Sailing is at the heart of what we do. Founded in 1889, the Island Sailing Club has a rich history in yachting and racing and offers a wide range of sailing activities for all preferences and abilities. There’s no better activity for mind, body and soul than sailing. The Island Sailing Club also extends a warm welcome to all visiting yachtsmen and women. We have bars, a dining room and shower facilities all of which are available to you once you have signed in.
Get Involved
The Tuesday Evening Race Series is a popular format attracting over 60 entries for the series of 18 races between April and early September. The racing involves several classes including Class 1 boats as well as Flying Fifteens and other dayboats, and everything in between. Each Tuesday, the first gun is at 1830 and we aim to finish with time for a ‘post mortem’ in the Clubhouse. The 2023 race season will start on 11 April.
Every Thursday during the season, the Club offers newcomers time on the water through the Adult Sailing programme. No experience is necessary – simply come to the Club at 1800 on Thursday and pay £15. Newcomers will be paired with local skippers at the Lower Marquee and will have the opportunity to learn about all aspects of sailing including steering, mainsail and foresail trimming, foredeck (assisting in launching, flying and recovering the spinnaker), mooring and unmooring. Once confident on the water, there is an opportunity to race in the East Cowes Sailing Club Thursday evening races. The Adult Sailing programme is a great entry point to the Club’s Tuesday evening racing. In 2023 the programme will start on 18 April
2024 Regatta & Race Season
Throughout the season, we have many other events over several weekends including the very popular Inshore Series. We also run our share of the Cowes Clubs and Classes Association dayboat racing, and many other regattas. As with many clubs, volunteers are intrinsic to our success as race organisers and we have many Members who support by being involved in the Race Teams, both ashore and afloat. It’s a great way to meet people, learn new skills and become involved in a fascinating area of Club activities. Throughout the winter, there are several courses enabling Members to learn new skills, maintain existing skills, and prepare for the coming season.
We will be supporting the following regattas as part of our race season:
Useful Racing Links
Evening Race Season
April
NHS Regatta
May
PSUK Regatta
City Livery Regatta
Legal Cup
Contessa 32 Regatta
BESC Regatta
June
Inshore Series – Christchurch Bay Race
IDOR Regatta
BPMI Regatta
Round the Island
July
Inshore Series – Inshore Race
ISC Etchells Regatta
August
Cowes Week
Stug Perry Regatta
September
Bang & Go Back Race
NAB Tower Race
RCSA Regatta
Little Britain Regatta
Griffin Regatta
Roddy Carritt Trophy
Sonar Fleet
The Club benefits from a fleet of nine Sonar dayboats, available to members and non-members, along with corporate charters. Sonars are perfect for chartering as they are easy to sail, yet exciting to race. All boats in the fleet are of the same design, three-person minimum/five-person maximum, and should be skippered by an experienced sailor.
These boats are available to Members to hire for racing, typically on Tuesday nights and Cowes Week as well as cruising in a more relaxed fashion. They are moored close to the Club and our iconic yellow launches will shuttle members to and from the boats.
Hosting your Regatta
The Island Sailing Club is exceptionally well placed to organise your sailing event, whether it is for your club, association, business, class of yacht, or an open championship.
We have highly experienced race management teams some of whom are qualified to national and international levels. Our package of race support includes:
- shoreline or committee boat starts and finishes.
- RIBs with experienced crews to assist with the management of races, mark laying, on-the-water judging.
- Total race management, notices of race, sailing instructions, juries, trophies and prizes.
- Superb catering facilities to provide your evening dinner.
- Provision of handicap races, class races, team races, match races and pursuit races.
- We can calculate a handicap for your boat in accordance with the well established Island Sailing Club Rating System (ISCRS), if your boat is not currently rated.
Turn your dreams into reality. Contact Ben our Sailing Secretary or phone him on 01983 249431.