OFFICIAL CLUB BROCHURE 2024 / 2025
Welcome to the Royal Air Force Yacht Club. A friendly and sociable Yacht Club, nestled along the picturesque River Hamble.
The Royal Air Force Yacht Club is a thriving club with a varied membership of around 750 people from all walks of life, some of whom have been in the forces, but the majority are working in civilian life. We have a wide range of interests in boating from cruising locally to around the world, from racing around the cans to across the Atlantic.
Our club provides a superb base for your sailing activities with easy access to the Hamble River and the Solent’s many varied ports and harbours, as well as to the Channel for those wishing to venture further afield.
On land we have an active social life with a wide range of events held throughout the year from casual summer gettogethers to more formal black-tie evenings. The club is proud of its RAF heritage which brings a special ethos to the club built upon the history and achievements of our predecessors.
We sustain a unique culture and an informality which keeps the club a friendly place to meet new friends with an interest in boating and to enjoy their company in the special surroundings of our river front clubhouse.
Theclub 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 three 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. The Hamble Scramble is when members take to their dinghies for a trip up the river for a picnic and some light hearted fun.
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 1990s through Trade Winds Cruising Rallies Ltd, the brainchild of club member Malcolm McLaren.
Theclub has an extensive rally programme each year starting in the Spring and usually finishing in November with the Frostbite Rally.
Club members who have a keen interest in sailing in company and socialising among good friends can take advantage of the club’s active rally programme which runs from March through to Christmas and New Year.
The typical format of a rally involves a sail to a well-chosen venue in the Solent or beyond, on arrival you are assured of a warm welcome from your fellows who normally offer some refreshments. This is most often followed by one of the RAFYC’s legendary pontoon parties where an epicurean mix of boat-made specialties is devoured along with glasses of wine, good conversation and renewed friendship.
The rally attendees are then typically welcomed at a local yacht club or hostelry to enjoy a fine dinner in company after which a number of members are found back on their boats with many welcome guests on board attempting to stay in tune for a group sing-song, long after the sun has disappeared below the lowest yard arms.
Next morning our members often appear surprisingly bright and bushy tailed for discussions on whether to join in the return timed passage (race) back to the Hamble.
Destinations for club rallies have included local favourites such as Gosport, Bembridge and Cowes, moving out to Beaulieu, Newtown Creek, Lymington, Yarmouth, Chichester and on the other side of the channel to Cherbourg, St Vaast and the Channel Islands continuing to Northern Brittany.
Club rallies frequently get booked up early and attract up to 30 boats. Impromptu rallies are started with two boats and their club burgees, attracting others to join in on the way to Brest, La Coruna and beyond.
The club rallies continue to further longstanding friendships!
Somemembers have exercised their skills on the racing circuit and continue to win trophies in various classes including the XOD, Sigma and Jeanneau One Designs.
The club racers are frequently active within the Southampton Water Sailing Association (SWSA) and the Junior Offshore Group (JOG) as well as the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). Events such as the Hamble Winter Series and Cowes Week as well as the annual Round the Island Race usually include a number of RAFYC members.
In the autumn the club holds its Battle of Britain Regatta, an open event for IRC, Club Class and XOD’s.
WE ARE MORE THAN JUST A BUNCH OF TREE SURGEONS
WE ARE A FAMILY RUN PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS. I’VE BEEN AROUND THE INDUSTRY SINCE I WAS 12 HELPING MY FATHER WITH HIS BUSINESS WOOD AS FUEL WHICH IS AN ESTABLISHED FIREWOOD COMPANY.
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> Tree Removal
> Tree Pruning
> Hedge Trimming
> Stump Removal
> Site Clearance
> Emergency Call Out
> Tree Planting
> Mobile Milling
> Chippings
> Cabling & Bracing
> Log Splitting
Over the years we have built up a great clientèle supplying the best hard and soft wood logs around. We have a great customer base due to our friendly and trusted service and welcome new customers. We are always happy to share our knowledge on firewood and arboriculture.
Theclub has the privilege of owning a distinguished and well-endowed trophy cabinet containing trophies garnered from its activities around the world with an international and particularly colonial flavour. There are some well-known names engraved on these trophies and we hope the current winners will go on to become memorable in their turn.
Our club embraces the spirit of friendly competition, recognising our members’ sailing skills with trophies for both cruising and racing. Non-boat owners are not left out as some trophies can be won by any member!
Our trophies are awarded for results in the locally popular Solent events as well as club regattas and cruising competitions. So we are looking for the best RAFYC member result in events such as the Warsash Spring Series, Round the Island and the Hamble River Winter Series, as well as the Battle of Britain Regatta, cruising logs and photos and one or two more unusual competitions.
Theclub has a series of sailing and social events throughout the year.
Starting in January with club talks, quizzes and other social events including the Burns Night supper, we move on in April to the club’s rally programme and the Spring Fayre for the local community.
During the sailing season we take part in the Round the Island Race and various races local to the Solent.
The Battle of Britain is celebrated in September and in October we hold a Halloween supper and our Annual Dinner.
Remembrance Day is observed by a church service where a wreath is laid at the local church followed by a lunch at the club. The Frostbite ends our rallying season in late November.
December sees our Christmas Fayre for the local community, a Christmas party and a Christmas carol evening followed by a New Year’s Eve party to end the year.
These events may be subject to change, please see the website and weekly emails for up-to-date information.
Theclub holds a broad and active calendar of events throughout the year as outlined in the events calendar.
We issue a detailed programme listing our sailing and social events at the start of the year, this is available from the club’s office so that you can put dates of interest in your diary.
During the sailing season our social events tend to be less formal with a number of themed nights with dinners often inspired from different countries. We also run a number of lunches, barbeques and suppers.
As the nights draw in the club arranges a number of more formal dinners with the opportunity for the ladies to wear their best frocks and the gentlemen to brush off their DJs. We try and balance a mix of dress codes to suit all tastes.
Theclubhouse is situated at the end of Rope Walk with easy pedestrian access from the pretty village of Hamble and its local marinas.
Car Parking - The club has an enviable amount of car parking for members and by prior arrangement for a small number of guests. Access is via membership card or temporary access code, arranged by the office.
Accommodation at the RAFYC - The club currently has four bedrooms (three of which are en-suite) available for booking by members and non-members. These rooms provide modern comfortable accommodation for visiting yachtsmen, businessmen and other visitors and comprise of two en-suite double rooms, one en-suite twin and one single room with private bathroom across the hallway.
As well as a bar, restaurant and events facilities, there is free Wi-Fi and a members’ lounge with a television. In addition, the clubhouse provides showers and changing facilities, as well as a laundry room.
Visitors & Members of other Yacht Clubs
The club welcomes visitors and members of other yacht clubs, in particular members of reciprocal clubs who may benefit from extended hospitality, under reciprocal arrangements. Whether you are visiting on your own or considering co-ordinating a rally to the Hamble, you will be assured of a warm welcome and excellent hospitality.
Flowers For All Occasions
We are a small friendly family run business in Woolston within Southampton, and are proud to be able to offer flowers and arrangements to suit everyone’s budget!
Why not take advantage of our free local delivery service, same day deliveries available if orders are placed before 2pm!
Call our shop in Woolston and we can help you find the perfect flowers for any occasion.
Telephone: 023 8043 3154
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37 Bridge Road, Woolston, SO19 7GP
Why not make someone’s day and say it with flowers
Themembers’ bar, run by Sean our Bar and Events Manager, is open at weekends and evenings throughout the week.
You will find the bar open at the weekend both at lunch times and into the evening. The well-stocked members’ bar provides a warm and cosy welcome to members, their guests and visiting yachtsmen to enjoy some convivial company and perhaps lunch or dinner. Check the club website and weekly newsletter for opening times.
The Riverside Bar offers the facility for those who wish to hold a special event at the club to have their own private staffed bar in the lovely surroundings of the riverside room which can be laid out with a dance floor and can provide seating for diners in various configurations.
Both club bars have doors opening out onto the club patio for fine days and whatever the weather, they offer a fine view of the river.
The two bars can be run together or separately to suit the needs of the occasion allowing members to always have access to the club facilities, at the same time as providing privacy for guests attending functions.
