Orford Sailing Club is situated on the river Ore and is a small and vibrant club catering for all aspects of sailing.
There is racing at weekends from March to November mostly handicap racing but with some class racing during the busy holiday season of July and August and also mid-week youth and junior racing in the summer holidays. There is an active cruiser fleet with organised events both locally, in the Thames Estuary and further afield. The club runs RYA affiliated training courses and offers Taster sessions to local children and schools.
The racing season begins each year with a Spring handicap series which runs until May. There is a Junior Regatta timed to coincide with the conclusion of junior training and Senior Regatta both held in August. July and August holiday months are the clubs busiest and additional races and events are held during that time including a Sea Race, several round the Island events and the Dixon Trophy – a team race competing against Aldeburgh. In addition to individual cup races, there are three more series races, Vice Commodores Cup held in June, Harry Edwards Cup in September and Frostbite series in November.
The Club owns a fleet of around 10 boats made up of Toppers, RS Fevas, Hartley 12s and Wayfarers which are used for training courses and can also be booked out for racing. Week long courses are run for both beginner and intermediate children and adults at the start of the summer holidays in late July.
Members of the Club regularly cruise long distances and yachts carrying the Club’s burgee can be found as far afield as the Baltic and Southern Brittany. There are a number of organised cruises throughout the year where members can sail in company.
In addition to the racing programme, the Ore is a beautiful river located on Suffolk’s heritage coast and offers many opportunities for simply enjoying sailing. Throughout the season club members will typically be found afloat either heading down river to the Butley River and Orford Ness are favourite destinations or upriver to Aldeburgh and the sandy beaches of Iken and “Little Japan”. At high water, it is possible to sail up-river as far as Snape Maltings.
