Welcome to Hampton Sailing Club. We are situated on Benn’s Island in Hampton, Middlesex, accessed by a private chain ferry situated at the bottom of Benn’s Alley.
This is one of the most beautiful reaches of the Thames just along from Garrick’s Lodge and Hampton Court. We are a very friendly sociable club offering racing for all ages with additional events for our junior members and numerous social events. We have spectacular views of the sailing for spectators from our extensive balcony.
Our reach is called locally the Hampton Reach but no doubt those on the Surrey bank call it the Molesey Reach. The predominant race course for us is up river to Platts Ait, often known locally as Thorneycroft and down river to roughly parallel to, or just below, Garrick’s Ait. However, when conditions are right we can sail way up river even to Sunbury and down river to the narrow bridge from the Middlesex bank over to Taggs Island. This gives us a race area, though whilst slim in some parts, as long as about four miles. However, we do tend to have lap racing more or less within sight of the Clubhouse. Our best winds are the prevailing south westerly’s, easterlies are good too but southerlies and especially the occasional northerlies can be challenging.
There is racing every Sunday from March to December and some Thursday evenings as the light permits. A full programme of events is organised throughout the year including regattas, Open meetings for the GP14, Enterprises and Merlin fleets. There are also sailing events away from the club with a large contingent of the Merlin fleet sailing at Salcombe Week each year and social sailing events along the Thames for pub lunches and a trip to Chichester. We are a members’ club run by members and in our closed season working parties help update and maintain our facilities.
Our lovely clubhouse on stilts overlooking the Thames has changing rooms and showers. The main room has a well-stocked bar, with guest beers and facilities for catering; which we frequently use for social events such as quizzes, dinners, regattas, BBQs and our famous Sunday after-race homemade teas. Our decking can accommodate a large number of boats during the sailing season and we have winter berths on our church land. If you’ve never sailed before but want to give it a try, just contact us or come down on a Sunday. We are happy to answer any questions and our Development Officer can help you find out more.
Website queries to website@hamptonsailingclub.com