Social Sailing Session Autumn 1
Bosham Social Sailing returns for a third year of structured sailing sessions...time on the water in the company of other sailors, building confidence, knowledge, ability, and camaraderie.
These regular Friday sessions are led by Melvyn Cooper with a relaxed and supportive emphasis. There's no pressure on formal learning. Just the opportunity to go sailing with safety cover whilst being helped and supported by experienced and RYA qualified instructors. You can go out in your own boat or use a club boat (included in the fee). We have two club Chichester Scows as well as Fusions and a Laser for single-handed sailing, plus Bahias for double-handed or three-up. Come with friends or make new friends on the water.
The sessions are not for beginners. You'll need to have some knowledge and experience of sailing in light winds up to force 3. Instructors will be on hand to help you with all this, but you do need to have the basic skills. If you are concerned about your ability, do get in touch and we can advise. More experienced members who would like to participate in some social sailing and to help take people out in their own boats also please get in touch. It would be great to see you.
What you will learn over a number of sessions:
- Understanding boat set up (sails, downhaul, outhaul and kicker settings)
- Launching and returning ashore techniques (including avoiding the Raptackle)
- Boat handling skills (helm position, mainsheet control & hiking)
- Controlling boat speed (slowing down, stopping & accelerating)
- Upwind and tacking skills (shimmer technique & tell tales)
- Downwind and gybing skills (reaching, running & kiting)
- and most importantly...Confidence and competence!!!
If there's too much or too little wind its likely the sessions will still go ahead. There is plenty to go into detail ashore with the five points of sailing, launching your boat and coming ashore safely, reefing your sail, using tell tales upwind, getting out of irons and many more subjects. Practicing theory ashore will increase your knowledge and enable you to experience theory vs reality once afloat. High winds may also give the opportunity to go out with an experienced sailor and enjoy conditions that would be too extreme on your own.
2026 sessions: The season is split into three blocks, with each block bookable separately.
- Spring (3 sessions): 17 Apr 09:30-13:30, 1 May 09:30-13:30, 15 May 09:00-13:00
- Summer (3 sessions): 5 Jun 12:30-16:30, 19 Jun 13:00-17:00, 3 Jul 11:30-15:30
- Autumn (4 sessions): 11 Sep 09:30-13:30, 25 Sep 09:00-13:00, 9 Oct 09:00- 13:00, 16 Oct 12:00-16:00
Cost: Members only.
- Spring or Summer block (3 sessions): £130
- Spring and Summer blocks (6 sessions): £220
- Autumn block (4 sessions): £160
- Whole season (10 sessions): £340
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Last updated 10:36pm on 8 December 2025
