Yacht Clubs

There are numerous yacht and boat clubs on the Thames, and all of them have numerous benefits to recommend them.  It can be confusing, however, if you wish to join a club, knowing which would best suit your needs.  Would a yacht club welcome sail boats, for example.  Unlikely these days, since most river yacht clubs seem to specialise in sea going cruisers and river craft.  Our own (motor) yacht club contains mostly sea going motor cruisers, large river craft, a few sail cruisers and even a solitary narrow boat!  To this end, the angel has listed all the clubs with a brief description of what sort of boats they prefer to accept and what activities they indulge in. There are a few clubs that do not have physical premises, but still exist and are very relevant to the non-tidal Thames. These have also been included.

ATYC

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Seamaster Club

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BMYC

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The London River Yacht Club

Specialising mostly in small river craft, they only have a few moorings opposite Raven's Aite.  They do an annual sail past at the end of September, also an upriver and a down river cruise each year.  They welcome owners of river cruisers and those with an interest in boating.

The Albany

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The Thames Motor Yacht Club

This club has some of the biggest sea going boats on the non-tidal Thames, right the way down to day boats.  They specialise in sea going cruises, and take most of their boats abroad each year for a three week cruise.  They also do a lot of tidal and non-tidal cruising, from Abingdon to St. Catherine's and beyond.  There are memberships available as full boating or social members for those without motor yachts within easy cruising distance of the club house.  Their newly refurbished moorings offer lots of space, but there is always a waiting list for members moorings.  They have a large riverside bar as well as a huge clubhouse which is available to rent for private functions, and long lawns by the riverside with which to entertain in good weather.  The Commodore offers a full annual programme including supper nights, weekend cruises, balls and dinner dances, barbecues, a Christmas show and New Year's eve party, costume and casual evening events as well as Sunday brunches in the riverside bar and club nights on Wednesdays, Fridays andSaturdays with Sunday and Saturday lunchtimes giving lots of opportunities to have a drink with friends and catch up on the scuttlebut.  RYA Day Skipper and Yacht Master are available for members and non-members alike.  The TMYC is a highly competitive club, taking part in the ATYC each year, and having a comprehensive competitions calendar ranging from juniors to experienced sea skippers tests, families and couples competitions and even Poohsticks, with an opportunity to tap into years of experience and training resources to support you in foreign competitions, an opportunity which several of their members have seized.

The Middle Thames Yacht Club

A delightful little club which concentrates on river cruising. The newly refurbished terrace provides plenty of space for summer barbecues, and their lack of a bar offers you the chance to bring your own drinks. Set on the lock island at Sunbury you need to either hail the club from the shore to take you across, or gain access to the club, via the lock, from the opposite side of the river. This club enjoy competitions, cruising and entertaining at the club, and it is a delightfully isolated spot, traffic free and good for children.

Penton Hook

A cozy, friendly yacht club with a wonderful club house looking out onto countryside and river - not what you'd expect for the location!  It has useful road links to the nearby towns and supermarkets, making it a very convenient place to call home.  Their bar offers drinks and food, and their Sunday lunches will soon be back.  Being both tidal and non-tidal orientated they have two Rear Commodores.  One tidal, one non-tidal, and they organise two cruises each year accordingly.  They have several large boats for sea cruising, but they also have a large contingent of smaller river craft.

Windsor Yacht Club

Not to be confused with Windsor Marinas Ltd, who own the marina where this club resides, this club is a haven for the weary traveller.  They are quick to offer hospitality, espeically if you phone ahead, and have opened up their bar for us on numerous occassions.  They have a lot of large sea going boats, as well as river craft, and they have both an up river and a tidal cruise each year. 

Harleyford

Phylys Court

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The Upper Thames Motor Yacht Club

There are few more beautiful moorings on the river than those of the Upper Thames Motor Yacht Club at Sonning. Situated behind the lock island this club offers a relaxed environment with considerable moorings, although there is a waiting list for members moorings. Offering a bar and clubhouse, as well as metered electricity to the moorings, this club has a very laid back view of boating, enjoying evenings together and river cruises, with some of the larger boats venturing abroad.