Shadwell Sailing Club - sail in London on the Thames
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Come Sailing on the Thames

Welcome to Shadwell Sailing Club

Would you like to go sailing on the Thames, in the middle of central London? Then come and join us at Shadwell Sailing Club. Check our Sailing Calendar below and come sailing with us on Tuesday evenings this summer!  
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Come Sailing in London! 

Welcome to Shadwell Sailing Club. You're most welcome to join us at a Taster Session, whether you're completely new to sailing or have sailed before.
We sail on the Thames and provide all the equipment and supervision you need for a fun and safe evening.
We run 4 Taster Sessions per season between May and September, where we welcome everyone from complete beginners to experienced sailors.

​We have limited availability for Taster Sessions. Sorry there is no waiting list. 2025 Taster Sessions are now available to book in - hurry, places are limited.

See the Sailing Calendar for dates and book your Taster Session place.
  • You must book your taster session place and pay in advance to join.
  • Spaces are limited and subject to availability. These sessions are very popular and fill up quickly.​ Max 10 people (and subject to availability of competent helms).
  • The cost for the taster session evening is £40​. Sorry, no exchanges, no refunds.
  • We do not operate a waiting list due to limited capacity in resources.
Please note that we are an adult only, volunteer run club and we unfortunately are not able to accommodate under 18 year olds for both taster sessions and courses.
COME SAILING

What to Expect 

We meet 6pm at Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre, where you will  be matched with an experienced sailor, who will take care of you for the evening. Once you've received a safety briefing, you will get the chance to go sailing on the River Thames, weather permitting.

All sessions are accompanied by a safety boat, and supervised under the watchful eye of a RYA dinghy Senior Instructor.
​Depending on the time of year, tide, and weather, your sailing can last from 90 minutes right up to four hours, especially in mid summer.


You will be given buoyancy aid,  but bring spare clothes and shoes as you may get wet getting in and out of the boats.
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​After sailing we adjourn to our unofficial club house aka The Prospect of Whitby pub, which is just next door.

How to Join as a Member

If  you meet the membership requirements (you have a RYA Level 2 dinghy  or above, or similar experience in tidal sailing), you can join straight away. 
If you are not sure whether you would like to commit, please join us on one of the taster sessions (maximum twice per season), and if you meet the membership requirement, you will  be offered the chance to become a full member and get access to weekend sailing trips and courses at a discounted price. 
  • Annual membership fee is £170 (£120 for those between 18 and 24 or over 65). Membership runs from April to March the following year. 
  • Temporary Membership is offered to previous members of Shadwell Sailing Club to enable previous members to join sessions on a one-off basis.
For membership requirements, please see our FAQ.
​If you are interested, please come sailing on one of our Tuesday evening Taster Sessions.
Please note, we are not able to accommodate under 18 years old. 
 

Sailing Calendar

Our Sailing Boats

Shadwell Sailing Club owns five Wayfarers, a Hawk 20, a Drascombe Lugger and a Laser.

Sailing For Members

Our weekly Tuesday evening sailing sessions are open to members, (subject to availability - max 21 people).

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We also run downriver and upriver sails for members on weekends and RYA sailing and powerboat courses for members on selected weekends. 
These evenings are run by a senior RYA dinghy instructor and accompanied by a safety boat, so they can include all levels of experience. But, the focus is on improving your skills to become a competent RYA qualified helm if you're not already.  
You will be added to a member only Whatsapp chat and be given access to sailing schedule to register.
These sessions can be a mix of down and up river cruising, racing or training and development. 
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Get An RYA Sailing Qualification

The Sailing Club also offers RYA Level 1, RYA Level 2 dinghy sailing courses (open to all) and RYA Powerboat Level 1 and Level 2 courses (members only) taught by Shadwell Sailing Club instructors. For the courses, please see the Sailing Calendar and book your place, subject to availability. 

  • Come Sailing
  • Info
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  • FAQs
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