Dinghy Sailing

Experience the South West's premier dinghy sailing center. Our club membership includes absolute beginners through to National Champions.

Discover BCYC Social Sailing Racing

The friendliest Sailing club in the South West

Welcome to Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club (BCYC). Our expansive reservoir provides a safe, welcoming, and vibrant environment for sailors of all skill levels from absolute beginners taking their first steps on the water to National Champions.

Year-Round Access & Safety

We provide full safety boat cover during our organized club sessions on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Want to sail on off-peak days? Simply sign up for one of our active Buddy Groups to safely hit the water anytime.

Our Weekly Schedule

Training & Courses

We run comprehensive RYA-aligned sailing courses tailored for both juniors and adults. Best of all, our training programs are fully open to both members and non-membersmaking it easy to learn the ropes or sharpen your racing lines.

A Trusted Championship Venue

BCYC is a highly popular host destination for prestigious dinghy Open Meetings and major Class Championships. We regularly welcome competitive regional and national fleets, including:

Enterprise Merlin Rocket Scorpion RS Classes Topper ILCA ...plus many others

Club Information Hub

A Safe, Relaxed Sailing Environment For Everyone

Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club offers some of the finest dinghy sailing conditions in the South West. Our clean, open reservoir provides a highly secure setting tailored to build confidence on the water.

Whether you are a complete beginner looking to comfortably cruise, a family enjoying a weekend afternoon, or a seasoned champion taking a relaxed sunset spin, our gates are open to you year-round.

Peace of Mind Included

Sailing is at its best when you feel completely supported. We host fully organized club sessions with dedicated, active safety boat cover on the water throughout the week, ensuring you're never alone out there.

When Can I Sail?
Common Questions
Can I really casual sail on competitive race days?
Yes, absolutely! Our reservoir is plenty large enough to accommodate everyone. We simply ask casual sailors to be mindful of the race start line, avoid crowding rounding buoys, and give actively racing fleets a bit of courtesy room.
How do the 'Buddy Groups' work?
When there are no official club events or scheduled safety boats on duty, members can still launch by coordinating through a 'Buddy Group'. As long as there are at least two adult member boats on the water (or an observer stationed shore-side with rescue means), you are cleared to enjoy independent sailing.
Do I need to own a dinghy to participate?
Not at all. BCYC maintains an excellent, well-maintained fleet of club-owned rental boatsincluding Toppers, Lasers, RS Fevas, and multi-crew family cruising boatsavailable to members for a very nominal daily contribution fee.

Welcome to the BCYC Racing Portal

Select an sub-category section below to view our racing fleets, class information, documentation schedules, and historical results frameworks.

Common Boats Sailed

...and various other handicap classes are welcome on the water.
Race Timings & Windows
Casual Sailing Restrictions Recreational, non-race sailing is widely permitted 7 days a week during summer windows, scaling down to 4 days a week during winter months. All off-peak launches mandate registration via an active club Buddy Group.
View Open Meetings List

Racing Tips & Guides

Charles Davidson

Demystifying the Racecourse

To help our new and progressing members confidently transition into club racing, veteran sailor Charles Davidson put together an exclusive masterclass series designed specifically to ease rookie anxieties and sharpen fundamental skills.

"BCYC has a proud legacy of cultivating exceptional sailorsour Roll of Honour speaks for itself with numerous national and world champions. However, for many newcomers, the racing circuit can feel intimidating. You might worry about getting in the way or not being competitive enough. But racing is ultimately about having fun, accelerating your boat-handling skills, and learning dynamically from everyone else on the water. This series is designed to build your confidence step-by-step, covering everything from course layouts and start sequences to master maneuvers at the marks." Charles Davidson Club Newsletter Contribution

Training Playbooks & Theory Downloads

Click any guide below to download the comprehensive PDF chapter text and diagrams directly to your device:

All racing will be held in accordance with the Racing Rules of Sailing 2025 - 2028. The club sailing instructions are available below, and any official amendments are posted directly on the notice board in the entrance to the clubhouse.

Race Start Times

Start Format & Fleet Splits

Currently there is no split between junior, fast and slow handicap starts. All boats start at the same time.

Series Discards & Prize Qualification

Scoring Framework

Scoring will be calculated in strict accordance with RRS Appendix A. Competitors should note that DNF, OCS, OOD, AVG, and DSQ scores *can* be counted toward your series qualification target; DNC scores *will not* count.

Scoring Code Description Points Allocated
DNF & RTD Did Not Finish / Retired Number of starters in that specific race + 1 point
OCS On Course Side (Premature Start) Number of starters in that specific race + 2 points
DSQ & DNC Disqualified / Did Not Compete Total number of registered starters across the entire series + 2 points
Synchronize Your Mobile Calendar The complete club calendar is accessible online via the BCYC Events Portal. You can easily subscribe and link this directly to your smartphone calendar feed to keep track of real-time scheduling updates, social gatherings, and race booking deadlines.

Official Notice Downloads

Club Racing Documentation

Open Meetings & Regattas

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