Introduction
Welcome to Swarkestone Sailing Club. We offer great opportunities, from youngsters beginning their journey into the sport of sailing to Sailors with a little more experience taking their first steps into racing. We can also offer challenging racing for the more experienced sailor. Swarkestone Sailing Club is a great place for everyone from beginners to experienced sailors.
We also offer membership for those who enjoy stand up paddle boarding. The lake has many interesting areas to explore and a variety of different water birds.
Become a member of Swarkestone Sailing Club or attend an RYA Training Course or just enjoy stand up paddle boarding around the lake.
Learn to sail
Learn to Sail at Swarkestone
Swarkestone Sailing Club is a long established RYA Training centre, we offer courses covering a range of abilities for Adults, Juniors, Sailability and those wishing to get involved with safety boats. We also regularly put forward members of our club for Assistant instructor, Dinghy instructor and Senior instructor courses. All of our instructors are volunteers, and are quite happy to take out less experienced sailors.
Adult RYA Dinghy Level One and Two
At Swarkestone we run the adult RYA level 1 & 2 Dinghy Sailing course, usually once a year. The course will commence with an introductory session on a weekday evening, followed by the practical part of the course over the following weekends.
We’re very excited to announce that booking for our 2027 RYA, Adult level 1 & 2 Dinghy Sailing Course is now open to members initially. What a better way to kick off your plans for 2027 than learning to sail with us at Swarkestone Sailing Club.
March 2027 Course – commencing Thursday 18th March 2027 (Booking now open to members)
This year’s course dates are -
Evening introduction Thursday 18th March,
Course – 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th & 18th April.
3 Saturdays April 3rd and April 10th and April 17th 9am – 5:00pm, 2 Sundays 11th April and 18th April 9am – 5:00pm and 2 additional days if required.
More details are contained on the booking form, but please email us at swarkestonesctraining@gmail.com if you would like any further information.
The cost of the course is £200 for non members and £150 for members with a deposit of £80 due when booked.
The course fee includes free Swarkestone Sailing Club membership from 1st April 2027 until 31st July 2027.
Also on successful completion of the course, all sailors will receive free club boat hire until the end of June 2027.
Places must be booked and paid for in advance. Course fees include boat hire, RYA Start Dinghy Sailing book and certificates. Select the relevant link below to obtain an application form for this year’s courses starting in March 2027.
The link below to register on the course will be updated to the correct 2027 course shortly when opened to non members
Click here to complete the Spring Course Signup Form (March 2027 Course)
email swarkestonesctraining@gmail.com for further information.
Juniors
Here at Swarkestone Sailing Club, we provide young sailors of all abilities with a safe, fun and welcoming environment in which to sail, create friendships and develop valuable life skills. We are proud that a large part of our volunteer instructor team are previous Swarkestone sailors, under the age of 25, proving our ethos of encouraging lifelong sailors and volunteers who are happy to give back and inspire the next generation. As well as offering Spinnaker, Seamanship and Racing courses, we are delighted this year to add Performance Sailing and Swim Safe. We also provide opportunities for our older sailors to achieve their Powerboat Level 2 qualifications.
Our Juniors have the opportunity to develop their sailing skills and experience, in a relaxed style, through the RYA Youth Sailing Scheme (Stages 1-4), and through fun collaborative activities on the water. We also progress them through the Advanced Modules and Instructing Qualifications.
We are very proud of all of our sailors and the progress that they have made, especially those who have represented the club at Opens, the Derbyshire Youth Sailing Series, National Schools Sailing Association events and National and International Regattas.
Juniors can start sailing on any of our Junior Days; no previous experience is necessary, but places must be booked in advance.
Please contact Joanne at swarkestonesctraining@gmail.com if you are interested.
Power Boat Course
RYA Power Boat and Safety Boat Course
Throughout the year we offer the RYA Power Boat Level 1 and 2, and the RYA Safety Boat Course.
New dates will be out soon.
Contact training on swarkestonetraining@gmail.com if you would like any further information.
Sailability
Disabled members are an integral part of the club and club life and are welcomed by this, the friendliest of clubs. The Sailability Project has helped disabled adults and children find new levels of freedom and also encourages disabled people to compete in all aspects of racing and club life.
The group meet on Wednesdays throughout the sailing season and can sail in our specially adapted dinghies, some of which have been adapted to enable the most severely disabled members to sail.
