You will find Arnside a great place to sail. Sailing is a superb way of enjoying Arnside's outstanding natural coastal scenery. It is a good way of making new friends. With 20 club boats, low membership fees, youth programme and sailing lessons, there has never been a better time to start sailing at Arnside. Arnside has a long sailing history, with the village's first club set up in 1852.
Our Estuary
Arnside is located on the Kent Estuary at the top of Morecambe Bay in an area of outstanding natural beauty with views to the Lakeland Fells. The Estuary faces south west and offers you a large sailing area. At high tide it is possible to sail out into the Bay towards Holme Island and Grange-over-Sands.
Sailing at High Tide
At high tide there is a very large sailing area. Our craft booking system which members have access to shows high tide times and heights, It is generally possible, to sail on days when tide height is over 8 metres. At tides heights of less than 8 metres, water sports are restricted to the main channel.
We aim to provide safety boat cover at weekends and at least once during the weeks when conditions are right.
Sailing Programme
You can download our sailing programme for the year below: 
Arnside Sailing Programme 2026
The programme shows dates when we plan to provide safety boat cover subject to demand and conditions. Experienced members are also free to sail at other times at their own risk.
At Arnside we offer Racing, Dinghy Cruises,, Social Sailing, Weekday Sessions Youth Sailing Club, Adult Improver, Taster Sessions and opportunities for new sailors to sail with experienced members. We run a Discover Sailing Day, when you can try sailing and a Classic Regatta at each year.
At Killington, we run Club Nights on Thursday evenings from the end of April to mid September and monthly joint races
Dinghy Cruises on Lakes Each year, we run two or three dinghy cruises on lakes for club members.
Historic Yacht Severn - The Club owns Severn a historic yacht built in Arnside in 1912. She is based at Roa Island near Barrow but regularly comes up to Arnside on Spring Tides
(For more details of these activities scroll down)
Special Events
Try Sailing Day - Mon 4th May 2025
Discover Sailing at Arnside. We run Try Sailing Days each year usually in May to give a people a chance to go out on the estuary and see Arnside from the water. We take people sailing across the estuary from the slipway opposite the Albion.. The event is free.
Our Clubhouse and bar overlooking the Promenade and Estuary wash open afterwards for refreshments giving people 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 Register Try Sailing Day
We are happy to take people out sailing at other times, email commodore@armsidesailingclub.org.uk
Wanderer Weekend Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd May
An open event for owners of Wanderer Dinghies to sail in the scenic estuary at Arnside. With three Wanderers in the Club there should be chance for club members to sail us well. On one day we hope to organise a cruise out into the Bay towards Grange and the other a race.
Price £20 per person for two days sailing. (Club members free)
To book Wanderer Dinghy Weekend
Dinghy Cruising
Though there is only a tidal window of just over two hours, Arnside is a good place for dinghy cruising. Depending on conditions, your boat and your skill levels, it is possible to sail out into the Bay to Holme Island, Grange-over-Sands and White Creek and still have time to get up to the Promenade and back before the tide goes out. In total a journey of more than 7 miles. There is not however time to get out and have a picnic on the other side. With an engine you can get further out into the Bay
Organised Dinghy Cruises out into the Bay
There are organised cruises out into the Bay towards Grange-over-Sands on
Arnside Dinghy Cruising Programme 2026
| Date | Arrival Time | Tide Height | Event |
| Sun 3 May | 1145 | 8.7m | Wanderer Event & Dinghy Cruise |
| Sat 18 July | 1345 | 9m | Dinghy Cruise out into the Bay |
| Sat 15 Aug | 1230 | 9.3m | Dinghy Cruise out into the Bay |
| Mon 31 Aug | 1245 | 9m | Dinghy Cruise out into the Bay |
| Sat 12 Sept | 1130 | 9.3m | Dinghy Cruise out into the Bay |
How far we get is dependent on the weather and conditions on the day.
Dinghy Cruises in the Lake District
We an running club cruises in the Lake District in 2026 as follows
Sat 21 June Coniston
Starting at Water Park at the south end of the Lake, depending on the weather we hope to sail up to Coniston Boating Centre at the north end. We will be using Water Park's Bahias, a stable training boat.
Sat 5 / Sun 6 Sept Derwentwater Wanderer Event
We plan to take at least one Wanderer to this event to enable club members to enjoy sailing on Derwentwater.
Sat 3 / Sun 5 Oct OGA Windermere Jetty Rally.
Two day rally for traditional sailing boats based at Windermere Jetty Museum. We hope to sail up to Ambleside on one day. We plan taking "Jabberwocky" our Gaffling dinghy to this event to give club members an opportunity to sail on Windermere and take part in the event.
Further details of event OGA Website you may need to scroll down to find the event
Sat 29 - Mon 30 Sept OGA Gaffling Dinghy Championships, Derwent Reservoir
Three day event based at Derwent Reservoir in the North Pennines south of Hexham with camping on site. Jabberwocky our Gaffling dinghy will be available for use by club members. The championships are on Monday. On Saturday there is an opportunity to try boat orientating.
Further details of event OGA Website you may need to scroll down to find the event
Social Sailing
Social Sailing is a chance for you to go sailing at the same time as other people are out on the water with the added reassurance of safety boat cover.
We have the following social sailing opportunities
a) Weekend Social Sailing at Arnside
Mon 6 April 1315, Sat 18 April 1115, Sat 24 Oct 0915
b) Weekday Social Sailing, Arnside
Wed 22 April 1430, Fri 15 May 0915, Wed 20 May 1330, Fri 29 May 0915, Tues 2 June 1200, Wed 17 June 1315, Wed 1 July 1145, Wed 15 July 1130, Fri 31 July 1200, Tues 4 Aug 1430, Wed 12 Aug 1430, Mon 17 Aug 1345, Wed 2 Sept 1345, Wed 9 Sept 0930,Tues 15 Sept 1315, Fri 25 Sept 1000, Wed 30 Sept 1245, Thurs 8 Oct 1245Booking for Weekend Social Sailing and Midweek Sailing is via the Club's craft booking system which members have access to,.(Safety Boat cover subject to demand and need)
Experienced members are also free to sail at Arnside at other times at the own risk,
c) Killington Club Nights (see below)
Sail with a Club Member
For new club members and adults who have been on one of our sailing courses only, we are offering a chance to go sailing on the estuary with a club member on the following dates:
Sat 1 Aug 1230, Sat 29 Aug 1130, Sat 26 Sept 1030 , Sat 10 Oct 1030
To book https://widget.eola.co/1222/activities/new-sailor-sail-arnside
We are also happy to sail with new sailors at other times, if you get in touch.
Killington Club Nights
From the end of April to mid Setempber of the school holidays we run club nights at Killington near Sedbergh for Arnside Sailing Club members on Thursday evenings from 1700 to 2100 (or dusk) with safety boat cover. They are a good chance to improve your skills, though they are not taught sessions. As well as sailing, Killington's paddleboards and windsurf rigs are available. Killington's club boats include Picos, Hartley 15, Hartley 12, Bugs, Laser and Feva. Our Wayfarer is also available.
There are full changing facilities at Killington, meeting area and small kitchen.
Killington Sailing Club is located on Reservoir Road, a very minor road on the other side of the lake from the motorway service station. The postcode is the same as the motorway station - LA8 0NW. There are good views over the lake from the motorway service situation
Killington Sailing Club Location Plan
To Book Killington Club Nights
Price £8 (Arnside Sailing Club members only) £4 children
Video of Sailing at Killington
Yachting
The Club owns Severn, a 23 foot long gaff rigged yacht built by Crossfields of Arnside in 1912 for the Royal Mersey Yacht Club. Croosfields were leading builders of Morecambe Bay Prawners and yachts from the 1840s to 1940s. Severn is currently being restored at David Moss Boatbuilders at Skippool near Blackoool. She should be back in the water by 2024. See our Severn page for more details
Though other than Severn there is only the occasional yacht on the estuary now, up till 2010 there were 12 or more. People use to motor out into the Bay and then sail back in. Arnside yachts made regular voyages to Peil Island off Barrow, Isle of Man and Southern Scotland.
We are keen to encourage yachts from elsewhere to sail up to Arnside, especially boats built by Crossfields of Arnside. Though the channel moves and it is not advisable to make the voyage unless Barrow tide height is over 9 metres, the journey is very scenic and is something that you need to say you have done. Bay Sea have made a series videos about sailing up to Arnside click to play. Bay Sea School video of voyage to Arnside
Moorings
The Club has the right to ten moorings in the estuary between the Dinghy Park and Ashmeadow, though members have to lay their own moorings. It is also possible to lay moorings by Promenade.
Dinghy Park
Our dinghy park is located on the beach at Arnside about 400 yards beyond the end of the promenade just past Beachwood Lane. It is in a sheltered position overlooked by trees next to a nature reserve
Facilities in the dinghy park include:
Changing gazebo
Eco loo.
Launching slipway.
Garage for safety boat.
Paddle Board Store
Secure open air storage for boats.
Canoe rack.
Large dinghies can also be kept on the estuary on moorings
Please give priority to families and children using the changing gazebo. Do not enter it if children or member of the opposite sex is using it.
Proposed Changing Facilities
We have medium term plans to build new changing facilities in our boat park with a social / training room.
Other Water-sports
The Club also offers canoeing, paddle boarding and windsurfing from our Boat Park.
See our Other Watersport Page for more information.
Club Boats
Thanks to grant funding, we have a fleet of 19 club boats. They are available for use by members free of charge at their own risk when not being used for training. Club boats include
ICLA(Lasers) - A single handed dinghy suitable for adults and older teenagers. An ICLA has three sail sizes depending on your weight.
- The largest sail is suitable for people weighing more than 11.5 stones (72 kg).
- The medium sail for weights between 8.8 and 11.5 stones (55 kg to 72 kg)
- The smaller 4.7 sail for weights of 7.8 stones (50 kg) upwards.
An ICLA is an Olympic class for both men and women.
Wayfarer - A stable family dinghy used extensively for training with room for up to 6 people. We keep a Wayfarer at Killington for use on Club Nights.
Wanderers - One of the most stable dinghies on the market. It has room for 4 people. Being lighter than a Wayfarer it is easier to launch.
Hartley 10 - A small stable boat used by small children with two in the boat or single handed by older children. It can also be sailed by teenagers and small to medium sized adults. The boats are ten feet long. The boats have smaller standard sails and bigger performance sails.
Hartley 12.2 - A doubled handed boat for teenagers and adults with asymmetric spinnakers. The boats are twelve feet long and can also be sailed single handed with one sail up.
Gaffling 4.1 - an entry level boat for both adults and youths to sailing gaff rig boats such as Severn. Available in kit form from Fyne Boats, south of Kendal. The boat can also be rowed. Jabberwocky, our Gaffling dinghy was made in 2023 by three club teenagers who went on a course at Fyne Boats to learn how to build a boat.
Topaz 12 – a twelve foot long child’s catamaran
Topaz 14 - a fourteen foot long catamaran suitable for older teenagers and adults
Severn - A Rivers Class Yacht built by Crossfields of Arnside in 1912
Canoes - We have three tandem and four single sit on top canoes. a
Paddle Boards - 11 Paddle Boards
Windsurf Rigs - Our paddle boards come with beginner wind surf rigs
Terms and Conditions for use of Club Craft and Equipment
Members should be competent to use club craft and equipment. Whilst Club craft and equipment is available for use by members, it is the member’s decision to take out club equipment on the day given weather, tidal and wind condition and currents, rather than the Club's. Arnside Sailing Club has no responsibility for any loss, damage, death or injury caused as a direct or indirect result of the use of the club equipment, including the failure of club equipment. Users of Club craft and equipment are responsible for checking that club craft and equipment is in safe working order before going out. Buoyancy Aids must be worn at all times.
You can read the full Terms and Conditions by clicking the link below. They also include safety advice.
Terms and Conditions for use of Club Craft and Equipment
Booking Club Craft and Equipment
For a link to the booking system contact arnsidescwatersports@gmail.com (members only)
Sailing Tips
The estuary at Arnside is tidal. The tide comes in and goes out very quickly. Only go out in conditions you can cope with.
Generally depending on conditions you should be able to sail for around 2 hours at high tide. Winds tend to be stronger but more constant than in a lake unless the wind is blowing round the Knott. A land breeze can also change to a sea breeze.
The further out you go towards Grange the stronger the winds and bigger the waves. The wind in the estuary can be stronger than at the dinghy park which is sheltered. Waves can get bigger as the tide starts to go out especially if there is a westerly wind.
The depth of water at high tide varies by about 2 metres depending on whether it is a spring or neap tide. At spring tides, when the tide height is highest, the water comes in and goes out very quickly. Though the tide height is higher, you may get less sailing time than with a lower neap tide when currents are not as strong.
- Always wear a buoyancy aid
- Wait for the current to subside before going out.
- Keep a check on when the tide starts to go out. Return to the dinghy park before tidal flows become too strong
- Do not go out if the wind is too strong for you or conversely if it is too light.
- When the tide is coming in, you are better heading towards Grange away from the viaduct.
- When the tide is going out you want to be above the dinghy park.
- If there is an east wind do not go out too far as it will be harder to get back.
- Keep away from fisherman on the shore. Their lines can be very long.
If caught by the outgoing tide head for the side and walk your boat back along the shore to the Boat Park. You may also be able to walk back in the middle of the estuary on a sand bank if the water is shallow. If on the Grange side you need to be well above the dinghy park or almost at the viaduct before attempting to sail back. Alternatively carry an anchor.
If the ingoing tide is taking you upstream towards the viaduct, head into the side before you get to Ashmeadow and wait for the tide to subside.