The Hostellers Sailing Club offers day sailing and dinghy cruising during the summer and country walking during the winter. The HSC suits all levels of sailing experience including complete beginners. Most members live in London/ Essex/ Southeast England, we also now have a few in Devon. We keep a club owned Wayfarer dinghy on a mooring at Paglesham on the River Roach in Essex. |
Events:
The YHA is back in full operation after the disruption of the covid years and the HSC has resumed sailing and hostelling activities. We had a great Easter break at Manorbier YHA in south Wales (see 'News' section of this website) and we now have our Wayfarer dinghy 'Merganser' on its mooring at Paglesham for the use of our members. We would welcome potential new members to come for a sail in it - contact Mark Smith via our contact page on this website.
Although dinghy racing had never been the principle activity of the HSC we have in recent years participated in the informal races organised by the Roach Sailing Association, indeed our Wayarer dinghy has quite often gained line honors. So I am listing the RSA dinghy races from June 2022 below. (Note that plans may be affected by weather at the time) We may also be able to set up some dinghy cruising activity before the end of this summer, let us know if you are interested.
Sunday 31st July - Mudcatchers Cup - This has traditionally been a fun race for dinghies with distractions such as finding objects hidden on the river bank etc. The start is planned for 13:00 at Paglesham, high water at 15:16 and there will be a BBQ at Paglesham following the race
Sunday 14th August - Paglesham Yacht Race - Despite the title this is for small open boats, i.e. sailing dinghies. Start is 13:00 at Paglesham, high water at 15:09
Sunday 11th September - Lifeboat Cup - Start at 12:00, high water at 14:06
Sunday 25th September - Oyster Cup - Start at 11:00, high water at 13:15.
A few club pictures
2021 - HSC club boat Merganser at South Woodham Ferrers
2019 - The 'Mudcatcher's Cup - HSC club boat right foreground
2018 - Gerald's Drascombe Susie at Snape Maltings, head of navigation on the Alde (second boat from right)
2018 - Our club owned Wayfarer dinghy 'Merganser' anchored off Mersea Stone
Gerald's boat entering Teschelling harbour (at right)
HSC and DCA dinghies at Lower Halstow during our club cruise in September 2015
Visiting Burnham-on-Crouch - our boats are moored bow to the pontoon at the RCYC - a fleet of Dragon keel boats races up river.