Hollowell Sailing Club presents itself as suitable for beginners: it is an RYA registered training centre, advertises Adult Dinghy Level 1 for people who have never sailed before with no assumed knowledge, and says its Discover Sailing Open Mornings require no experience. Junior RYA Stage 1 is also described as the beginner course for children who have never sailed before.
Training
The club says it is an RYA registered training centre offering dinghy sailing and Powerboat Level 2 training. Current official pages list adult RYA Dinghy Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, seamanship and start racing courses, with member prices of GBP 100 and non-member prices of GBP 175 for the adult dinghy courses shown. The junior page says RYA Junior Stages 1 to 4 can take children from never having sailed before to sailing single and double-handed boats independently.
The official site lists current taster options. Open Mornings are advertised for Saturday 9 May 2026 and Saturday 20 June 2026, with Discover Sailing taster sessions described as free but requiring WebCollect booking. Try Sailing Tuesday sessions for families or individuals run Tuesday evenings from May through July, start at 18:30 and finish around 20:00, and cost GBP 10 per adult or GBP 7.50 per child. Past or undated events were not used.
The club describes a family-friendly environment and says Discover Sailing Open Mornings are suitable for people aged 8 to 88 and families. Junior training follows the RYA pathway, with Stage 1 for beginners, Stage 2 and 3 taught through Sunday morning youth coaching and Youth Week, and a responsible adult required on site for juniors aged 13 or under during courses. Family membership is available for adult members in the same household with children under 18, or under 24 if in full-time education.
Access
The club handbook says Hollowell Sailing Club is registered as an RYA Sailability venue and aims to provide access to sailing for all where this can be achieved. It also says the club will signpost people to Northampton Sailing Club if Hollowell cannot meet access-to-water needs, especially when water levels are low. It lists wheelchair access to the clubhouse via wide front and rear entrance doors, grass parking near the small brick fuel store, and an accessible disabled toilet with grab bars and a wet-room shower. This is evidence of access support, but visitors with specific needs should contact the club because access to the water may depend on conditions.
Costs
Costs, membership, and boats
Prices
Current official prices found include WebCollect membership subscriptions and club-published activity prices. WebCollect shows current subscription prices including Young Sailing Adult GBP 77, Single Sailing Adult GBP 181, Single Sailing Adult Retired GBP 144, Family GBP 220, Family Retired GBP 176, Accompanying Non-Sailing Adult GBP 61, Accompanying Non-Sailing Adult Retired GBP 49, Junior GBP 55, Social Non-sailing member GBP 51, Social Non-sailing Retired Member GBP 40, Dinghy Permit GBP 55, Sailboard Permit GBP 55, SUP/Canoe/Kayak launch permit GBP 0, Separate Trailer GBP 21 and Canoe/Kayak storage Standard subscription GBP 55. Adult dinghy courses shown on the official site cost GBP 100 for members and GBP 175 for non-members. Try Sailing costs GBP 10 per adult and GBP 7.50 per child. Discover Sailing Open Morning tasters are listed as free but require WebCollect booking. Member craft hire examples include dinghies from GBP 10 to GBP 18 all day, sailboards GBP 7 all day, buoyancy aids/spray tops GBP 2 per session and SUP hire GBP 3 per session.
The official craft-hire page says craft hire is available to members only and only when scheduled sailing is taking place with a manned rescue boat on the water. It lists member hire craft including Topper Topaz Xenon and Bahia at GBP 18 all day, RS Feva, Optimist, RS Tera and Laser Pico at GBP 10 all day, sailboards at GBP 7 all day, Laser and Hartley 12/2 at GBP 15 all day, and Wayfarers at GBP 18 all day. The club also says members may hire buoyancy aids/spray tops for GBP 2 per session and a SUP for GBP 3 per session. I did not find public non-member boat hire.
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