Find WatersportsUK sailing directory
Back to directory
ClubHardwick / Stanton Harcourt / Witney, OxfordshireHardwick Lakes

West Oxfordshire Sailing Club

BeginnerTrainingJuniors

West Oxfordshire Sailing Club is a volunteer-run family sailing, racing and RYA training club at Hardwick Lakes near Stanton Harcourt.

Visit official website

Start

Can a beginner start here?

Dinghy sailing, Dinghy racing, Junior sailing, Family sailing, RYA training, Powerboat training, Social events

Beginner
Complete beginners can start through WOSC's RYA training route, but the club is not a commercial course provider and training is primarily for members. The home page says the club's prime purpose is to encourage members to learn to sail, and the Level 1 course starts from never having been in a sailing boat before. Membership language is more selective for new members with sailing experience, so prospective complete beginners should contact the membership/training team before assuming immediate access.
Training
WOSC has an RYA-affiliated sailing school. Courses are stated as available to members only, with external adult candidates only if availability allows for adult weekend courses. Visible courses include adult RYA Level 1 and 2, adult Level 3, Youth RYA Stages 1-4, junior sailing week, and RYA Powerboat Level 2. Training is delivered by RYA-trained volunteer instructors under a Senior Instructor, with swim/confidence, clothing, buoyancy aid, medical declaration, and parent-on-site requirements for children under 16.
Taster
A public taster-session or open-day route was not found. The closest official try-it evidence is member-focused: recreational sailing Saturdays with patrol boat cover and experienced sailors on hand, plus the 2026 WOSC Family Fun Sailing Day for members/family with gentle cruises in club Wayfarers with experienced club sailors. This should be presented as a member/family try-sailing route, not a public taster offer.

Activity tags

Junior sailing· AudienceDinghy racing· ActivityDinghy sailing· ActivityPowerboat training· TrainingRYA training· TrainingSocial events· ActivityFamily sailing· Audience

Suitability

Juniors, families, and accessibility

Juniors
WOSC presents itself as a friendly family sailing club. Junior members are encouraged to learn through Sailing School courses and progress into junior racing and team racing. Junior learn-to-sail opportunities include Saturday afternoon training and Junior Sailing Week; Youth RYA Stages 1-3 are open to WOSC members aged 8+ to 18, and team racing is welcome to junior members above age 8. Family membership is available for one or two adults and dependent children under 18 or in full-time education at the start of the membership year.
Access· Unclear
No official visible page reviewed confirmed Sailability, adaptive sailing, disabled access facilities, or a specific access-needs programme. The sailing school says it follows RYA equality/diversity principles, asks students to declare medical issues, says a medical condition does not necessarily prevent participation, and asks parents to discuss special educational needs with the Training Secretary. Physical accessibility and adaptive sailing support remain unknown.

Costs

Costs, membership, and boats

Prices

Membership fees for 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027 are published: family GBP 175/year, adult GBP 123/year, student/under-24 GBP 60/year, junior GBP 60/year, country member GBP 31/year, senior member GBP 70/year, new member joining fee GBP 40 except country and junior members, and boat berth GBP 20. Adult Level 1/2 course admin/expense fees are GBP 30 for Level 1 and GBP 20 for Level 2. Junior training and Junior Sailing Week are free, with donations welcomed. RYA Powerboat Level 2 is free to candidates with certificates at club cost. Club boats have a hire charge for Wayfarer, Firefly, Fusion, Laser and Topper, but the amount was not found; children can sail club Optimists free, and some junior/regatta uses have no hire charge.

Membership

Official site describes a volunteer-run member club near Stanton Harcourt with training, racing, juniors and social activity; training page confirms an RYA-affiliated sailing school.

Boat hire
Members can use club boats including Wayfarer, Firefly, Fusion, Laser and Topper with a hire charge, and children can use club Optimists free. Junior events mention no hire charge for club boats in the Junior Regatta and Junior Race Series, but boats must be signed out. Racing guidance says club boats must be signed out and paid for before use whether racing or otherwise, and should not be taken out above Force 4 unless cleared by the Sailing Committee. No visitor boat-hire offer was found.

Facilities

Facilities and equipment

Concrete slipways· LaunchDinghy berths· StorageCar parking· AccessTraining fleet· OtherDecking· OtherBar· ClubhouseParking· AccessGalley· ClubhouseClubhouse· ClubhouseTwo lakes· Other

Location

Hardwick / Stanton Harcourt / Witney · 6 nearby clubs mapped

Open in Google Maps

Trust

Sources and data quality

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