When and Where

Taster Sessions take place on specific Tuesday evenings from May to September. We meet at  Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre at 6pm for 6:30pm departure.

​There are 4 Taster sessions on offer this season, with just 10 places available to book per session:
  • 6 May 2025
  • 3 Jun 2025
  • 29 Jul 2025
  • 2 Sep 2025

How to Join a Taster Session

  1. Check availability and choose your date here.
  2. Click 'Book now' for you chosen date.
    If you are coming with someone else, please get that person to complete the order themselves and complete their own consent form, so we have their name and details will be on the list of people sailing.
  3. The cost of session is £40 per person.
    Your purchase is non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Unless the Club decides to cancel the session due to the weather conditions.
  4. Please complete a consent form in advance before you come sailing with us. 

You will not be able to go sailing until you submit your consent form. 
​Please see below for the membership requirements.

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.
​​After sailing we adjourn to our unofficial club house aka The Prospect of Whitby pub, which is just next door.

Membership Requirements

You must meet the following criteria to join the Shadwell Sailing Club.
Membership Requirements:
  • You must have a RYA Level 2 Dinghy sailing qualification or  above  similar sailing experience in tidal waters.
  • ​If you do not have a RYA Level 2 Dinghy Sailing qualification already, you are willing to complete RYA Level 2 within the calendar year. We may run RYA Level 2 courses in the season, if you have completed RYA Level 2 with us, with an intention to join the club, you will be able to join the Club immediately once you have completed the course. 
  • ​Members must attend the maintenance weekends between February and March. 
  • ​Members must be part of member duty rota: duties include but not limited to helming (and taking non-members on board on taster days), safety boat driver, rib crew, beach master etc.
Temporary Membership:
Previous Members of Shadwell Sailing Club may join the Regular Tuesday sail and Weekend sail subject to availability. 
The cost of sessions are £40. If you are interested, please get in touch with the Committee.

Weather, Wind and Tide Charts for the River Thames

Sailing Calendar