Discover Sailing @MTSC

Feel the freedom of moving, powered by just the wind...

Try a fun sport that can stay with you for life: Whether cruising or racing, sailing is a sport that can literally take you round the world and can be enjoyed at all ages. Just £5 booking deposit for a 30 minute sail on 9th or 16th May 2026.

Sailing is a surprisingly low cost sport: For less than the cost of a coffee and snack a week you can have family membership of Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club. Plus it is an easily accessible sport for people of all ages and abilities. Come along and find out more - try sailing for just a FIVER per BOOKING (i.e. the whole family). This fee is deductible from this year's membership fee if you choose to join the club.

In 2026 we're holding open days on 9^th and 16^th May, as part of the Royal Yachting Association's "Discover Sailing" campaign. Whilst MTSC doesn't have any mega-yachts we will introduce you to our favourite water sports - dinghy sailing and, weather permitting, demonstrate windsurfing and wing-surfing/foiling (much wetter).

If your family have general interest in outdoor activities, have sailed in the past and would like to try again or just fancy trying a new friendly sport, the booking button for the 2026 event can be found above. If you would like any more information please contact us.

What to Expect

We will operate several boats, each crewed by an experienced helmsperson. Each can carry a different number of guests. Two are likely to be dinghies and one our small training yacht. We may also have other craft available to look at and maybe try after your introductory sail. We expect people to arrive at least fifteen minutes before their allocated timeslot (see booking form above) so that we can complete the final formal checking in process and safety briefing. We will provide you with a properly fitting buoyancy aid and brief on on the detail of what to expect, which may vary to suit the weather conditions. Our normal plan for each 30 minute time-slot, we expect to have you out on the water for around twenty minutes with a few minutes either end to allow changeover in the boat and to give the helmsperson a quick break.

What to bring

The club will provide safety equipment (buoyancy aids). If you intend to sail please bring: -

• A change of clothes as you can get splashed even on the nicest of days
• Some old trainers that you don't mind getting wet as the bank is stony and you may have to step in shallow water (shin deep) to enter the boat.
• A light windproof jacket if you've got one.
• A fleece or jumper as it is always cooler on the water in the wind than on the shore.
• Why not make a day of it, bring a picnic.

We recommend that you should be confident in the water, even if you cannot swim a long distance, you will float in the buoyancy aid provided; we certainly want to avoid anyone getting too wet but dinghy sailing is by nature a little unpredictable - as are all the best sports. Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club will provide buoyancy aids and have a small stock of wind-proof overalls if the weather's not wonderful, but remember we need some wind to make the boat go!

Where is Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club. If you've never visited us before, we're on the east bank of Pontsticill Reservoir. After you leave the public road, taking the left gate at the Pontsticill Station of the Brecon Mountain Railway, the club is a further mile along the sometimes rough, narrow, reservoir access track (ok for normal cars - but be careful). We will attempt to keep the passing spaces clear but please be patient as people will be coming and going all afternoon; keep your speed below 10 mph. This roadway is used by walkers, cyclists and horse-riders among others. Signs will be provided from the dam of the reservoir.

But this was Free in the Past

We're sorry but there were a large number of no shows that had booked in 2025, blocking others waiting for the opportunity to book. We have chosen to introduce the minimal £5 charge for each booking, costing us time and effort to utilise this booking system and a payment system. Hopefully  this will preserve time-slots for people who are interested in trying sailing as a sport. Should you join the club later in the year simply retain your ticket/booking email and we'll deduct the fee paid from the general membership fees.