SAILING ACTIVITIES

The club is perfectly situated on the River Hamble as a base for exploring the Solent and beyond.

The Hamble provides an excellent central location for many delightful destinations. The club provides a launch service for members that runs at weekends and bank holidays and for other times there is easy access to a slipway for tender launching. The club has also invested in four club tenders for members’ free temporary use.

Whatever facet of sailing interests you, the Royal Air Force Yacht Club, with its large and diverse membership and extensive range of facilities, is more than able to cater for it.

The club is affiliated to the Southampton Water Sailing Association, a group comprising several different local yacht clubs which affords even greater competition in both dinghy and cruiser racing. Races include evenings round the cans in Southampton water and longer weekend races. The social side of sailing is what attracts many to our great pastime and we have a well-supported rally programme throughout the year that takes in a variety of destinations both close to home and further afield. Some rallies include an element of competition ranging from timed passages to the Ladies Helm Race, but the most sought after prize is the best decorated boat awarded at the Frostbite rally.

Whether your interest is cruising locally or further afield we have a wide range of experiences to share with you. RAFYC members have been involved in the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers), in sailing around the world, the Mediterranean and the oceans of the world. In fact, the very first round the world cruise in company was organised by members of the club in the early 1990’s through Trade Winds Cruising Rallies Ltd, the brainchild of club member Malcolm McLaren.