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ClubCoastalHerne Bay, KentHerne Bay / Hampton Pier

Hampton Pier Yacht Club

Verified by the clubBeginnerTrainingJuniors

Hampton Pier Yacht Club is a Herne Bay coastal club with dinghy sailing, racing, training, cruising and wider watersports.

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Start

Can a beginner start here?

Dinghy sailing, Club racing, Cruising, Training, Kayaking, Open water swimming, Social sailing

Beginner
The club welcomes dinghy sailors from complete beginners to expert sailors. It says complete beginners can start with season-long training using club boats, with buoyancy aids available to borrow.
Training
HPYC runs member training led by volunteers, some of whom are RYA certified instructors. Training is mostly free to members, based on the RYA Level 2 syllabus, and includes novice dinghy training plus shore-based workshops. The club states it is not an official RYA training centre and cannot issue certificates.
Taster
HPYC runs short taster sessions with experienced helms for people who have never sailed or have not been on the water for a long time. Sessions are around 20 minutes, with adult and child life-jackets and helmets available. They are run on open days in late May or early June, or on request at other times.

Activity tags

Club racing· ActivityCruising· ActivityDinghy sailing· ActivityKayaking· ActivityOpen-water swimming· ActivitySocial sailing· ActivityTraining· Training

Suitability

Juniors, families, and accessibility

Juniors
HPYC says complete beginners can start with club boats and borrowed buoyancy aids, and the membership page lists family, junior, and cadet sailing memberships. Club boats include Toppers, ideal for children; Qubas and Fusions, suitable for one or two adults; and two RS Visions, suitable for a family of two adults and two children. The club runs regular training and skills development days during the sailing season.
Access· Unclear
The club has a stair lift, but its changing rooms do not include disabled toilets. It does not have dedicated facilities or training for disabled sailors, but asks people with access needs to contact the club so it can see where it may be able to help.

Costs

Costs, membership, and boats

Prices

The 2026 fee page says there is no joining fee. Sailing membership prices are family £224, partners £195, single over 21 £170, junior £75, and cadet £45. Social/non-sailing membership prices are family £94, partners £81, and single £68. Boat parking and storage charges are beach park £60 per boat, grass bank £46 per boat, and sail locker £23 per boat. Later-season new-member discounts are July 50%, August 60%, September 70%, and October or later 80%. The open-day discount was tied to the 16 May 2026 open day, so it is not treated as current after that date.

Membership

Official site welcomes sailors and non-sailors and describes training for new and inexperienced sailors.

Boat hire
Club boats are available to sailing members who complete the required form; they cannot be booked in advance and are first come, first served. Use is free on training days, otherwise suggested donations are £5 for a Topper, £10 for an RS Fusion/Quba, and £15 for an RS Vision. This is member boat use, not public boat hire.

Facilities

Facilities and equipment

Stair-lift· OtherBar· ClubhouseClub boats· OtherChanging rooms· ChangingBoat stores· OtherClubhouse· ClubhouseSocial calendar· ClubhouseSafety patrol boat· Safety

Location

Herne Bay · 6 nearby clubs mapped

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Trust

Sources and data quality

Data status
Verified
Find Watersports check
23 Jul 2026
Club verification
23 Jul 2026
Sources checked (2)