NLSA members can sail again on the Reservoir:

• Sundays 13:00 - 16:00 
• Tuesdays 17:00 - 20:00

Covid-safe NLSA Sailing at West Reservoir Centre, from 4 April 2021 (updated 28 March 2021)

  1. For safe operation on the water and to ensure social distancing at pinch points such as the sail store, the buoyancy aid store and the launching ramp, members will be allowed into the Centre only in groups of 5, every 10 minutes for two-hour (120-minute) sailing slots during the agreed sailing sessions on Sundays and Tuesdays.
  2. Sailing will only be available when pre-booked for specific times, and for the time being only Laser, Pico, Topper and Bahia (families/bubbles only). 
  3. Members holding a booking will be admitted and checked in at the start of their booked session through the gate at the Western, left-hand end of the building, maintaining social distancing from each other while waiting to be checked in. 
  4. Sails and buoyancy aids will be available from their normal store rooms.
  5. Members should arrive ready to sail as there will be no access to the building for changing facilities or showers, only for toilets following a one-way system. Spare clothing, if brought, may be left ashore in a dry bag.
  6. Members should maintain social distancing both within and around the Centre, using the hand sanitiser stations which will be in place, and should practise good hygiene.
  7. Rigging, launching and recovery assistance will not be available from the staff assigned for standby capsize duty, so members should only book types of dinghies with which they are familiar.
  8. Members should if possible avoid all contact with any boat or launching trolley other than the one for which they are booked and should observe appropriate social distancing and mask-wearing if assisting other members with rigging, launching or recovery of dinghies. Sprays will be available for cleaning boats and trolley handles before or after use.
  9. Members using the Centre’s buoyancy aids must dunk their buoyancy aid in a sterilising tub after use and left to dry.
  10. Covid Duty Officers from the NLSA membership must be in place during each sailing session and without the CDOs being arranged in advance and being present on a particular day, no-one will be admitted that day and no sailing will take place.
  11. The CDOs are required to check members in and out of the Centre, to ensure NLSA social distancing and Covid-safe hygiene observance within the rigging and launching areas, and to report any non-compliance to the GLL Manager and to the NLSA Covid-safe Club Lead, Phill Lupton.

About the North London Sailing Association
The NLSA is a community association run by volunteers and open to all who want to sail. We sail at the West Reservoir Centre, Stoke Newington, one of London’s best kept sailing secrets, set in a beautiful location behind the Castle Climbing Centre off Green Lanes, and also at our own Coastal Sailing Base at Brightlingsea in Essex.
West Reservoir launch slipway with Laser Bahias moored up the hammer head.

Sailing times at West Reservoir
Sailing times are Sundays from 1pm to 4pm, and from April to September, on Tuesdays from 5pm till 8pm. While members can simply enjoy a relaxing sail, we also organise informal training sessions, and races in which everyone is welcome and encouraged to take part, whatever their level of ability.

Use of the boats and buoyancy aids is included in the membership fee.

The only requirements for membership are that you are at least 8 years old and hold RYA Level 2, Youth Stage 3 or equivalent. You can join online! 

Brightlingsea Coastal Sailing Centre

During the summer months we arrange weekends and RYA courses at our coastal base, Brightlingsea Coastal Sailing Centre, at Brightlingsea in Essex, between Colchester and Clacton. This is a fantastic sailing location and a great place to meet and get to know other members.

The Brightlingsea Coastal Sailing Centre is an RYA residential Training Centre offering a wide range of RYA dinghy and powerboat courses and is operated as a joint venture between the NLSA which owns the building and the North London Youth Sailing Trust, a registered charity, which owns and operates the boats and sailing equipment.

You will sail with others in the Centre's fleet of Wayfarer dinghies, usually cruising on Saturday to a picnic spot for lunch ashore before returning to the Centre for dinner and possibly a walk across the road to one of the local pubs before a well-earned night's rest before cruising on the Sunday to a different destination.

Trips to Brightlingsea are very affordable and the cost includes meals plus comfortable accommodation.  The use of the boats is included in the membership fee.

Read more about Brightlingsea...


NLSA West Reservoir Centre


NLSA Brightlingsea Coastal Base, The Old Custom House


Want to know more?

Drop into the Reservoir on Sunday morning and ask for the NLSA. Our instructors and committee members will be happy to talk to you and show you round.
Email Membership Secretary Mary Leaming: membership@northlondonsailing.org
See the section on "How to join"