Frequently Asked Questions

Weekends

Saturdays & Sundays - sailing is allowed from 10am to 6pm, or 1/2 hour before dusk, whichever is sooner.

Week days - Wednesday to Friday

No sailing is allowed unless safety boat cover is available. Members are rostered to provide this every Sunday throughout the year and from March to Decemeber on Saturdays. All other times those wishing to sail must ensure they can provide safety boat cover. This is a Wessex Water requirement.

Members can access the Club at any time - details will be provided when you join.

Yes you can come to the Club to visit, Sundays are the best days. The Club is not a public space though so if you wish to come to have a picnic, bird watch or a walk around we would politely ask you to either join our social membership or go across the lake to the picnic area by the old church. You can walk along the side the southern spur of the reservoir towards the nature reserve at the tip. It is a great walk.

Due to Wessex Water rules dogs are not allowed on site.

Stand up Paddle boarding & canoeing is offered on the reservoir by the Sutton Bingham Canoe Club. You can find more details on their website - https://suttonbingham.wixsite.com/canoeclub/paddle-sports

There is a dedicated model boating club at the reservoir. They use the small section of the lake to the west of the causeway. They have a website you can visit to find out more.

No, you are welcome to join us on the water, but we do recommend RYA training provided by the Club if you are a complete novice at the sport. See the Learn To Sail pages for more details. The courses are very popular and are booked up very quickly so keep your eyes peeled for announcements to their availability.

We may be able to offer you a trial sail with one of the members, please ask the club secretary to see if this can be arranged - secretary@suttonbinghamsc.net

You don't need your own boat to start with as we have a range of boats owned by the Club that you can hire for half or full day. There is no pre-booking of them meaning you have to hope something is available on the day - see the officer of the day to arrange the hire. We would always encourage you to think about buying your own boat though. It does not have to be expensive, there are plenty of boats available on the second hand market - Apolloduck is a great place to start looking for your own boat.

Clothing - we do have some buoyancy aids available but these are prioritised for training. It is always best to get your own. You don't have to spend a fortune, there is a great Facebook group selling used gear, or go to Decathlon online who sell cheaper sailing gear.

During the warmer months wear normal comfortable sports clothes. Synthetic non-absorbent fabrics are best as they are quick-drying. Add on layers or a windproof jacket if it is a bit colder. In Spring particularly the water is still cold so if you have one wear a summer wetsuit. The sun reflects off the water and the boat so is stronger than on shore so wear a hat, suncream and sunglasses. You should wear plimsoles/trainers or watersports shoes/boots while sailing to protect your feet from the various bits of hardware in the boat.

During the winter months a winter wetsuit or a drysuit is definitely required. Synthetic thermal tops and leggings under your wetsuit can improve the warmth further. Neoprene sailing boots with neoprene or thermal socks (or plastic bags!) will keep your feet warm. Waterproof sailing gloves with liners will keep your hands warm and protected. Wearing a warm hat is always recommended. It used to be that thick wetsuits were best but with improvements in technologies the current trend is for layering of thinner gear.

Yes you can subject to availability for an additional fee to the normal membership fee. Please check out the Join Us page of the site.