A cruiser flying a white gennaker downwind under a big sky

Sailing at GYC

Sail, row and race from Greenwich

A London sailing club offering dinghy, cruiser and rowing opportunities, with an amazing clubhouse on the River Thames, just three miles downriver from Tower Bridge.

Ask about a course How to join

What we do01

Four ways onto the water

Dinghies, cruisers and cutters, plus the courses that get you started and the racing that keeps you coming back.

An instructor and trainees in a RIB and a dinghy alongside the pontoon during a training session

Learn to sail

An RYA accredited training centre. Dinghy Level 1 and 2, powerboat, keelboat, trot boat and race officer courses at the club, theory with partner schools.

A club cruiser under full sail heeling in a fresh breeze in the Thames estuary

Cruisers

Sailing and motor yachts, from light displacement racers to blue water cruisers, on deep water and drying trot moorings. Races about every two weeks in summer.

Two Lasers sailing past the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich

Dinghies

2000s and Lasers. Races, cruises and training, and new members who have never sailed before are welcome.

Three Thames cutters racing past the clubhouse

Rowing

Cito, a Thames Waterman Cutter, and Jubilee Gal go out every other weekend. No experience or special gear needed.

The club trophies laid out on a white cloth for the annual prizegiving

Racing and trophies

From the Meridian Trophy at 4.6 miles to the Ovens Buoy at 37, with winners recorded since 1952.

The yard crane lifting a yacht out of the water, masts against a blue sky

Moorings and yard

Drying and deep water moorings, an all-tide pontoon, hardstanding for 20 boats and a Wise boat hoist.

The sailing area02

Tower Bridge upstream, no limit downstream

The sailing area is restricted upstream by Tower Bridge but has no restrictions downstream. It is possible to sail to the Thames Estuary and beyond on a single tide.

The club organises yacht races about every two weeks in the summer and about every month during the winter. Racing is open to all classes under the Byron handicap system. We race locally around cans, usually downriver to Erith, Thurrock and Gravesend, and even Sea Reach and around the Isle of Sheppey.

We usually row upstream to Tower Bridge, or up Bow Creek to Channelsea Island and Three Mills. Other times we might round the Isle of Dogs into Greenland Dock or the Royal Docks, down to Erith, to the Olympic Park, Deptford Creek, South Bank, Victoria Park or Springfield Park.

Tides, weather and notices

You do not need a boat

Crew first, own later

You do not need to own a boat to become a member.
Members who own cruisers are often in need of crew, with or without experience, and we maintain a list of these opportunities for our members.
Many of the cruiser owners welcome additional crew, giving you the opportunity to log sea miles and gain experience.
We look to be an active part of the 2000 and UK Laser Class Associations, and our sailors often attend open events. Offering to crew with an experienced club helm is an ideal way of getting out on the water and beginning your sailing adventure.
No experience is required and no special gear is needed.

How to join Learn to sail

Participation fees03

Kept low on purpose

These fees are kept intentionally low in order to keep on-water activities affordable.

Published fees and charges, from 01/09/2026

Dinghyper person per event: £6
Rowingper person per event: £6
Keelboatper person per event: £10
Dinghy taster, memberper person per event: £10
Dinghy taster, non-memberper person per event: £15
Rowing, non-membersper person per event: £15

All fees and charges are subject to terms and conditions.

What 2026 tickets cost on the events site

Dinghy event participationper person per event: £5
Dinghy, members' guestper person per event: £10
Keelboat event participationper person per event. First time free: £5
Rowing, memberper person per outing: £5
Rowing, non-member or guestper person per outing: £15
Taster afternoon, dinghy or keelboat (non-members)per person: Free

Prices as sold on the club's events site, read 15/09/2026

The two lists do not match. The club's published table and the tickets it actually sells in 2026 differ for dinghy, rowing, keelboat and taster events; what you pay is the ticket price at checkout. Membership and mooring fees are on fees and charges.

Dates and tickets04

Everything is booked on the events site

Courses, races, rowing outings and socials are all tickets on the club's events site. Members log in with their members' portal account.

Trainingevents.greenwichyachtclub.co.uk Dinghiesevents.greenwichyachtclub.co.uk Cruisersevents.greenwichyachtclub.co.uk Rowingevents.greenwichyachtclub.co.uk Socialevents.greenwichyachtclub.co.uk Whole calendarevents.greenwichyachtclub.co.uk

Moorings, boat insurance and yard movement requests live on the members' portal.

The club

Join the club

You do not need a boat. Two activities, a chat with two members, and you are in.

A wooden sailing barge on the foreshore at low tide with the clubhouse on its piles behind under a blue sky

Fees and charges

Membership, participation, moorings and yard charges from 1 September 2026.

The clubhouse on its piles in the Thames at night, windows lit, with the city skyline behind

On the river

Tides, weather, ship movements and the club's own guides to the Thames.