The four sailing clubs on the River Hamble are joining forces and opening their doors to all sailors and would-be sailors on Saturday 6 April 2013. The Clubs will be open from 10am to 5pm and all those who are interested will be able to visit one or all of them during the day as each Club showcases what they have to offer.
 
Starting at 10am, members of the four Clubs will race the distinctive Foxer dinghies in an inter-Club Team race for the Dock Services Challenge Trophy, and Hamble River Sailing Club’s young sailors will race off the Hamble Quay.
 
Other boat designs will also be showcased on and off the water to look over or to take out for a trial sail. Each of the Clubs will have displays and members to talk to throughout the day in their respective Club houses. Lunch is available in each Club house, and then at 2pm, the Foxers take to the water again for some fleet racing in the River. Families are welcome and there will be lots to see and do from crabbing to presentations on each Club’s sailing programme. Some of the Clubs will have special fee offers for new members.
 
The clubs are:
 
In its 94th year, Hamble River Sailing Club remains true to its founders’ wishes ‘to encourage the spirit of small boat sailing and racing’. From Wednesday night racing and the annual Winter Series, to its role as an RYA Training Centre and with the use of 30 Club dinghies for members, Hamble River SC has an active sailing, cadet and social scene.
 
The Royal Air Force Yacht Club was founded in 1932 by RAF Officers at Calshot and now has a wide range of service and civilian members including many families. The Club has a strong Cruising fraternity, car and dinghy parking, deep water moorings, launch service and waterside Club house with bar, dining and guest room facilities.
 
The Royal Southern Yacht Club celebrated its 175th Anniversary in 2012 and has recently been awarded the prestigious Yachts & Yachting’s ‘Club of the Year’ Award. The Club caters for all ages from the Splash Club from age 5, through the Junior Cadets and Academy with its own J/80s, to the ‘Ancient Mariners’. Its large Club House includes bars and dining rooms, 12 en-suite bedrooms and extensive moorings for yachts, RIBs and sportsboats, afloat and ashore.
 
Warsash Sailing Club was founded in 1957 as a village sailing club with a strong voluntary organisation behind it. The Club provides racing, development and RYA training from the age of 5. Its Brooks Macdonald Warsash Spring Series is the premier opening event in the Solent racing season. The Club has two shore facilities both supporting social activities and providing boat storage compounds. Lobster Quay provides dinghy launching and Shore House provides short stay moorings for cruisers.
 
Open Day visitors can come and go from any Club at any time, but are requested, for safety reasons, to register in advance with any one of the Clubs. On April 6th visitors are then able to visit the Clubs of their choice in their own time.
 
To cross the River between Hamble and Warsash, the Hamble Warsash Ferry will be available for a small fee.
 
Registration is required via any of the following:
 
admin@hambleriversc.org.uk
office@rafyc.co.uk
sailing.admin@royal-southern.co.uk
admin@warsashsc.org.uk.
 
Club websites for more details:
 
http://www.hambleriversc.org.uk
http://www.rafyc.co.uk
http://www.royal-southern.co.uk
http://www.warsashsc.org.uk