Welcome to
Medley Sailing Club
COVID-19
Following the publication of the UK government's roadmap for the end of lockdown in England on 22 February, we have made plans to reopen and restart racing for the 2021 season.
Boats Out will take place on Wednesday 7 April and members whose boats are in the shed have been given time slots to take their boats out and rig them. Sunday racing will begin on 11 April, with a pursuit series. Race officers and launch drivers will be recruited from volunteers: members please watch out for the call by email. From Sunday 23 May the normal race season will resume: duty dates are published in the February Ripple and on Dutyman.
Members whose boats are not in the shed may sail on their own or with members of their households from 8 March. Please follow the guidelines for the use of the club and obey all instructions either on this list or on signs you will find up around the compound.
As usual, please pay particular attention to security and do not leave the club unlocked while you are on the water if no one else is on the site.
We are reviewing these measures regularly and will update the guidelines accordingly.
The Club
We are a family friendly dinghy sailing club within walking distance of the centre of Oxford.
We sail on the river Thames, between Rainbow Bridge at Medley and Godstow lock at Wolvercote, with racing from March to November on Sunday afternoons, and on Wednesday evenings from May to September.
There are about 120 members and about 85 boats in the club. Last year almost half the boats were raced; much higher than the national average. We also run a number of social events. Members are encouraged to take part in the club’s activities, including an early introduction into the running of sailing events.
There is an annual regatta, and social events throughout the year. Open days are held most years in May or June.
Club boats
The club has 6 boats available for use by members, for a nominal fee:
a Topper;
2 Optimists;
a British Moth;
an Enterprise;
a Gull
Members are welcome to use these boats at any time. There is also the opportunity to ‘Adopt a Topper’, whereby a member can pay for the insurance and River licence for a topper and have exclusive use of it for the year.
Fleets
There are 3 main Racing fleets – British Moth, Fast, and Slow.
British Moths are the largest fleet, with currently almost 30 of the single-handed 11ft dinghies, and around 12 sailing regularly. This is the biggest Moth fleet in the UK and Medley runs an annual Moth open meeting which attracts a number of sailors from other clubs.
Fast – Enterprises, Lasers, and Merlins mainly make up the Fast fleet, with 4-6 Enterprises racing regularly.
Slow – Herons, Toppers and Mirror dinghies are the mainstay of the Slow fleet, and the Club is particularly keen to encourage members, especially youngsters, to take up sailing in this fleet.
Contact us
Email us: Membership Secretary | Racing Secretary | Commodore
Write to us: Medley Sailing Club, The Towpath, Binsey, Oxford, OX2 0NJ
In person: Pop along one Sunday afternoon (March to November) and ask for a committee member. The club is near Bossom's boatyard, downstream from the Perch Inn and the village of Binsey.