Why not try Sailing for free at Harthill Reservoir? Rotherham Sailing Club is a small friendly club located at Harthill Reservoir, which is between Sheffield and Worksop, with easy access from both the M1 and M18 motorways.
If you would like to give sailing a go, Rotherham Sailing Club are offering free ‘Try Sailing’ sessions, when you can sail with one of their qualified instructors. These sessions are being held on the first Sunday of each month from April to October from 10.00am to 2.00pm.
Sailing is good fun and a great sport for getting fit and being out on the water. One of the great things about sailing, is that it is accessible to people of all ages.
The club enjoys a family atmosphere which is as supportive to beginners as it is encouraging for those keen to develop their racing skills. Training courses are run during the year using qualified instructors and there is also lots of friendly advice readily available.
If you want to join the club you’ll find club membership is affordable and if you don’t want to buy your own boat you can always hire one of the club’s boats at very accessible prices. You may also find that you can sail as a crew member on other members’ boats.
Club member Jeremy, said: “Having never sailed before, I joined the club three years ago. I did a beginners course, and now sail most weeks. There’s nothing better for de-stressing than getting out on the water on a warm summer evening and it’s a great friendly club as well.”
Back in 1957 several people were keen to set up their own dinghy racing club. In fact, they were so keen that they rolled up their sleeves, dug out an access track to Harthill Reservoir and worked together to build their own clubhouse. Today the clubhouse has been extensively refurbished providing facilities that those early members would not have dreamed of, but the spirit of the club has remained the same: competition on the water and co-operation off the water. The sailing club has a comfortable and well-equipped clubhouse providing changing rooms, showers, lounge, kitchen and a licensed bar, as well as its own car park.
Incidentally, there’s not just sailing to be found at the reservoir. There’s a model yacht section where radio-controlled yacht sailing takes place twice a week throughout the year on Saturday and Wednesday mornings from 9.30am to 1.30pm. If you’re interested why not visit the club and have a chat with club members. The club also has an open water swimming section in collaboration with Yorkshire Outdoor Swimmers. You can find out more at www.yorkshireoutdoorswimmers.co.uk.
If you want to go along on any other Sunday than the first of the month, then club members will be happy to show you around and can tell you more about the club and how to get started. For enquiries about the free Try Sailing sessions you can email trySailing@rotherhamsailingclub.org.uk.
So, what’s stopping you? There’s lots going on at Harthill Reservoir. You’ll find a warm welcome at Rotherham Sailing Club.