Whether you’ve never been on the water before, are a seasoned sailor and new to the area or just fancy a family day out, Blackwater Sailing Club’s Open Day is for you!

The annual event offers people the opportunity to try sailing and have a look around our Club’s wonderful facilities overlooking the Blackwater Estuary.

Held on Sunday 7 May between 11am and 5pm, visitors can drop in at a time that suits them and find out more about one of the leading sailing clubs in the country.

There will be taster sessions on the training lake, where people can experience sailing in a safe environment whatever the tide is doing. Experienced instructors will helm a range of dinghies, taking adults and children aboard with all buoyancy aids provided by the Club.

For those wanting more of an open sea experience, there will be trips on the Estuary, giving them a feel for the beautiful experience of being out on the water between Heybridge, Mill Beach and Northey Island.

Refreshments will be available from the Clubhouse along with tours of the facilities. Club Members will offer a warm welcome and will be able to discuss membership options and answer questions.

Taster sail in the Quest on the Club lake at Open Day 2022. Image: Nigel Butler

Allan Hunt, Rear-Commodore, said: “We are a membership Club and our annual Open Day gives anyone interested in sailing the opportunity to find out more in a friendly and welcoming environment. Many people who come along to the event have seen boats on the Estuary and are just curious to find out what it’s all about.

“We’re proud of our Club and the new Clubhouse with all its stunning facilities so we will be very pleased to give more information to anyone who comes along to the Open Day. Membership enables you to use the Club and access a whole range of adult and children’s sailing courses so we hope people will leave inspired to give it a go!”

Sailing on the Estuary will be available around high tide at 2.45pm so we would encourage anyone wishing to have a taster trip on the river to come along around 1pm. Lake activities will be available all day.

The event is being held only months after Blackwater Sailing Club was named the Royal Yachting Association’s East Region Club of the Year and 18-year-old cadet Charlie Dixon was crowned the Yachting Journalists’ Association’s Young Sailor of the Year and the UK Windsurfing Association’s Windsurfer of the Year.