Sailing
The Milton Abbey School sailing club prides itself on maintaining one of the most
active and versatile school sailing clubs in the country. Fully recognised by the
RYA, the club is sufficiently equipped and staffed to provide practical instruction
within the RYA Dinghy and Powerboat Schemes. The club is also recognised as an RYA
Shore-based Teaching Establishment providing theoretical instruction up to RYA Yachtmaster
Offshore standard. Many senior members of the club leave the school as qualified
RYA Dinghy Instructors and RYA Offshore Day Skippers.
Operating out of The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy – venue for
the 2012 Olympics - the club’s twenty-one boats include ‘Laser Picos’, ‘420s’, ‘Wayfarers’
and three safety craft. The club’s seasonal activities extend from mid-April until
the end of October, during which time members can be on the water four or five times
per week. As well as providing a wide range of RYA practical courses, both a junior
and senior squad of members are coached for match racing against other local schools.
During a typical season the club hosts the Dorset Schools’ Regatta, the Southern
Area Combined Cadet Force Regatta and the Southern England Prep Schools’ Regatta.
In recent years the club has enjoyed successes in various CCF Regattas, the National
Schools’ Sailing Association Championships and the Itchenor Public Schools’ Championships.
Frequent offshore weekend excursions and Duke of Edinburgh Award Expeditions in
the ‘Wayfarers’ are made along the Dorset coastline extending as far as Lulworth
Cove and Studland Bay.