Welcome

Burghfield Sailing Club has an active Junior and Youth sailing programme taking sailors from their first time in a boat through to competing in national squads.

Many junior sailors make their first step into sailing in the popular Optimist. From May to September Burghfield Sailing Club runs an Oppie Club on Sunday mornings for developing water confidence and sailing skills in a structured and safe environment.

Part of the lake, away from the main racing area, is buoyed off so the complete novice can begin in safety but with sufficient space to provide a challenge for the more experienced sailors.

The club has a number of Oppies in which to learn the basics before buying a boat.

For the more experienced Optimist sailors and those who compete on the racing circuit, we offer coaching on most Sunday afternoons throughout the year, summer and winter, as well as other coaching opportunities at both Burghfield and sometimes at other clubs, such as those on the south coast. In 2007, out of all the clubs in the country, Burghfield Sailing Club had the highest number of Optimist sailors in the various regional and national squads.

More information on Optimist sailing.

For those sailors that are less suited to the Optimist, have outgrown it, or that wish to sail double handed, the club has active sailors in the RYA Junior Pathway classes of Toppers, Laser 4.7s, and RS Fevas as well as in other junior and youth classes.

Many of these sailors compete on the open circuits and then between times take part in the club racing on a Sunday, as well as the Wednesday evening pursuit race during the summer.

A well attended Topper training takes place on Sunday afternoons and is suitable for all Topper sailors, from those with basic skills (can sail a triangular course and recover from a capsize) right through to those racing on the Topper open circuit. We also have a few club boats available to help those who are just starting out.

During the summer there is Double Hander training immediately after Oppie Club, continuing until the beginning of the Sunday afternoon race.

Burghfield Sailing Club is represented at local and national squad level in a number of junior and youth classes and to help our sailors compete successfully at this level, the club organises specific coaching activities for each fleet during the year.

For those that want to try a different boat before buying one, the club has Toppers and RS Fevas.

More information on Toppers.

More information on Laser 4.7s.

More information on RS Fevas.

Our Friday Youth Training, which runs over the summer months on each Friday evening, is aimed at the older, more experienced sailors that want to spend extra time on the water, with coaching, to improve their sailing and racing skills. This is open to any junior and youth class boats, single or double handers.

The Junior Sailing Committee manages and delivers many of the above activities and facilities that are aimed specifically at the club's junior sailors, including Oppie Club; Optimist, Topper and Laser4.7 training; Friday Youth Training; use of junior club boats, along with other on and off the water activities and support.

If you are interested in helping out with any of the Junior or Youth activities at the club your offer will be most welcome - just e-mail to discuss further.