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 a selected Tuesday evenings this summer!  

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. 2026 Taster Sessions will be published in Spring 2026.
Courses are yet to be planned, when they become available it will be posted in the Sailing Calendar.

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.

What to Expect 

We meet 18:00 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.
​​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 (i.e. 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.
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


Members may join the weekly evening sail on  the Thames (subject to availability and weather conditions) - max 21 people on Tuesday evenings and some weekends between April and September, and the occasional weekend later in the year.
Sailing largely stops over winter. 
These sessions can be a mix of down and up river cruising, racing or training and development. 
We also run downriver and upriver sails for members on weekends, RYA sailing and powerboat courses for members. 
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. 
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You will be added to a member only Whatsapp chat and be given access to sailing schedule to register.

Get An RYA Sailing Qualification

The Shadwell Sailing Club offer  RYA Level 2 dinghy sailing courses (open to all). We are unfortunately not able to offer Dinghy level 1 course.
RYA Powerboat Level 1 and Level 2 courses are open to members only.
All courses are delivered by the Club's Senior Instructors. 
For the courses, please see the Sailing Calendar and book your place, subject to availability.