Club Boats
WMYC has been fortunate in being able to provide three club boats – two Sonatas and a Folkboat – for club members to use and enjoy.
These boats are intended to open up access to sailing, allowing more people to get out on the water, experience the enjoyment and camaraderie it offers, and develop their skills in both racing and cruising.
2026 will be our first year with three boats and inevitably plans and programmes will develop as the year progresses.
However, the initial details are as follows:
Membership
All skippers and crew using the boats must be members of West Mersea Yacht Club (WMYC). For those who wish to sail but are not currently members, we are introducing a special category membership – Temporary Membership. This will be valid for four months, cost £70 and be non repeatable.
It is designed to give individuals the opportunity to enjoy both club membership and access to the club boats, with the hope that, at the end of the four-month period, they will choose to join as full members.
Sonatas – Frank and Scherzo
The Sonata is a compact keelboat (6.9m) designed by David Thomas and built in large numbers around 50 years ago. Many are still actively raced across the UK today, with around a dozen based in Mersea. Those interested are encouraged to explore more via the National Sonata Association website.
We will be using Frank and Scherzo in two main ways: introducing new and less experienced sailors to being on the water through taster sessions and training, and participating in local racing opportunities.
Sail Training
Training sessions will be led by experienced skippers, with a maximum of two crew per session in suitable weather conditions. Each session will last approximately two hours, with an additional hour to allow for travel to and from the boat using club launches.
The cost is £10 per person, per sail. Crew members should bring their own lifejacket, appropriate clothing, and a water bottle.
Our training programme will operate through two WhatsApp groups. Contact details are provided below, and full instructions will be shared upon registering interest.
Sonata Skippers – We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers willing to give some of their time to help introduce others to sailing.
Contact Richard Bailey: r@bailey55.co.uk | 07907 170594
Sonata Crew Booking – Sailing bookings will be managed via a WhatsApp poll system.
Contact Robert Hawkins: Robert.hawkins@live.co.uk | 07922 677750
Sonata Racing
The boats will also be available for racing in the Dabchicks Friday Night Series, Sunday WMYC races, and Mersea Week.
To book a boat for racing, skippers should contact Richard or Robert, indicating whether they already have crew or require crew (we expect to be able to match skippers with enthusiastic crew members).
£15 per boat per race | £80 per boat for the full duration of Mersea Week
The Sonatas have a registered YTC handicap. Full details of the system will be provided once you register your interest.
Nordic Folkboat – Rio
The introduction of our Nordic Folkboat Rio is part of a wider initiative to revitalise keelboat sailing and racing at WMYC, where participation has declined over recent years. As a yacht club, our focus should be on providing strong sailing and racing opportunities, along with better facilities for all members—particularly newcomers and those without their own boats.
This vision is already taking shape with the commitment of the RYA training and the success and the popularity of the Sonatas, growing demand has enabled the club to expand its offering. Alongside the two Sonatas, we are now proud to include our own Nordic Folkboat, Rio, giving both existing and new members—and the next generation—the chance to experience enjoyable and competitive keelboat sailing.
Why a Folkboat?
Locally, we already have a fleet of four boats and three new boats joining for the start of this season – bringing the fleet to seven. The Nordic Folkboat is a well-established and highly regarded design, with around 4,000 boats built worldwide.
Folkboats are ideal for crews of two to four people. They are safe but fun and exciting to sail, making them suitable for a wide range of ages and experience levels. Our benefits are that they are affordable, their fibreglass construction also makes them relatively low-maintenance.
The Folkboat Class Captain is John Munns, who will coordinate sailing on Rio and help connect those looking to crew.
If you’re interested in getting involved, please
Contact John Munns: john.munns@icloud.com | 07889 119500