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ClubCoastalThorney Island, West SussexChichester Harbour

Thorney Island Sailing Club

BeginnerTrainingJuniors

Thorney Island Sailing Club is a Chichester Harbour club with civilian and armed-forces membership, dinghy and cruiser sailing, junior activity, racing, rallies and powerboat training.

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Start

Can a beginner start here?

Dinghy racing, Dinghy cruising, Yacht cruising, Junior sailing, Powerboating, RYA training, Social sailing

Beginner
The club says it runs some RYA training courses, but these are for members only. Its About page also says sailing development sessions are organised for all ages, including people who are rusty and spouses who have never learnt to sail. The Join page makes clear prospective members should intend to sail and either own a sailing vessel or buy one in due course, so the beginner route appears to be through membership rather than casual public attendance.
Training
Official content states that Thorney Island Sailing Club runs some RYA training courses for members only. The home page also listed current calendar items including RYA Dinghy Level 2 and RYA Multihull Levels 1 & 2 events, and the About page describes sailing development sessions for all ages.
Taster· Unclear
I did not find current visible official content advertising public taster sessions, open days, or try-sailing sessions. The Join page says applicants may be invited to visit the club for short interviews, but this is not described as an on-water taster session.

Activity tags

Dinghy cruising· ActivityDinghy racing· ActivityJunior sailing· AudiencePowerboating· TrainingRYA training· TrainingSocial sailing· ActivityYacht cruising· Activity

Suitability

Juniors, families, and accessibility

Juniors
The club says encouraging children to sail is a long-established tradition and that Junior sailing week takes place in the summer school holidays. The home page had current Junior Week 2026 and junior on-water/race events listed, and the dinghy hire conditions explain under-18 booking responsibility requirements.
Access
The club has a JQD Wheelyboat page describing a Sea Rover 21 Wheelyboat operated in partnership with the Wheelyboat Trust, Army Welfare Services and the club. It states wheelchair passenger capacity and booking guidance, with important limits and requirements for carers where assistance may be needed. I did not find broader accessibility details for the clubhouse or site access.

Costs

Costs, membership, and boats

Prices

The Join page links to a current charges PDF for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The Dinghy Hire Conditions page lists daily club boat hire fees for members: RS Vision GBP 18, RS Feva GBP 18, Laser 2000 GBP 18, Fusion GBP 18, and Pico GBP 12. It says invoices are issued and must be paid before use.

Membership

Official site confirms civilian and Regular Armed Forces membership, dinghy and cruiser sections, club boats, moorings, all-tides access, junior week, dinghy racing and cruiser rallies.

Boat hire
The About page says the club has training fleet boats available for hire to suitably qualified members. The Dinghy Hire Conditions page says hirers must be over 18, club members, and competent, with under-18s requiring a parent responsible for booking and safety. It lists club boat types and daily hire fees, and says boats must not be used without a booking.

Facilities

Facilities and equipment

Cruiser parking· AccessLawns· OtherDinghy parking· AccessMoorings· StorageBar· ClubhouseClubhouse· ClubhouseSlipway· LaunchClub training fleet· Other

Location

Thorney Island · 6 nearby clubs mapped

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Trust

Sources and data quality

Data status
Verified
Find Watersports check
14 Jun 2026
Club verification
Not listed
Sources checked (2)