Yeadon Sailing Club announces a Revolution in Membership

Solo & Steaker Open at Yeadon © Rachel McInnes

Yeadon Sailing Club is excited to announce a groundbreaking change to its membership structure for the 2024 season. In a bold move to make sailing more inclusive and available to a broader audience, the club has introduced a Pay What You Can based membership option for all households. This innovative approach aims to break down financial barriers and enable a wider range of individuals to experience the joys of sailing and embark on thrilling adventures on the water.

Nestled next to Leeds Bradford Airport, Yeadon Sailing Club is situated in a stunning parkland setting, perfect for both sailing enthusiasts and the local community to enjoy. As the club approaches its centenary in just four years, it takes pride in its rich sailing history and the incredible achievements of its members, who have sailed to all corners of the globe.

Despite its small size, Yeadon Sailing Club has garnered an international following, with over 7k subscribers to its YouTube training channel, and its beginners' guide to sailing video surpassing an astonishing 1 million views in 2023. On the water, members have embraced sailing at both club level and beyond, with some members taking their Yeadon-born skills around the world.

The club understands that sailing may seem like an expensive pursuit to those outside the community. That's why it has decided to embrace this new approach to membership, democratising access to the joys of sailing.

By joining Yeadon Sailing Club, members will have the opportunity to experience the unparalleled sense of joy that comes with skilfully gliding across the water, powered purely by nature. Sailing is not only fun and exhilarating but can also take you on incredible adventures around the world.

"At Yeadon Sailing Club, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joys of sailing. The idea for the new Pay What You Can based membership came from a workshop held with members in November 2023 about how we can reimagine membership and make sailing more inclusive. Since it was first discussed, the idea gathered significant interest within the club and beyond. Every step of the journey in finalising the detail has been embraced by members, they are fully on board and excited about its potential. We want everyone to have the chance to discover the freedom and exhilaration that sailing has to offer." says Tim Burnett, Membership Secretary at Yeadon Sailing Club.

Membership starts with a £50 annual joining fee, per household. Members can then pay as much as they can afford monthly thereafter as a donation.

To start your new sailing adventure with Yeadon Sailing Club, interested individuals can visit www.yeadonsailingclub.co.uk to register their interest in joining.

As a member of Yeadon Sailing Club, individuals will have access to the club's facilities and fleet of boats along with being able to participate in training and racing events. The club is confident that members, their families, and their friends, both young and old, will fall in love with sailing at Yeadon.

About Yeadon Sailing Club

Yeadon Sailing Club (YSC) is a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) affiliated club located in the heart of Yorkshire, near Leeds Bradford Airport. Its members have access to club-maintained boats and safety equipment for social sailing, informal training, and adrenaline-fuelled racing on a safe stretch of water, which is maintained by the council and all tarn users.

With easy access from a large community car park and major bus routes, YSC is both convenient and safe for sailors and spectators alike. As an independent club run by passionate volunteers, members love the fun and excitement of sailing, an environmentally friendly and surprisingly affordable water sport. YSC believes that nothing beats the thrill of learning a new life skill in a beautiful location powered by natural energy.

Sailing offers a wide range of opportunities for sailors of all levels and ages, from casual social sailing and friendly club racing to life-changing experiences such as sailing the oceans in the Clipper Round the World Race or competing in the Olympics in a boat such as the Laser, a much-loved regular in our fleet.

YSC works in partnership with other tarn clubs, such as the Leeds Sailing & Activity Centre (LSAC), to provide our members with opportunities to continue developing their sailing skills after completing formal courses offered by the council-run facility.

YSC is thrilled to see our junior and adult membership growing again following the pandemic, and its RYA-trained club coaches are on hand to guide sailors every step of the way.