Ripon Sailing Club says complete novices are welcome, offers taster sails for prospective members, and runs beginner RYA learn-to-sail courses for members. Training is members-only, but tasters are available before joining.
Training
The club is an RYA Training Establishment and offers dinghy and powerboat courses to members. Adult/older teenager courses include RYA Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Start Racing; junior courses include RYA Stages 1, 2, 3 and Start Racing. Courses are taught by qualified RYA instructors.
Taster sails are offered to prospective members on specific dates during the April to September sailing season and must be pre-booked and paid for in advance. They are a chance to try sailing with an experienced helm, not a session to learn to sail independently. The page also lists a Discover Sailing visitor event on 25 April 2026, 10am to 4pm.
The club describes itself as family friendly and has British Youth Sailing Recognised Club status. Children from 7 years can join courses, taster sails can be booked for adults and children from age 7, and the Youth & Junior programme runs monthly ROTTERS sessions with progression alongside the RYA syllabus. Under-16s need a parent or guardian on site for courses; juniors under 16 need an adult on site for tasters.
Access
Some accessibility and inclusion information is published. The club has an accessibility statement page and gives a Sailability contact email. Its youth inclusion page says it will work with families so young sailors and vulnerable members can enjoy sailing regardless of physical or mental capabilities, and says children with SEN are encouraged to join in. The taster page cautions that participants should be mobile enough to step from the jetty into a wobbly boat.
Costs
Costs, sessions, and boats
Prices
Membership fees from 1 November 2025 are listed as: Family joining GBP 185, annual GBP 300, total GBP 485; Single joining GBP 150, annual GBP 245, total GBP 395; Junior joining GBP 70, annual GBP 185, total GBP 255; Youth joining GBP 70, annual GBP 126, total GBP 196; Shore joining GBP 15, annual GBP 61, total GBP 76. Additional berths are GBP 60 each. Taster sessions cost GBP 50. A two-day RYA beginner course costs GBP 90 according to the taster page for 2026 prices.
Club boats are available for members to hire/use, including Optimist, RS Tera, Topper, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial, Fusion, RS Feva, Laser full rig, Vision and Comet. They can only be hired by members for personal leisure use or club racing/Kickstarter when safety boat cover is operating and a committee key holder is on site. The sailor must have RYA Junior Stage 2, Adult Level 2, or equivalent skills to use club boats outside a course or improver session.
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