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CharityInlandAshton Keynes / Swindon, Wiltshire / Cotswold Water ParkWhitefriars Lake, Cotswold Water Park

Whitefriars Sailing Club

BeginnerTrainingJuniors

Whitefriars Sailing Club is a Cotswold Water Park dinghy sailing, racing, RYA training, junior/youth and Sailability club at Ashton Keynes.

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Start

Can a beginner start here?

Dinghy sailing, Dinghy racing, RYA courses, Powerboat training, Junior sailing, Youth sailing, Women on Water, Sailability, Stand-up paddleboarding, Kayaking, Radio sailing

Beginner
Whitefriars explicitly supports beginners. The site says it can get people sailing if they have never done it before, advertises sailing for complete beginners, and lists RYA Level 1 Start Sailing as requiring no previous sailing knowledge.
Training
Whitefriars is an RYA Recognised Training Centre offering RYA dinghy sailing and powerboating courses, plus first aid. Courses are aimed at members and affiliated groups, with some training dates opened to non-members on application. Adult dinghy training in 2026 includes RYA Level 1 and Level 2 two-day courses, with boats and buoyancy aids provided.
Taster
The official Open Day page for Saturday 9 May 2026 offered free admittance, drop-in attendance with no booking required, and a chance to try sailing with experienced volunteers in safe and stable club boats. The home page and training page also direct prospective learners to contact the training team and arrange a visit.

Activity tags

Dinghy racing· ActivityDinghy sailing· ActivityJunior sailing· AudienceKayaking· ActivityPowerboat training· TrainingRadio sailing· ActivityRYA courses· TrainingSailability· AccessStand-up paddleboarding· ActivityWomen on Water· ActivityYouth sailing· Audience

Suitability

Juniors, families, and accessibility

Juniors
The club has a Juniors group for young sailors, described as a safe, fun and welcoming environment to begin and develop sailing. The open-day page describes Juniors for kids age 8-18, while the home page says Juniors are for ages 7 to 18. Junior sessions and training are published separately, and family membership is available for up to 2 adults and children or grandchildren under 18. Parents/guardians must remain on site during junior activities.
Access
Whitefriars presents itself as inclusive and says it tries to accommodate access challenges where possible. The Accessibility page says Sailability meets Wednesday and Thursday from April through October, has experienced volunteers and access to wider equipment including blow-suck controls. The Sailability page says the group supports people with almost any disability, with facilities, support, boats, instructors and buddy sailors. The site also notes some Hansa boats designed for disabled sailors can be hired by eligible members registered with Sailability.

Costs

Costs, membership, and boats

Prices

Official 2026-2027 membership prices found: Full adult single GBP 149/year, full family GBP 228/year, young adult GBP 52/year, under 18 GBP 47/year, social GBP 52/year, Sailability season ticket GBP 80. Berths are listed from GBP 69 for first berth, Topper rack GBP 30, kayak rack GBP 12, secure trailer storage GBP 30. Group fees include Women on the Water GBP 30/year and Juniors GBP 20/year plus GBP 17 per junior session. RYA adult two-day sailing courses are listed at GBP 150 for WSC members and GBP 250 for non-members. Open Day admittance is free. Camping prices found: season ticket per pitch GBP 49 and one night per pitch GBP 8.50. Exact public club boat hire session price was not visible, though the hire page says booking requires cart payment and Sailability boats may be hired at the same cost as club boats.

Membership

Official site and RYA listing describe an RYA Club and Training Centre with dinghy sailing, racing, juniors/youth, Women on Water, Sailability and broader member watersports.

Boat hire
Club boat hire is available to club members and affiliated group members. The public hire fleet page lists ten club boats including a Comet Trio, Lasers, Topper Argo, four RS Zests, and Laser 2000s. Hire boats must be sailed by a club member on board who has at least RYA Level 2, Juniors RYA Stage 3, or demonstrated equivalent competence. Sailability Hansa boats are available to eligible Whitefriars members registered with Sailability and assessed as competent. Hire prices are not fully visible in public page text.

Facilities

Facilities and equipment

Training centre· OtherClubhouse· ClubhouseClub boats· OtherParking· AccessDinghy park· StorageAccessible sailing activity· ChangingLarge Cotswold Water Park lake· OtherSafety cover· Safety

Location

Ashton Keynes / Swindon · 6 nearby clubs mapped

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Trust

Sources and data quality

Data status
Verified
Find Watersports check
15 Jun 2026
Club verification
Not listed
Sources checked (3)