You can learn sailing, paddle boarding, kayaking and windsurfing with Arnside Sailing Club.

At Arnside we offer

Paddle Board Lessons
Beginner Sit on Top Kayak Lessons
Taster Sailing Sessions for adults and Arnside
Adult and Youth Improver Sailing Sessions

Our beginner paddle boarding and kayak lessons at Arnside take place at low tide when the water is generally shallow enough to stand up in, Scroll down for info about paddle board and kayak lessons,

Our lessons at Arnside are based at our Boat Park, which is located on the beach 10 minutes from the end of Arnside Promenade. You can download a location plan for our boat park by clicking on the following link Boat Park Location Plan

At Killington, near Sedbergh, where we are an approved RYA Training Centre we offer

Beginner and improver adult sailing courses
Beginner and improver youth sailing courses
Advanced sailing courses
Adult and youth improver sessions
Windsurfing lessons
Powerboat courses (largely for club volunteers).

We run Club nights at Killington on Thursday evenings where you can practise your learning if you join the club.

Member discounts

Sailing Club members get a discount on most courses.

Schools and Group Lessons

The Club has an AALA licence and can offer lessons to schools and groups, for example paddle boarding and sailing taster sessions. In 2026 we are running a RYA Stage 1 sailing course for a local school,

Enquiries about water sports lessons

chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk

People with Disabilities

If you are disabled we may be able to accommodate you, if you let us know your needs by contacting chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk for further advice.

Blackwell Sailing on Windermere offer sailing sessions for disabled people, including blind groups, https://blackwellsailing.com/
GBR Blind Sailing the national blind sailing charity run events on Windermere. https://www.gbrblindsailing.co.uk/
The Outlook Trust run Activity Weekends including sailing for partially sighted and blind children on Windermere. https://www.outlooktrust.org/

Gift Vouchers

A gift voucher for a water sports lesson makes an ideal present. It could introduce your friend, child or relative to an activity they will do for the rest of their life.

You can buy gift vouchers for lessons with Arnside Sailing Club below (click)

Buy Gift Voucher

Booking System

We use an online booking system operated by Eola. To claim the member's discount click on Add-ons. If a lesson is fully booked it does not show up on Eola. If you are making a repeat booking sign on with your email and you will not need to enter your personal details again.

We reserve the right to cancel lessons if minimum numbers are not met 48 hours before and in the event of adverse weather conditions.

Sailing

We offer RYA Sailing Courses at Killington for youth and adults at beginner, improver and advanced stages. We run taster lessons at Arnside.

Once you have been on a sailing course, we offer you support so you can practise and improve your skills. We run improver sessions at Arnside and Killington. Our Club Nights at Killington are another opportunity where you can practise. We offer opportunities for new sailors to sail with club members at Arnside.

Try Sailing

We run a Try Sailing Day at Arnside each year and taster sessions for adult and youth on the estuary in the summer. In 2026 our Try Sailing Day is on Mon 4th May. The session is free.

Book Try Sailing

Taster Lessons

We are offering half day adult taster lessons at Arnside in 2026 on the following dates: Mon 1 June, Fri 3 July, Sat 4 July. Price £47.50 (club members £37.50)

To book and check times Adult Taster Lessons

Two Day Adult RYA Level 1 Beginner course

We run two day adult RYA Level 1 courses at Killington as follows

Weekend Courses (generally 2 days over consecutive weekends)
Over Four Friday mornings

The course covers the basics of sailing - Rigging, launching, sail setting, using the tiller, sailing across the wind, turning (tacking and gybing), and what to do in the event of a capsize. At the end of course you should get a RYA Level 1 - Start Sailing Certificate.

The course uses single handed boats. We find that people learn quicker in single handers. Most people sail in single handers after learning. The instructor will be based from a safety boat offering support and tips throughout. We aim to maximise time on the water. However there will be some indoor theory and land drills.

Adult Improvers RYA Level 2

This two day course should help you build up your confidence and skills. By the end of the course you should be competent sailor in light wind conditions. At the end of the course you will get a RYA Level 2 certificate.

Price 2026 £185 (Arnside members £152.50)

Dates 2026

Weekends (over 2 days): Sun 28 & Sun 5th July; Sat 12th & Sun 19th Sept,

To book, check dates and availability

Adult RYA Level 2

Adult Improver Clinics (Killington)

1/2 day Adult Improver Clinics. These are suitable for people who have done our RYA Level 1 and 2 course, returning sailors or people who have sailing for some time but want to brush up on their skills, We also run high tide lessons for adult improvers at Arnside.

Price £47.50 (Arnside members £40)

Dates Thurs 11, 18, 25 June, 9 July (depending on demand we might add dates in the Autumn)

To book, check dates and availability

Adult Improver Clinics, Killington

We run four day youth courses at Killington at Half Term and during the summer holidays.

Prices 2025 4 days £185 (Children of Arnside members £150),

To check dates, availability and to book

RYA Stages 1 & 2 Beginner 4 days

Tues 26 - Fri 29 May, Mon 27 - Thurs 30 July, Mon 10 - Thurs 13 Aug.

RYA Stages 3 & 4 plus Improver 4 days

Tues 26 - Fri 29 May, Mon 27 - Thurs 30 July , Mon 10 - Thurs 13 Aug

We also offer the courses over two days at Spring half term, though your child will learn less over 2 days than 4. The 2 day improver course is a way of brushing out on skills or getting RYA Stage 4 if your child missed out last season

RYA Stages 1 & 2 Beginner 2 day Tues 27 - Wed 28 May £90

RYA Stages 3 & 4 plus Improvers 2 day Thurs 29 - Fri 30 May

Opportunities for youth to progress

Youth Sailing Club

Once a child or young person has completed one of our sailing courses, they can join our Youth Sailing Club (see below), enabling them to practise their learning. Sessions alternate between Arnside and Killington on a weekly basis. Costs are £35 per session (Club member's children £10)

Dates in 2026 are

Arnside - Sat 30 May, Sat 13 & 20 June Sun 28 June, Sat 4 July (There may further dates in the Autumn)

To book Arnside Youth Sailing Club

Killington - Sat 23 May, Sat 6 & 27 June, Sat 11 July, Thurs 23 July, Thurs 6, 20 & 27 Aug

To book Killington Youth Sailing Club

RYA Start Racing

This 2 day course is being run over two weekends at Killington and is ideal for anyone wishing to start dinghy racing or people wishing to improve the racing skills. It will build your confidence and racing knowledge as you learn about the start procedure and how to get the best start, getting round the course and basic racing rules. By the end of the season you may be winning trophies.

Requirements RYA Adult Level 2, RYA Youth Stage 3 or a competent sailor in moderate wind conditions,

Dates Sat 2 & 9 May), Price Adult £150 Youth £110 (£15 discount Arnside members)

Booking RYA Start Racing

Advanced Sailing Skills RYA Seamanship

Two day course covering advanced sailing skills, helping participants to develop their boat handling skills and deal with a variety of problems afloat. Topics covered include stopping (heaving to), reducing sail, recovering a man overboard, picking up a mooring, anchoring, lee shore landing under jib alone, rudderless sailing and sailing backwards.. The course is a perquisite to becoming an Assistant or Full Sailing Instructor

Price 2 days Adults £150 Children £110 (Arnside Sailing Club members £15 discount)

Dates Sat 17/Sun 18 Oct

To book Advanced Sailing Skills

Other Advanced Courses

Subject to demand we can also put on other courses, such as RYA Sailing with Spinnakers or RYA Start Racing

We run Arnside Sailing Club nights for club members at Killington on Thursday evenings from 1700 to one hour before dusk from the end of April to mid September. The sessions are suitable for improvers. They are chance to improve your skills rather than taught lessons. Safety boat cover is provided. Members can take out sailing dinghies, kayaks, windsurfers and paddleboards. Children should be accompanied by adults.

Price £8 (children £4) members only

To book click Arnside Club Nights at Killington

Getting to Killington Sailing Club

Killington Sailing Club is located on Reservoir Road, a minor road on the opposite side of the lake to the motorway service station

To get there from M6 Junction 37

A) Take A684 towards Sedbergh

B) Turn right after a quarter mile onto Old Scotch Road, a minor road. There is a bend / junction warning sign in advance of the junction

C) After about one mile turn right onto Reservoir Road. This junction is very easy to miss after you are travelling at more than 15 mph.

The postcode is LA8 0BX..

Killington Sailing Club Location Plan

Taster Sessions

We run taster sailing sessions at Arnside. These sessions take place in the summer on days when high tide heights are low and the water comparatively shallow. You will be shown how to rig a boat and learn about basic controls, before going out into estuary and trying out sailing, turning round and coming back. The sessions will generally be in single handed boats, but with options to go in double handed boats or for young children to sail together.,

Price 2026 £47.50 Adults (£37.50 Arnside members)

Arnside Adult Taster Sessions

Mon 1 Jun, Fri 3 July, Sat 4th July

Adult Improvers

We run adult improver sessions at high tide. The sessions are led by an instructor with safety boat cover at high tide. You will either be sailing single handed by yourself or a double handed boat with others. Though there will be instructor on hand they will not be on the boat with you. The sessions allow time for you to rig the boat and some on land theory.

You should get between one and two hours on the water. The sessions should enable you to practise your skilling skills and put you well on the way to become a competent high tide sailor. The sessions may be themed, for example marking rounding or a cruise out into the Bay towards Holme Island and Grange

Participants will be expected to have basic sailing knowledge (minimum RYA Level 1) and be able right a boat after capsize,

Price 2026 £47.50 per person (Club members £37.50)

Dates Sat 30 May, Sat 13 June (We may add further dates)

To check dates, availability and to book click Adult Improver Lessons

Our Youth Sailing Club gives children and young people a chance to practise their skills once they have done one of our sailing courses. We aim to alternate sessions between Arnside and Killington each week

Youth Sailing Club, Arnside

We run sessions at high tide at Arnside, for improvers and advanced youths with RYA Stage 2 and above. The sessions give young people a chance to practise, learn about tides and enjoy sailing in the sea. There will be some theory at the start of the session. The sessions are lead by instructor and have safety boat cover.

Price 2026 £35 per session. (£10 to children of Arnside members)

Dates Sat 30 May, Sat 13 & 20 Jun, Sun 28 June, Sat 4 July (We may add further dates in the Autumn)

Booking and more details Youth Sailing Club Arnside

Try Sailing Day - Mon 4th May 2026

Discover Sailing at Arnside. Each year we run a Try Sailing Day usually in May to give you a chance to go out sailing on the estuary with an instructor or experienced sailor and see Arnside from the water. We will be taking people sailing across the estuary from the slipway opposite the Albion.. The event is free

Our Clubhouse and bar overlooking the Promenade and Estuary will be open for for refreshments afterwards giving you and your family a chance to look inside.

Discover Sailing is a national promotion by the RYA, where Sailing Clubs up and down the country offer people a chance to discover sailing.

To book click Try Out Day Booking

We might be able to take people out sailing at other times free of charge or for a small donation. This would be with a club volunteer rather than with an instructor. email commodore@arnsidesailingclub.or.uk

Beginner Lessons

We run 2 to 3 hour paddle board lessons with an instructor at low tide on the estuary at Arnside. By the end of the lesson you should be able to stand up on the board, steer and control it.

If there is a group of 4 or 5 of you we might be able to put on a special lesson for you especially if it is midweek..

Prices 2026 £45, children £35 (Club member £5 discount)

Dates Sat 23 May, Sat 13 June, Sat 4 July (Further dates to be announced)

To to check dates, availability and to book Paddleboarding lessons

(If a lesson is fully booked it will not show on Eola. We may also add other dates)

We can also put on lessons at other times for groups and families, contact chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk

Once you have learnt you can join the club. Take up club paddle boards for free at low tide or join our social paddleboarding group

Improver Paddle Board Clinics

We can also offer private improver sessions for an individual or group. Please contact chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk to arrange a date and time. The sessions would be tailored to individual needs and could include advice on how to improve balance and movement on the board, more efficient paddling introducing more advanced movements such as step back turn.

Beginner Sit on Top Kayaks Lessons

Learn the basics of kayaking at low tide at Arnside using our sit on top kayaks. Led by a qualified instructor, the lessons are suitable for families, children and adults. They will normally include a short voyage from our Boat Park along the estuary to New Barns Bay or Arnside Promenade as well as introduction to paddling techniques. They are great way of seeing Arnside from the water.

If you interested in a kayak lesson, for example for a group or family please contact chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk.

The above diagram shows how you might progress your paddle sports qualifications,

Paddle UK award system is made up of

Paddle Start - Beginners
Paddle Discover - Improvers 1
Paddle Explore - Improver 2

These are followed by personal performance awards for different paddle sports disciplines such as Coastal Sea Kayak, White Water SUP and Slalom.

Companies offering advanced paddle sports qualifications in the Lake District include Wild River

Safety Awards - There are awards for safety and rescue in difference paddle disciplines, such as SUP Safer and Paddle Safer

Paddle Leaders and Instructors - You can them go onto become a Paddle Leader or an Instructor. A Paddle Leader is someone who can lead sessions and trips, but is not an instructor. If any club member wanted to become a paddle leader or instructor, the club will be happy to support them.

We are RYA Windsurfing Training Centre at Killington at beginner and improver levels. Windsurfing rose to worldwide popularity in 1970s and 80s. There has been increasing interest in windsurfing in recent years.

Windsurf Clinic at Killington

The clinic will introduce you to basics of windsurfing. Starting on land learning how to hold the board, you will be quickly on the water. You will learn where to stand, balance on the board, how to hold the rig, sail in different directions, turn round and come back to where you started. Expect to get wet. The sessions are suitable for adults and youths aged 12 plus.

Price £47.50 (club members £42.50)

Dates Thurs 11 June, Thurs 2 July 5.30 - 8.00 pm

To book and check dates click : Beginner Windsurfing

Improver Windsurfing at Killington (Non Planning)

You will build on skills learnt on the beginner skills, improving your confidence, enabling you to tack and gybe quicker and go out in stronger winds.

Thurs 14 May 5.30 to 8pm

To check dates and book click Improver Windsurfing

Prices £60 (Club Members £50) for 2.5 hours

We are unable to hire wetsuits for lessons.

Club Nights Killington

You can go windsurfing in our club nights on Thursday evenings, which great way to practise your learning

To book Windsurf Killington Club Nights

Please note though there is a safety boat cover and an instructor present, Club Nights are not taught lessons.

Private Lessons

We may be able to arrange private windsurfing lessons at Arnside or Killington by prior arrangement, either for a group or individual at other times

Contact chiefinstructor@arnsidesailingclub.org.uk