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ClubCoastalWhitehead, Mid and East AntrimBelfast Lough

County Antrim Yacht Club

BeginnerTrainingJuniors

County Antrim Yacht Club is a Whitehead club on Belfast Lough, with dinghy sailing, RYA/adult courses, junior racing/training and a long-standing local sailing history.

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Start

Can a beginner start here?

Dinghy sailing, Adult sailing courses, Junior sailing, Topper training, Racing, RYA courses, Club events, Social programme

Beginner
The club lists youth RYA Stage 1-2 as suitable for beginners, adult RYA Start Sailing Level 1/Basic Skills training, and OnBoard introductory taster sessions for beginners.
Training
CAYC describes itself as an RYA Recognised Training Centre and lists youth sailing schemes, adult RYA National Sailing Scheme courses, OnBoard training, powerboat/safety boat courses, and race coaching.
Taster
The OnBoard page says the club offers sailing tasters and describes Get OnBoard taster sessions for beginners; the 2026 schedule is still dependent on instructor availability and some dates/times are TBC.

Activity tags

Adult sailing courses· TrainingClub events· ActivityDinghy sailing· ActivityJunior sailing· AudienceRacing· ActivityRYA courses· TrainingSocial programme· ActivityTopper training· Training

Suitability

Juniors, families, and accessibility

Juniors
The club offers youth sailing for children aged 7+ to 14, OnBoard activity for schools and youth organisations, and family-friendly clubhouse/bar access during permitted hours.
Access· Unclear
No current accessibility or disabled-access information was found on the reviewed official contact, opening times, training, membership, or resources pages.

Costs

Costs, membership, and boats

Prices

Published 2026 prices include youth RYA schemes at £200 for non-members or £170 for members, adult RYA Level 1 and Level 2 at £130 or £165 for non-members each, and club boat hire at £5-£10 per session. The new-members page gives 2026 joining instructions and discount notes but not all membership fee amounts in visible page text.

Membership

Official site includes joining/login pages and current 2026 course and event news, including adult sailing courses and Topper training.

Boat hire
Club dinghies are available to hire or lease for paid-up members who meet competence and suitability criteria; short-term hire is listed at £5-£10 per session and the fleet page lists multiple boats available online for hire.

Facilities

Facilities and equipment

Clubhouse· ClubhouseJunior pathway· OtherRacing/events· OtherTraining courses· OtherWhitehead shore base· OtherSocial events· Clubhouse

Location

Whitehead · 6 nearby clubs mapped

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Trust

Sources and data quality

Data status
Verified
Find Watersports check
12 Jun 2026
Club verification
Not listed
Sources checked (1)