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.
Sailing is a surprisingly low cost sport: For less than the price of a pint of beer 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 - for a FIVER per BOOKING (three people per boat/timeslot). This is deductible from any membership fee if you choose to join the club follwing your trial sail.
In 2026 we're holding open days on 9th and 16th May, as part of the Royal Yachting Association's "Discover Sailing" campaign. Whilst MTSC doesn't have any mega-yachts, nor currently any SUPs (we're working on that) we will introduce you to our favourite watersports - dinghy sailing and windsurfing AND wing-surfing/foiling.
Note that we are using TicketTailor and Stripe to collect your data and allow you to choose an preferred timeslot and pay the booking fee. You will be asked for your details. Once you finish the form you will be sent a "confirmation email" to the email address you enter. Check your "spam" folder if you don't see it in a few minutes. We will send you a reminder a few weeks before the event, but please read below for more details of what to expect.
It doesn't matter if you've been out with us in the past, we're happy to take you again, just use the booking form and book in again. If you and 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, then just . The booking form for the 2026 event can be found above. If you would like any more information please use the email link above and we'll reply as soon as practicable.
We can welcome visitors on almost any weekend during the sailing season. But as a beginner it is sensible to restrict this to the spring and summer (Easter to September). It's warmer!
Provided the prevailing weather conditions permit, the club will be operating several sailing boats, each crewed by an experienced helmsperson. 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" booking 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 change due to the weather conditions at the time. But this is our normal plan: In each 30 minute time-slot we expect to have you out on the water for between fifteen and twenty minutes with a few minutes either end to allow changeover in the boat and to give the helmsperson a quick break.
The club will provide safety equipment (buoyancy aids). Why not make a day of it, bring a picnic. If you intend to sail please bring: -
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 do not aim to capsize and get anyone wet but dinghy sailing is by nature a little unpredicatable - 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!
Click here to find us -->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 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 most 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 to below 10 mph (if you're over tickover speed in second gear, you're going too fast). Signs will be provided from the dam of the reservoir.
Link back to Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club's Home Page