could introduce your friend, child or relative to an activity they will do for the rest of their life.

You can buy gift vouchers for lessons with Arnside Sailing Club below (click)

Buy Gift Voucher

Booking System

 We use an online booking system operated by Eola. To claim the member's discount  click on Add-ons. If a lesson is fully booked it does not show up on Eola.

 

 

We reserve the right to cancel lessons if minimum numbers are not met 48 hours before and in the event of adverse weather conditions.

Sailing 

Learn to Sail

We offer RYA Sailing Courses at Killington for youth and adults. These are followed by improver sessions at Arnside and Club Nights at Killington where you can practise your skills.

Try Sailing

We run a Try Sailing Day at Arnside each year and taster sessions for adult and youth on the estuary in the summer.

 RYA Sailing Courses at Killington

We are a RYA Training Centre at Killington. We use Killington as we can offer a longer days sailing than at Arnside which is tidal. The Club is just over half a hours drive from Arnside on the other side of the lake from the motorway service station.  Their clubhouse includes changing facilities, showers, small self catering kitchen and meeting room / eating area.

Two Day Adult Beginner course 

We run two day adult RYA Level 1 courses at Killington as follows

  • Weekend Courses (generally over two consecutive Saturdays)

The course  covers the basics of sailing - Rigging, launching, sail setting, using the tiller, sailing across the wind, turning (tacking and gybing), and what to do in the event of a capsize. At the end of course you should get a RYA Level 1 - Start Sailing Certificate.

The course uses single handed boats. We find that people learn quicker in single handers. Most people sail in single handers after learning. The instructor will be based from a safety boat offering support and tips throughout. We aim to maximise time on the water. However there will be some indoor theory and land drills.

Price 2024 £160 (Arnside members £140)

Dates 2024

Weekends: 1st & 8th June; 22nd June & 6th July; 10th & 17th August, 14th & 21st September

To check dates, availability and to book

Two Day Adult  Course

Adult Improver Clinics

To take you to the next stage we run 1/2 day Adult Improver Clinics. These are suitable for people who have done our beginners course, returning sailors or those who have sailing a while but want to brush up on their skills, We also run high tide lessons for adult improvers at Arnside.

Dates 2024

June 7th, 14th, 21st 

July 11, 18 & 25th 

Sept 12, 15 & 26th

Oct 3, 10

Price £40 (Arnside members £35)

To book https://widget.eola.co/1222/activities/93jpe

1 day Adult Improver Clinic Sat 5 Oct

Price £80 (Arnside members £70)

To book https://widget.eola.co/1222/activities/b9nme

 

Youth Courses at Killington

We run two and four day  youth courses at Killington at Half Term, during the summer holidays and at weekends 

Prices 2024  4 days £165 (Children of Arnside members £135), 2 days £82.50 (Children of Arnside members £62.50) 

To check dates, availability and to book

RYA Stages 1 & 2 Beginner 4 days

Tues 28 - Fri 31 May, Tues 6 - Fri 9 Aug, Tues 13 - Fri 16 Aug

RYA Stages 3 & 4 Improver 4 days

Tues 28 - Fri 31 May,  Tues 13 - Fri 16 Aug

RYA Stage 4 plus Advanced 2 days 

Thu 8 - Fri 9 Aug 

Weekend RYA Stages 1 & 2 Beginner

Sept 21/22

Youth Improver Sessions at Killington

Our RYA Youth Courses are followed up by half day improver sessions. We also run youth improver sessions at Arnside, Young people and their parents are also welcomed at Thursday Club Nights at Killington over the summer, though these are not taught sessions.

Half Day Improver Session (£30, Children of Arnside members £10)

Sept 15 am 

Killington Club Nights (Members only)

We  run Arnside Sailing Club nights at Killington on Thursday evenings from 1700 to one hour before dusk from Spring Half Term to mid September. The sessions are suitable for improvers. They are chance to improve your skills rather than taught lessons. Safety boat cover is provided. Members can take out sailing dinghies, kayaks, windsurfers and paddleboards. Children should be accompanied by adults.

Price £7 (children £4)

To book click Arnside Club Nights at Killington

Getting to Killington Sailing Club

Killington Sailing Club is located on Reservoir Road, a minor road on the opposite side of the lake to the motorway service station

To get there from M6 Junction 37

A) Take A684 towards Sedbergh

B) Turn right after a quarter mile onto Old Scotch Road, a minor road. There is a bend / junction warning sign in advance of the junction

C) After about one mile turn right onto Reservoir Road. This junction is very easy to miss after you are travelling at more than 15 mph.

The postcode is LA8 0BX..

Killington Sailing Club Location Plan

Sailing Lessons at Arnside

Adult  Improvers 

We run adult improver sessions at high tide.  The sessions are led by an instructor with safety boat cover at high tide. You will either be sailing single handed by yourself or a double handed boat with others. Though there will be instructor on hand they will not be on the boat with you. The sessions allow time for you to rig the boat and some on land theory.

You should get between one and two hours on the water. The sessions should enable you to practise your skilling skills and put you well on the way to become a competent high tide sailor. The sessions may be themed, for example marking rounding or a cruise out into the Bay towards Holme Island and Grange

Participants will be expected to have basic sailing knowledge (minimum RYA Level 1) and be able right a boat after capsize,

Price 2024 £40 per person (Club members £30)

Dates Sundays 26th May, 9 June, 7, 23 & 26  July,  9 Aug (We may add further dates)

To check dates, availability and to book click Adult Improver Lessons

 

Introduction to Dinghy Racing at Arnside

At the start season in April and May, we are running sessions for people interested in joining Club races and for others who may already race but want to improve their skills. The sessions are open to adults and youth.

We will cover topics such as the start sequence, rounding buoys and following the course. There will be some theory before going out onto the water.

Price 2024 £30 per person (Club members £10)

Dates and to book Introduction to Racing at Arnside

Youth High Tide  Sessions

We run sessions at high tide at Arnside, for improvers and advanced youths with RYA Stage 2 and above.  The sessions give yoing people a chance to practise and enjoy sailing at high tide. There will be some theory at the start of the session. The sessions are lead by instructor and have safety boat cover.

Price 2024 £30 per session. (£10 to children of Arnside members)

Dates Sundays 26th May, 9 June, 7 & 23 July, 8 & 24 Sept

Booking and more details Arnside Youth High Tide Sessions

 

Taster Sessions

We rub taster sailing sessions for adults and youths at Arnside. These sessions take place in the summer on days when high tide heights are low and the water comparately shallow. You will be shown how to rig a boat and learn about basic controls, before going out into estuary and trying out sailing, turning round and coming back. The sessions will generally be in single handed boads, but with options to go in double handed boats or for young children to sail together.,

Price 2024 £40 Adults (£30 Arnside members) £30 children (£10 children of Arnside members

Booking and more details

Arnside Youth Taster Sessions

Fri 2 Aug, Sat 10 Aug

Arnside Adult Taster Sessions

Sat 20 July, Sat 3 Aug

Paddle Board Lessons at Arnside

Beginner Lessons

We run 2 to 3 hour paddle board lessons with an instructor at low tide on the estuary at Arnside. By the end of the lesson you should be able to stand up on the board, steer and control it.

If there is a group of 4 or 5 of you we might be able to put on a special lesson for you especially if it is midweek..

Prices 2024 £40 (members £35) per person.

Dates Saturdays 1st, 15th June, 13, 27 July,  Sunday 11 Aug and Saturday 24 Aug,

To to check dates, availability and to book https://widget.eola.co/1222/activities/stand-up-paddleboarding-lessons 

(If a lesson is fully booked it will not show on Eola. We may also add other dates)

We can also put on lessons at other times for groups and families, contact chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk

Improver Paddle Board Clinics

These one hour sessions are designed to be tailored to individual needs and could include advice on how to improve balance and movement on the board, more efficient paddling introducing movements such as step back turn

Price £28 (members £20)

Dates Sun 9th June, Sat 10th Aug

To check dates, availability and to book https://widget.eola.co/1222/activities/improver-paddleboard-clinic

We can also offer private improver sessions for an individual or group. Please contact chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk to arrange a date and time. 

Kayaking  Lessons at Arnside

Beginner Sit on Top Kayaks Lessons

Learn the basics of kayaking at low tide at Arnside using our sit on top kayaks. Led by a qualified instructor, the lessons are suitable for families, children and adults. They will normally include a short voyage from our Boat Park along the estuary to New Barns Bay or Arnside Promenade as well as introduction to paddling techniques. They are great way of seeing Arnside from the water.

Price  2024 £40 (members £35) 

Dates Saturdays 1st, 15th June, 13, 27 July, 17 Aug

To check dates, availability and to book https://widget.eola.co/1222/activities/beginner-sit-on-top-kayak

If there are no suitable dates available for you, please contact chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk. We can  put on special kayak lessons for example for groups or families, for example families on holiday in the area. Price is dependent on the number of people in the group.

Windurfing Lessons

We occasionally put on taster windsurf sessions. To check dates click : Windsurfing Lessons  

You will learn where to stand, balance on the board, how to hold the rig, sail in different directions, turn round and come back to where you started. The sessions are  suitable for adults and  youths aged 12 plus. You will besurprised how quickly you will be skimming across the water. The course involves a lot of splashing about in the water so be prepared for getting wet, ideally with your own wetsuit.

Price Club members £35, non members £40

We may be able to arrange private windsurfing lessons at Arnside or Killington by prior arrangement, either for a group or individual at other times

Contact chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk

Private Lessons

Subject to instructor availability we might be able to arrange private sailing, paddle board, wind surf or kayak lessons at other times either for an individual or group. Contact chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk

Group Lessons

We can also put on sessions for groups, for example youth groups or local schools. We have an AALA licence (Adventure Activities Licence). In the past we have also run paddle board sessions for groups, such as the WI.

Try Sailing Day - Sat 25th May

Try Out Day

Discover Sailing at Arnside.  Each year we run a  Try Sailing Day usually in late  May to give you a chance to go out sailing on the estuary with an instructor or experienced sailor and see Arnside from the water. We will be taking people sailing across the estuary from the slipway opposite the Albion.. The event is free

Our Clubhouse and bar overlooking the Promenade and Estuary will be open for for refreshments afterwards giving you and your family a chance to look inside.

Discover Sailing is a national promotion by the RYA, where Sailing Clubs up and down the country offer people a chance to discover sailing.

To book click Try Out Day Booking

We might be able to take people out sailing at other times free of charge or for a small donation. This would be with a club volunteer rather than with an instructor. email commodore@arnsidesailingclub.or.uk

Other Places offering Lessons

There are several places in the Lake District, which offer lessons including:

Sailing

Glenridding, Ullswater  www.glenriddingsailingcentre.co.uk.

Derwentwater Marinawww.derwentwatermarina.co.uk

Windermere Outdoors www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/south-lakeland/windermere-outdoor-adventure-centre

Low Wood  Bay Marina, nr Ambleside www. englishlakes.co.uk/low-wood-bay/watersports/

Ullswater Sailing School www.ullswateryachtclub.org/page/training-1

Paddle Boarding

Lake District Paddle Boarding  www.lakedistrictpaddleboarding.co.uk

Ullswater Paddle Boarding  www.ullswaterpaddleboarding.co.uk

Low Wood Bay Marina, nr Ambleside www. englishlakes.co.uk/low-wood-bay/watersports/

Windermere Outdoors www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/south-lakeland/windermere-outdoor-adventure-centre

Derwentwater Marinawww.derwentwatermarina.co.uk

Windsurfing

Windermere Outdoors www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/south-lakeland/windermere-outdoor-adventure-centre

Derwentwater Marinawww.derwentwatermarina.co.uk