Casual Sailing @ Cambridge

This page is designed to answer all the questions you may have about join the Sailing Club. It's aimed at both freshers, and those returning to the university but not having been involved in the club before. If, having browsed all these, you would like to ask something else, please feel free to e-mail a member of the committee. We look forward to welcoming you to Cambridge and Cambridge Sailing!

We cater for all sorts of sailor who want to sail while at university but haven't got the time to commit to three regular sessions a week (the usual team requirement). We take beginners on have-a-go sessions, or take them through a full course to the level of a competent moderate wind sailor. We can join in with the fleet races held by Grafham Water Sailing Club every week. We have opportunities for instructors/budding instructors to practice teaching in a relaxed environment. Ultimately though, we let people chill out, leave Cambridge for an afternoon and go sailing in a fun and relaxed setting, learning as much as they want.

We try to have a session every week for which you sign up for in advance during the week. Some of our members come almost every week, others come once or twice a year. Once you are a member you can come as many times as you like. We usually sail on a Friday afternoon, leaving after morning lectures. For November through to January we have to sail at the weekends as there isn't enough light on a Friday afternoon. We try to put out a programme for the term at the beginning of term so everyone knows what's going on, though sometimes this will change. Examples of our programme, and our new one when it's finalised, can be found here.

We sail out at Grafham water which is about 30-40mins west of Cambridge. It's a fantastic lake, usually with a decent breeze. Transport is provided in the form of CUSU MPV. If you have a car that's even better, as we can take advantage of the extra space. We meet up at the Sidgwick Avenue Carpark for the Sidgwick Site, just outside the centre of town to catch the MPV out - all the details are advertised on the trip e-mails.

As well as all the sailing we also have a thriving social programme. We meet up in a pub every Tuesday night, and this provides a brilliant opportunity for you to come and meet us. We're usually easy enough to spot, though not in a sizeable enough group to be daunting. We also organise formal halls, curry nights, a christmas party, and join in with the CUCrC (see below) annual dinner, garden party and cocktails nights. (Return to top)

The CU Cruising Club (CUCrC) is our parent society - we are a section within it. The other sections are windsurfing, team sailing and yachting. You join CUCrC, rather than any individual section, and are hence entitled to the benefits of membership of all four sections. We organise lots of activities together, for example our annual dinner in January, and the garden party in June.

Membership allows you free use of all the club's equipment from across all the sections, and covers our insurance and transport costs. Day membership allows you to try the club for the day, and if you subsequently decide to join, you need only pay the difference between the day and either the full or summer membership.

To join you must send a membership form and a cheque to either the CUCrC junior secretary or your Head of Section. The easiest way to do this is to pay on the day of your first trip or at our Freshers' Squash early in Michaelmas Term. In both cases, the forms will be provided.

The only other cost for Casual Sailing is a £3 charge for petrol for each trip. If you take your own car you can expect to be reimbursed for the passengers you carry. (Return to top)

The club provides buoyancy aids, wetsuits and wetboots free of charge. The buoyancy aids are brand new, but the wetsuits and wetboots have been with us a while, though they are still in good repair.

If you have your own kit, and expect to sail with us regularly, then I would suggest bringing it with you. Grafham Water requires wetsuits or drysuits to be worn from November through March, so bring one if you have one.

If you haven't done a lot of sailing then don't invest in much yet till you've had a go. To go sailing you will need a pair of shoes that grip and can get wet (not flipflops), a windproof top, something to wear under your wetsuit (t-shirt and swim shorts) and probably a jumper. Personally I'd bring a towel for the shower afterwards and something warm to go home in.

If you want to buy some kit, talk to one of the more experienced members first to give you some advice. There is a chandlery at Grafham, but often the cheapest and best way to get stuff is to buy online. (Return to top)

Like almost every club in Cambridge we have an e-mail based mailing list. When you show interest in the club, we will add you to our mailing list to keep you informed of what we are doing. Only a few e-mails are sent out each week, but they form the core of our communication. We advertise trips and socials on the lists, and in order to sign up for a trip, you simply need to reply to the e-mail.

If you find that you are no longer interested, or that you haven't got the time to go and our e-mails depress you, then you can easily remove yourself from the e-mail list by e-mailing the section secretary (instructions are at the bottom of every e-mail. (Return to top)

We currently have a fleet comprising 3 Laser IIs, 1 Topper and 6 Fireflies. From time to time, we have access to other boats by the generosity of other members (past and present). We are also in the process of fundraising for a new boat in the Laser Vago / RS500 class.If you would like to know more, have a look at our fleet pages. (Return to top)

Membership allows free use of the boats whenever they are available, subject to conditions of our safety policy and insurance. If you have your own transport, you are welcome to ask whether the boats are free for use. We ask that those going on such a trip are competant sailors and have been on an official trip before, and we do for safety and maintenance reasons, reserve the right to refuse permission. That said, we rarely have to and are very pleased that the boats are being used for what they were designed for: sailing not sitting in a boat park. Please have a look at our trips page for more details on organising your own trip. (Return to top)

We will have a stand at the Freshers' Fair held at Kelsey Kerridge sports hall on the Tuesday and Wednesday after you arrive. We'll have a boat on display outside, and it provides the perfect opportunity for you to come and meet some of our regulars, and sign up for the mailing list.

CUCrC will be holding an open day out at Grafham on the first Sunday of term, and details and sign ups will be available at the Fresher's Fair. Transport will be provided and there will be a BBQ and an opportunity to sail/windsurf and meet us there.

Following all that there will be a Squash held during the following week. Most societies hold a Squash, and it is simply an opportunity to come along to find out much more about the club than we could ever tell you in the freshers' fair, meet the committees, and join up (no obligation to do so). There will be free alcohol and a presentation. The time and location of this year's squash will be available at the freshers' fair.

If in the thick of finding your feet at Cambridge, you manage to miss all that, don't worry come along to one of our pubmeets (advertised on the website) or e-mail our current president (see the committee pages).

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