Aldeburgh Yacht Club

Introducing Aldeburgh Yacht Club

Aldeburgh Yacht Club, situated on England’s Suffolk coast, is a large and thriving club catering for all aspects of sailing and water activities. Located between the sea and the River Alde one mile south of the historic town of Aldeburgh. Our Club welcomes new members of all ages and abilities.

AYC is run by elected volunteer Flag Officers and Committees. The Club also employs experienced full-time staff including a Club Manager, an Assistant to Club Manager, Boatmen and a Resident Instructor. Additional seasonal staff are taken on as necessary. Members are however actively encouraged to participate with Committees, bridge duties, events and crewing of the safety boats.

Racing

AYC is a great place to learn to sail and take part in all aspects of racing.

Racing is organised from Easter to Christmas every year. The racing season begins each year with a Spring handicap series for the “early birds” which runs into May. There is a Spring Regatta at the Spring Bank Holiday weekend followed by class racing from end May through to end September. Many classes also hold annual open meetings when “hot shots” from elsewhere come to challenge our members on their home ground. Evening racing on a Wednesday evening starts in April and continues to September.

In July and August, the Club really comes alive with a daily programme for the Junior members as well as active weekday racing for several of the other classes. The annual Aldeburgh Regatta, held mid-August, is typically attended by upwards of 200 boats and sees both close racing and an active social programme, culminating in the annual Regatta Ball. There is also a separate Junior & Youth Regatta in August for our younger racers.

The racing season reaches a climax in the Autumn with two major club handicap races – at the end of September for the Centenary Bowl and the Championship of the Alde, in October. The season then concludes with a winter handicap series sailed on Sunday mornings from October to December.

Classes sailed at the Club are the Dragon, Flying Fifteen, Loch Long & K6 (keelboats), Wayfarer, ILCA (Laser) and Lapwing (dinghies) and RS Feva, Tera, Quest and Optimist (junior classes).

There is also racing for cruising yachts and Cornish Shrimpers/Norfolk Gypsies in the Regatta and on selected weekends during the season.

Cruising

In addition to the yacht racing, there is a programme of local weekend cruises in company. Members of the Club regularly cruise long distances and, in a typical season, yachts carrying the Club’s burgee can be found as far afield as the Baltic, Holland and Southern Brittany.

Training

Aldeburgh Yacht Club is a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) recognised training centre. It runs sailing and powerboating courses for adults and children as well as shore-based training, alongside private tuition.

Our training courses can take you from complete beginner to expert, so there is something for everyone.

The Club owns a fleet of 26 boats which are available for members to hire, so to get into sailing you don’t need to buy a boat until you know you love it!

Juniors

AYC has a busy junior programme and has nurtured many great sailors over the years.

In addition to the summer courses, we run Junior Sailing throughout the summer holidays for our members. The daily programme is open to all junior and youth members that are competent sailors (RYA Stage 3 or equivalent) and helps prepare everyone for the Junior & Youth Regatta.

Many life-long friends have been established by taking part in Junior Sailing and has proven success in building confidence, skills and enjoyment in sailing and racing. It is free to all members to take part.

Enjoying The River

The River Alde offers safe and attractive waters with many opportunities for simply enjoying time afloat. As well as sailing, many members try kayaking, paddle boarding, wind surfing and some seem enthusiastic about wild swimming!

Club members will typically be found afloat either heading down river where Orford, the Butley River and the shingle spit opposite Havergate Island are favourite destinations or upriver to the sandy beaches of Iken and “Little Japan” for a picnic. At high water, it is possible to sail right upriver to Snape where the Concert Hall, the Maltings shopping area and several public houses await the intrepid sailor.

“Believe me my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” (Ratty to Mole in The Wind in the Willows)

The Club House

The waterside Terrace, Bar and Riverview lounge all offer spectacular westerly views of the river and can be enjoyed both winter and summer. Our Club room accommodates up to 100 people for Suppers and is used every Sunday throughout the winter when the caterers cook their Sunday Roast. The first floor Chart Room, with its own Balcony, can be hired by Members for smaller private events. Every summer the marquee provides additional space for the courses and regattas. These facilities can be hired by Members for private events (see Social section for more details).

The club also has good sized changing rooms with showers and plenty of hot water for racers and visitors alike.

The club runs a year-round social programme for all ages – from junior discos, Sailors Suppers, Sunday Roasts, themed meal evenings, coffee mornings, talks and quizzes, summer parties and an annual Ball.

Membership

The club welcomes new members and Membership is open to all. Temporary membership for a month, week or day is available for those who would like to try the club without committing to full membership. Membership rates are detailed on the membership page of the site.

There are additional charges for boat storage, use of the slipways, slipping – see About Us for more information.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Get in Touch

Slaughden Road, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5NA
Telephone: 01728 452562 Email: clubmanager@aldeburghyc.org.uk