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ClubInlandLackford / Bury St Edmunds, SuffolkLackford Lake

Young People Afloat

BeginnerTrainingJuniors

Young People Afloat is a Lackford Lake youth sailing club teaching 9 to 18 year olds to sail to RYA standards.

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Start

Can a beginner start here?

Youth sailing, Dinghy sailing, RYA-standard training, Regattas

Beginner
Young People Afloat is suitable for beginner young sailors within its age range. The official site says it is an RYA recognised teaching centre teaching dinghy sailing, teaches young people aged 9 to 18 how to sail, and lists beginner boats used with instructors plus RYA Stage 1/Level 1 beginner awards.
Training
Training is available for members. The site says volunteer instructors train members to RYA standards, instructors are RYA qualified/recognised dinghy instructors, and the awards page lists RYA junior stages, adult Level 1 and Level 2 for over 14s, and advanced modules. Sailing normally runs Wednesday evenings from April to September.
Taster· Unclear
No official page reviewed stated that taster sessions, trial sails, open days, or one-off try-sailing sessions are available. The clearest low-commitment next step on the site is to use the Fancy Joining page and waiting-list form, but availability is limited and new members are taken at the start of the season when spaces are available.

Activity tags

Dinghy sailing· ActivityRegattas· ActivityRYA-standard training· TrainingYouth sailing· Audience

Suitability

Juniors, families, and accessibility

Juniors
YPA is specifically a youth sailing club for young people aged 9 to 18. Joining content is directed to parents interested in their child joining, and the club asks for as much parental help as families can give. It is not presented as an adult/family sailing club for general family participation.
Access· Unclear
No official reviewed page stated accessible sailing, Sailability, disabled access, adaptive equipment, or access-needs support. The privacy policy says membership applications include medical conditions and that important medical details may be shared with instructors and emergency services, but this does not confirm accessibility provision.

Costs

Costs, membership, and boats

Prices

Membership pricing is listed, but official pages conflict. Fancy Joining states one year's membership costs GBP 250, payable in one payment or 5 consecutive standing-order payments of GBP 50 per month. FAQ states current 2025 fees are GBP 240, payable in one lump sum or by direct debit for 5 months at GBP 48 per month. No separate course, taster-session, or boat-hire price was found on reviewed official pages.

Membership

Official site describes YPA as a registered-charity youth sailing club for ages 9 to 18 at Lackford Lake, affiliated to RYA and SESCA.

Boat hire· Unclear
The official site confirms club boats are used by youngsters/members and says youngsters are welcome to use the boats during the season with normal safety boat cover, but it does not describe visitor boat hire, public hire, or a hire price. Treat as club/member boat use evidenced, hire availability unknown.

Facilities

Facilities and equipment

Safety boats· SafetyParking· AccessBuoyancy aids· OtherLackford Lake site· OtherTraining fleet· OtherVolunteer instructors· Other

Location

Lackford / Bury St Edmunds · 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 (2)