Keep Sailing Shoreham is Open!
Information
Keep Sailing Shoreham is open!
We're really excited to announce that Keep Sailing Shoreham is now open. It's our newest centre, based at Shoreham Sailing Club in Shoreham-by-Sea, just along the coast from Brighton.
After a busy summer of planning, the centre has been inspected and approved by the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) as a Recognised Training Centre. Courses are now open for booking.
Why Shoreham?
Shoreham has everything we need to teach people well on the coast. There's sheltered water inside the harbour for getting started, and the open sea of Sussex Bay just beyond the harbour walls when you're ready.
Our aim is simple. We want local people to be able to learn to sail and drive a powerboat on their own doorstep. If you live in Shoreham, Lancing, Worthing, Brighton or anywhere nearby, the sea is right there, and we'd love to help you get out on it.
Looking further ahead, we want Shoreham to become our coastal centre of excellence, the home of Keep Sailing's sea sailing and powerboat training.
As a not-for-profit organisation, that's what Keep Sailing is all about: making watersports easier to get into and giving people of all ages great experiences on the water.
Our partnership with Shoreham Sailing Club
We're running the centre in partnership with Shoreham Sailing Club, a friendly, welcoming club at Soldiers Point on Harbour Way. The club is a charity that exists to get the local community out on the water, so we're a natural fit.
What the partnership means for you:
- Courses run from the club, with its clubhouse, changing rooms, slipway and parking, using a mix of club and Keep Sailing boats.
- Club members can build their skills with us, and member rates and member-only courses are on the way.
- When you finish a course and want to keep sailing, the club has a range of memberships to help you get out regularly.
A big thank you to the Commodore, trustees and members of Shoreham Sailing Club for all their work getting this off the ground.
Learning about the sea
The sea is always moving. At Shoreham, the tide can rise and fall by more than six metres on a big spring tide. The harbour is also a busy working port, with commercial ships coming and going.
That makes it a great place to learn. Alongside the core skills, our courses help you understand the water you're on:
- How tides work and how to read a tide table
- How wind and tide affect each other, and what that means on the water
- Sharing the harbour safely with other users, from commercial ships to other sailors
- Checking the weather and making good decisions before you head out
- Keeping yourself and others safe on the coast
Even our course times are planned around the tide, which is a lesson in itself. Always check the timings on your booking.
Courses running this year
We're starting with a small autumn programme:
Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th September
- RYA Level 1, Start Sailing (Double Handed)
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th October
- RYA Level 1, Start Sailing (Double Handed)
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th October
- RYA Level 2, Basic Skills (Double Handed)
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
Tuesday 27th to Thursday 29th October (October half term)
- RYA Stage 1 Sailing (ages 7 to 10 and 10 to 16)
- RYA Stage 2 Sailing (ages 7 to 10 and 10 to 16)
- RYA Stage 3, Single Handed Sailing
- RYA Stage 4, Double Handed Sailing
Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th November
- RYA Powerboat Instructor Course
About the courses
RYA Level 1, Start Sailing is for complete beginners. Over a weekend you'll learn the basics of steering, sail control and staying safe on the water.
RYA Level 2, Basic Skills builds on Level 1 and gets you sailing on your own with confidence.
RYA Powerboat Level 2 is the go-to qualification for driving small powerboats. You'll learn on our RIB in real conditions, with tide, wind and open water to work with.
Junior sailing (RYA Stages 1 to 4) runs over three days in October half term, and it's much more than a sailing lesson. Our junior courses are a mix of sailing, fun, games and adventures, all run by our friendly RYA qualified instructors.
Along the way, kids build problem solving skills, confidence and resilience. It's also a great way to keep them active during the school holidays!
Stages 1 and 2 are split into two age groups (7 to 10 and 10 to 16), so everyone learns alongside sailors their own age. Stages 3 and 4 are for young sailors ready to build on the basics.
RYA Powerboat Instructor Course is for experienced powerboat drivers who want to teach. Check the entry requirements before booking.
Book the Powerboat Instructor Course →
Looking ahead to 2027
Next year is when things really get going. We're planning a full season at Shoreham, including:
- Weekend adult courses, from RYA Level 1 through to Level 3
- More RYA Powerboat Level 2 courses, plus Safety Boat courses
- School holiday courses for juniors, from Stage 1 to Stage 4, plus Seamanship Skills and Start Racing
- Improver courses such as Day Sailing and Sailing with Spinnakers
- First Aid and VHF radio courses
- Instructor training, including Assistant Instructor and Dinghy Instructor courses
For 2027 and beyond, we'll also be looking at racing clinics out in the harbour, and at adding wingsurfing further down the line. Keep an eye on our Shoreham page for 2027 dates.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any experience?
No. RYA Level 1 and RYA Stage 1 are made for complete beginners.
Do I need to be a member of Shoreham Sailing Club?
No. Our courses are open to everyone, whether you're a club member or not.
Is it safe to learn on the sea?
Yes. Keep Sailing Shoreham is an RYA Recognised Training Centre and is inspected every year. All sessions are run by RYA qualified instructors with safety boats on the water. Beginners start in sheltered water, and we check in with Shoreham Harbour Radio before every session.
Find us
Keep Sailing Shoreham
Shoreham Sailing Club
Soldiers Point, 223 Harbour Way
Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN43 5HZ
Got a question? Email us at info@keepsailing.co.uk or call 01483 323646.
We can't wait to see you on the water at Shoreham!
