When I moved to Waldringfield in 2017, I decided I was ‘not going to just look at the river’ but actually get on it. In my family’s opinion, I spent more time ‘in’ it than on it, as I had a fair number of capsizes at the beginning — but we all learn!

I joined Waldringfield Sailing Club with no dinghy sailing experience. I attended several Go Sailing sessions, combined with completing the RYA courses, and gradually built my confidence on the water.

I then moved on to crewing for the Wayfarer Fleet and began participating in fleet racing. Being part of the club and getting involved in both social sailing and racing is a great way to get to know other members.

Two years ago, I also took on the role of Galley Chair, which keeps me very busy! One of the great things about the club is that you can combine your passion for the water with volunteering in a role that suits you.

Members of the club are incredibly supportive and always willing to help — whether on the water or on land.

I heard about Go Sailing after introducing my children to the Junior programme. I had no experience at the time, and the Go Sailing team were very encouraging of new members, with no pressure to go beyond the initial sessions if it wasn’t for you.

The supply of experience, time, and boats by Oriel and the rest of the volunteers made for a great introduction to the sport, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Each session is different, venturing out with differing crew members and several styles of boats to try, and you learn something new at every session. I’m now a member of a racing crew, but I still get involved when I can, giving back some of my experience and learning even more in the process.

I began learning to sail in 2022 by doing RYA 1 and  2 at Snettisham Beach SC and joined WSC in the 2023 season and started Go Sailing that year. After my initial enrolment and getting advice from Cathy about boat parking arrangements, my next contact was with Oriel and Go Sailing.

It was just what I needed having only learned to sail via RYA 1 & 2 the previous season, providing a warm welcome and introduction to the club.

Go Sailing has allowed me to build experience and confidence sailing with the roster of experienced members who contribute to and support the Go Sailing group under Oriel’s strong oversight and planning. 

Go Sailing has been invaluable to gain a variety of instructional insights to sailing to the point where on the odd occasion I have been able to sail as the senior crew/helm and pass on my own experience to others less experienced than myself and so contribute to Go Sailing myself. It has also given me the confidence to join in some race training and social cruising sessions.

They say you only get out what you put in.  In such a friendly supportive club atmosphere it seems the only logical thing to do to pay back and contribute in any way you can by completing voluntary duties, incrementally becoming part of the club team and get opportunities to meet and interact with other members and office/ post-holders.

For now, my voluntary duties have been mostly working in the galley, which in itself brings you into contact with more club members, but in time I hope to learn more about racing and be able to offer my service assisting in this area. 

As I approached my fifties, I wanted to realise a lifetime ambition to learn how to sail. Unfortunately, COVID got in the way and whilst I managed to do a RYA level 2 dinghy course in between the lockdowns I had to wait to join a club. I joined the club in 2021 and started participating in the Go Sailing sessions soon afterwards.

Oriel and her team were brilliant, very supportive and encouraging. After a few sessions I teamed up with someone else also doing the sessions and we were allowed to hire the club boats. This was really helpful as we had greater opportunity to get out on the water and have quality time in the boat. The trust that was shown in us allowed us to continue to develop and improve our skills.

I continued with Go Sailing and towards the end of 2022 we bought our first Wayfarer, which we started racing and cruising in 2023. At the end of that season, we upgraded to a Mark 4 Wayfarer and have continued to race, mostly trying not to get stuck in the mud or come last, which we did many times!

All classes are incredibly helpful and forthcoming with tips and there is a wealth of experience in each class with fantastic sailors to learn from. Whilst things are competitive on the water it is always great to talk things through afterwards, have a laugh and learn from each other over a slice of flapjack.

Over the last few years, I have also got involved in the Sailing Committee and I currently undertake the role of sailing secretary supporting the organisation of the clubs’ open events. It has made me appreciate all the work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly and that the members have the best experience out on the water and enjoy themselves off the water in the social setting.

As I have a keen interest in coaching and teaching, I continue to support the Go Sailing sessions and I enjoy giving something back and share the enjoyment of sailing with others.

Sailing has become my real passion over the last few years and is a fantastic hobby to have and something that continues to push and test you, whilst being outside and on the water and sometimes in it!

Although I had been sailing for nearly 20 years the majority of my time was spent on the confines of an old inland gravel pit.

I was looking for an opportunity to broaden my experience and joining WSC. has been the ideal opportunity.

This has involved learning to cope and work with the tide , sailing different classes of dinghy , as well as having the option to join the accompanied cruises along the length of the river with the added bonus of the scenic landscape of the River Deben.