Sailing on the Tide

You will find Arnside, a great place to sail.  Sailing is a superb way of enjoying Arnside's outstanding maritime  environment. It is a good way of making new friends.  With  19 club boats,  low membership fees, children's programme and sailing lessons, there has never been a better time to start sailing at Arnside. Arnside has a long sailing history, with the village's first club set up in 1852.

Our Estuary

Arnside is located on the Kent Estuary at the top of Morecambe Bay in an area of outstanding natural beauty with views to the Lakeland Fells. The Estuary faces south west and offers you a large sailing area. At high tide it is possible to sail out into the Bay towards Holme Island and Grange-over-Sands.

Sailing at High Tide

At  high tide there is a very large sailing area. Our craft booking system which members have access to shows high tide times and heights, It is generally possible, to sail on days when tide height is over 8 metres. At  tides heights of less than 8 metres, water sports are restricted to the main channel.

We aim to provide safety boat cover at weekends and on weekdays when conditions are suitable according to demand.

Special Events

Try Sailing Day - Sat 24th May 2024

Discover Sailing atr Arnside. We run Try Sailing Days each year usually in May to give a people a chance to go out with an instructor or experienced sailor and see Arnside from the water. We take people sailing across the estuary from the slipway opposite the Albion.. The event is free.  In 2023 , 70 people took part in our Try Out Day.

Our Clubhouse and bar overlooking the Promenade and Estuary wash open afterwards for refreshments giving people 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 Register Try Sailing Day

We are happy to take people out sailing at other times,  email commodore@armsidesailingclub.org.uk

Classic Boat Regatta - Fri 7 & Sat 8 June

We hold  a Classic Boat Regatta each year in partnership with the OGA the association for gaff rig sailing for trailer-able  traditional boats. Bigger sea going boats  who are brave enough to come up in the estuary are also welcomed. In 2022 Hearts of Oak, a 34 foot Morecambe Bay Prawner came up for the event. Arnside has a long sailing history with the Victorians holding regattas. The 2023 Regatta took place in  June in beautiful sunny weather. With club racing in the estuary as well there were over 24 boats out on the water sailing. 

In 2024 we plan adding a Regatta Ball on Saturday. There is an American Folk Duo "Those Folks" playing in the Clubhouse on Friday night.

To book to bring a boat to 2024 Regatta click Classic Boat Regatta Booking

Price per boat £15

 

Dinghy Cruising

Though there is only a tidal window of just over two hours, Arnside is a good place for dinghy cruising. Depending on conditions, your boat and your skill levels,  it is possible to sail out into the Bay to Holme Island, Grange-over-Sands and White Creek and still have time to get up to the Promenade and back before the tide goes out. In total a journey of more than 7 miles. There is not however time to get out and have a picnic on the other side. With an engine you can get further out into the Bay

Organised Cruises

There are organised cruises out into the Bay towards Grange-over-Sands on

6 May, 8 June  24 Aug and  5 Oct 

Club Dinghy Cruises in the Lake District

We plan running club cruises in the Lake District in 2024 as follows

Windermere - June 15 / 16

Coniston - September 14

Killington Club Nights

From the start of June to the end of the school holidays we run club nights at Killington near Sedbergh for Arnside Sailing Club members on Thursday evenings from 1700 to 2100 (or dusk) with safety boat cover. They are a good chance to improve your skills, though they are not taught sessions. As well as sailing, Killington's paddleboards and windsurf rigs are available.  Killington's club boats include Picos, Hartley 15, Laser and Feva. Our Wayfarer is also available.

There are full changing facilities at Killington, meeting area and small kitchen.

Killington Sailing Club is located on Reservoir Road, a very minor road on the other  side of the lake from the motorway service station. The postcode is the same as the motorway station -  LA8 0NW. There are good views over the lake from the motorway service situation

Killington Sailing Club Location Plan 

To Book Killington Club Nights

Price £5 (Arnside Sailing Club members only) children free

 

Yachting

The Club owns Severn, a 23 foot long gaff rigged yacht built by Crossfields of  Arnside in 1912 for the Royal Mersey Yacht Club. Croosfields were leading builders of Morecambe Bay Prawners and yachts from the 1840s to 1940s. Severn is currently being restored at David Moss Boatbuilders at Skippool near Blackoool. She should be back in the water by 2024. See our Severn page for more details

Though other than Severn there is only the occasional yacht on the estuary now, up till 2010 there were 12 or more. People use to motor out into the Bay and then sail back in. Arnside yachts made regular voyages to Peil Island off Barrow, Isle of Man and Southern Scotland.

We are keen to encourage yachts from elsewhere to sail up to Arnside, especially boats built by Crossfields of Arnside. Though the channel moves and it is not advisable to make the voyage unless Barrow tide height is over 9 metres, the journey is very scenic and is something that you need to say you have done. Bay Sea have made a series videos about sailing up to Arnside click to play.  Bay Sea School video of voyage to Arnside 

Moorings

The Club has the right to ten moorings in the estuary between the Dinghy Park and Ashmeadow, though members have to lay their own moorings. It is also possible to lay moorings by Promenade.

Dinghy Park

Our dinghy park is located on the beach at Arnside about 400 yards beyond the end of the promenade just past Beachwood Lane. It is in a sheltered position overlooked by trees next to a nature reserve

Facilities in the dinghy park include:
Changing gazebo
Eco loo.
Launching slipway.
Garage for safety boat.

Paddle Board Store
Secure open air storage for boats.
Canoe rack.

Large dinghies can also be kept on the estuary on moorings

Please give priority to families and children using the changing gazebo. Do not enter it if children or member of the opposite sex is using it.

Proposed Changing Facilities

We have medium term plans to build new changing facilities in our boat park with a social / training room overlooking the estuary

To read the Feasibility Study click here Feasibility Study

 

Other Water-sports

The Club also offers canoeing, paddle boarding and windsurfing from our Boat Park.

See our Other Watersport Page  for more information.

Club Boats

Thanks to grant funding, we have a fleet of  19 club boats. They are  available for use by members free of charge at their own risk when not being used for training. Club boats include

ICLA(Lasers) - A  single handed dinghy suitable for adults and older teenagers. An ICLA has three sail sizes depending on your weight. 

• The largest sail  is suitable for  people weighing more than 11.5 stones (72 kg).
• The medium sail for weights between 8.8 and 11.5 stones (55 kg to 72 kg)
• The smaller 4.7 sail for weights of 7.8 stones (50 kg) upwards.

An ICLA is an Olympic class for both men and women.

Wayfarer - A  stable family dinghy used extensively for training with room for up to 6 people. We keep a Wayfarer at Killington for use on Club Nights.

Wanderers - One of the most stable dinghies on the market. It has room for 4 people. Being lighter than a Wayfarer it is easier to launch.

Hartley 10 - A small stable boat used by small children with two in the boat or single handed by older children.  It can also be sailed by teenagers and small to medium sized adults.  The boats are ten feet long. The boats have smaller standard sails and bigger performance sails.

Hartley 12.2 - A doubled handed boat for teenagers and  adults with asymmetric spinnakers. The boats are twelve feet long and can also be sailed single handed with one sail up.

Heron - Traditional stable sailing dinghy. It can be sailed by two light weight adults, a parent and child, two children or single handed by an adult.

Gaffling 4.1 - an entry level boat for both adults and youths to sailing gaff rig boats such as Severn. Available in kit form from Fyne Boats, south of Kendal. The boat can also be rowed.

Topaz 12 – a twelve foot long child’s catamaran

Topaz 14 - a fourteen foot long catamaran suitable for older teenagers and adults

Severn - A Rivers Class Yacht built by Crossfields of Arnside in 1912

Canoes - We have three tandem and four single sit on top canoes. a

Paddle Boards - 11  Paddle Boards

Windsurf Rigs - Our paddle boards come with  beginner wind surf rigs

 

Terms and Conditions for use of Club Craft and Equipment

Members should be competent to use club craft and equipment. Whilst  Club craft and equipment is available for use by members, it is the member’s decision to take out club equipment on the day given weather, tidal and wind condition and currents, rather than the Club's. Arnside Sailing Club has no responsibility for any loss, damage, death or injury caused as a direct or indirect result of the use of the club equipment, including the failure of club equipment. Users of Club craft and equipment are responsible for checking that club craft and equipment is in safe working order before going out. Buoyancy Aids must be worn at all times.

You can read the full Terms and Conditions by clicking the link below. They also include safety advice.

Terms and Conditions for use of Club Craft and Equipment

Booking Club Craft and Equipment

For a link to the booking system contact arnsidescwatersports@gmail.com  (members only)

Sailing Tips

The estuary at Arnside is tidal. The tide comes in and goes out very quickly. Only go out in conditions you can cope with.

Generally depending on conditions you should be able to sail for around 2 hours at high tide. Winds tend to be stronger but more constant than in a lake unless the wind is blowing round the Knott. A land breeze can also change to a sea breeze.

The further out you go towards Grange the stronger the winds and bigger the waves. The wind in the estuary can be stronger than at the dinghy park which is sheltered. Waves can get bigger as the tide starts to go out especially if there is a westerly wind.

The depth of water at high tide varies by about 2 metres depending on whether it is a spring or neap tde. At spring tides, when the tide height is highest, the water comes in and goes out very quickly. Though the tide height is higher, you may get less sailing time than with a lower neap tide when currents are not as strong.

• Always wear a buoyancy aid
• Wait for the current to subside before going out.
• Keep a check on when the tide starts to go out. Return to the dinghy park before tidal flows become too strong
• Do not go out if the wind is too strong for you or conversely if it is too light.
• When the tide is coming in, you are better heading out away from the viaduct.
• When the tide is going out you want to be above the dinghy park.
• If there is an east wind do not go out too far as it will be harder to get back.
• Keep away from fisherman on the shore. Their lines can be very long.

If caught by the tide head for the side. Check the depth of the water with a paddle or your centre board. You may able to walk back up the estuary with your boat in tow, though the depth of the water may vary suddenly from less than one foot to more than six foot. If on the Grange side you need to be well above the dinghy park or almost at the viaduct before attempting to sail back. Alternatively carry an anchor.