Welcome to West Lancs!
Experience the joy of sailing in the heart of Southport!
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced sailor, we welcome all ages and abilities in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. Enjoy the shallow waters of the beautiful Marine Lake as you build confidence, develop skills, stay active and make new friends. Off the water, our members love social events and celebrating special moments in our stunning lakeside lounge. We encourage everyone to get involved in club life—whether its sailing, racing, learning, teaching, or joining our dedicated volunteers who help with maintenance and catering.
Come and give it a go—we’d love to have you on board!
Club Boats
Enjoy sailing as soon as you join by hiring the Club boats
Our growing fleet of Club Optimists, Toppers, Quests and Fevas is available to hire at nominal members rates for those who have completed their Level 2 training.
WLYC is open to all and we want to make sailing more accessible for everyone. Become a member for an annual fee which works out at less than £20 for an adult and less than £5 for a junior. Enjoy sailing as soon as you join by hiring the Club boats. Fellow club members are willing to help rigging or putting the boat away so that it is ready for the next use. There is often an opportunity to crew for another member.
Boat Hire
Join us on the water and sail all day for a tenner!
Six RS Quests – three RS Fevas – three RS Zests – eight Toppers – six Optimists – two Mirrors
Members can hire a club boat at just £10 for the day. With around 30 Club boats available for hire and training, you can always get out on the water at minimal cost. Members can hire a club dinghy at any time if they have completed RYA level 2 training. Just fill in the club boat hire envelope by the bar, insert ten pounds and hand it to the person behind the bar or slip it under the door. It could not be easier!
Adult Training
Experienced members are on hand to help, and Club boats available to hire
As an RYA Training Centre, West Lancs offers adult sailing courses designed by the Royal Yachting Association. Beginners start with RYA Levels 1 & 2, learning to rig, launch, and sail a triangle. Level 3 builds confidence, while Seamanship Skills, Start Racing, Powerboat, and First Aid courses are also available.
Once youve mastered the basics, you can refine your skills through regular practice, social sailing, or racing.
Junior Training
Junior training is open to young members aged 8 and over. We run sessions on Saturdays from April to October and through the winter months for keen sailors.
We have ample fleets of Club Optimists, Toppers, Fevas, Zests and Quests; these are available during the classes and subsequently to hire at members’ rates.
RYA instructors deliver training in a fun way. The children work through the RYA basic courses at their own pace and move on into competitive racing on Saturday afternoons and Thursday evenings when they are ready.
Free sessions are also offered to non-members who want to try sailing.
Club Racing
Racing and race training for juniors and adults, novices, veterans and champions
WLYC has long been a nursery for talented sailors, many of whom have gone on to compete nationally and internationally.
Club racing is every Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon from the end of March to the end of October. We have fleets of Enterprises, GP 14s and Streakers as well as the Handicap fleet for other dinghy classes. New members can hire a Club boat to race and novice racers are welcome.
You don’t have to be a medal winner to take part, but you should not be surprised to find one next to you at the start.
Offshore Sailing with West Lancs
At West Lancs, we keep the ‘Yacht’ in our name by encouraging members to explore offshore sailing!
Our members have organized incredible offshore cruises in the Solent, along Scotlands west coast, across the Channel, and even in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Far East. These adventures are arranged by members, bringing together skippers and crews to share skills and experience.
If you’re new to offshore sailing, there are plenty of opportunities to learn from experienced sailors. We can also help coordinate shore-based theory courses and offer advice on practical training.
Interested? Connect with fellow members and start planning your next offshore adventure!
Radio Controlled Sailing
Experienced RC sailors are happy to show you the thrills and spills of RC racing
There’s a section of the Club dedicated to sailing Radio-Controlled (RC) boats on Tuesdays and Sundays.
No previous experience is necessary, although many former dinghy sailors enjoy practising their race tactics and skills through the radio controlled medium.
The Marine Lake is an ideal venue for radio controlled sailing and attracts visiting enthusiasts for national events.
Social Sailing
The Club is open to members 7 days a week
The Club supports social sailing and collaboration to develop sailing skills and knowledge. It is always safer to sail when there are other people around.
New members without a boat will find someone happy to take them out for a recreational sail and those with an RYA Level 2 qualification can hire a Club boat. Its a chance to gain time on the water and practise skills, and there’s help with rigging and returning safely to shore.
On Wednesdays throughout the year we’ll make a day of it with picnic lunches and Saturday is family day.
Social Calendar
Members join for the sailing and stay for the social scene
Club social events include quiz nights, weekday lunches, sailing suppers, summer barbecues as well as the annual dinner and prizegiving evening.
Club night is Thursdays so, even if we are not racing, members come down to watch or have a game of snooker and enjoy a drink with fellow members at the reasonably priced bar.
The bar is also open on Saturday afternoons when toasties and excellent cakes are available from the galley.
Volunteering
You can volunteer to support the Club
Our Club is a members’ club run by its members for the members. An established volunteering ethos makes the Club work well and a fun place to be. There’s a strong sense of belonging to a friendly community.
So why not get involved in helping to organize our sailing and social activities? Get out of the house and spend time with friends, on or off the water, helping to run the Club.
Members contribute some of their time, skills and professional experience. There’s always plenty to do, running the races, maintaining the facilities or helping out in the bar or galley. The idea is to have fun doing what we enjoy and working in a team.
Venue Hire
Celebrate at West Lancashire Yacht Club
Celebrate your special occasion! The Yacht Club has a stunning lakeside location, magnificent views, a light and airy lounge, parquet dance floor, traditional feature bar and ample free parking.
Contact us to book your birthdays, weddings, christenings, funerals, fund-raisers and get togethers.
Entry is open for this year's WLYC 24 Hour Race!
This year’s WLYC 24 Hour Race is on the weekend of 12-14 September 2025
The race is a collaboration of sailing clubs from across the UK, hosted by West Lancs on the shallow waters of the beautiful Marine Lake in the centre of Southport. Entry is now open via the GP14 Association online shop – click here to enter:
https://www.gp14.org/shop/west…
Southport SC will host the SSC National Junior 12 Hour Race on Saturday 28th June, also on the Marine Lake, with entry now open via their website.
West Lancs working in partnership
Thanks to our local business partners!
West Lancs works in partnership with the local community, supporting outreach to local Southport schools who want to experience the fun and adventure of sailing on the Marine Lake.
We are supported in turn by our local business partners.
Get in touch if you want to come aboard!
