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Beech Bums
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Beech Bums 2026
Now in its second year at Bough Beech, Beech Bums is thriving! Here’s a recap of what Bums is all about, what we do and how the group runs.
Who we are and what we offer
⛵️ A group of sailing mad parents, salty dogs and grandparents keen to share our passion for sailing in a safe and fun way.
⛵️ Experienced RYA instructors able to offer development from learning to sail, through to racing and instructing – at no cost!
⛵️ Fun on and off the water – socials ashore throughout the year and Beech Bums week in August.
⛵️ Encouragement to integrate into the wider sailing community at the club.
Who are the Bums?
⛵️ A fleet of young sailors, starting from 5 years old, progressing to late teens.
⛵️ Older youth sailors working towards becoming Assistant Instructors. An aspirational group for the younger sailors to work towards. The next generation of instructors at the club.
⛵️ Sailors who work together as a team, helping and supporting one another on and off the water.
What are our goals
⛵️ To have fun together!
⛵️ Make life long sailing friends.
⛵️ To learn, improve, enjoy all aspects of the sport of sailing.
How does it run?
⛵️ We meet twice a month on a Sunday at 1.30pm – sailors and parents must be changed accordingly for the conditions and rigged on time.
⛵️ Sailors are encouraged to use their own boats, however boats are available to hire from the club.
⛵️ Places are booked on Webcollect – for 2026, places will be released monthly.
⛵️ Whiteboards are displayed outside the training hut detailing the sailing groups and allocated instructors, along with roles for parents. Everyone should check the whiteboards - all parents are expected to help each session.
⛵️ The sailors are briefed before and after each session.
⛵️ Sailors should help each other – no getting changed/leaving until all others in their group are packed up.
⛵️ We cover a range of sailing skills, play games. Whilst we don’t strictly follow the RYA syllabus, we are mindful of which skills the sailors need to develop and are able to sign off RYA log books.
⛵️ The different groups and ratios are outlined below.
What we expect from our sailors and parents
⛵️ To arrive with a big smile and expecting to have loads of fun!
⛵️ To attend regularly and from the start of the season.
⛵️ Sailors and parents to be ready on time – and if possible, to help set-up beforehand and help pack up at the end of the session. If you miss the briefing you won’t be allowed to go afloat.
⛵️ Places are over-subscribed each session. Please add names to the wait list and we will do our utmost to get as many sailors as possible on the water.
⛵️ If you cannot make it and are booked on, you must message so the place can be assigned to another sailor. We know plans change unexpectedly but we look dimly on other sailors being kept ashore because of poor parent admin!!!
⛵️ Parents encouraged to do courses such as Dinghy Instructor, PB2, Safety Boat, First Aid to help support the ongoing progression of the group.
⛵️ Sailors actively encouraged to purchase their own boats after a good amount of time afloat.
Dates for 2026
⛵️ 15th and 22nd March
⛵️ 12th and 26th April
⛵️ 10th and 17th May
⛵️ 7th and 28th June
⛵️ 5th and 19th July
⛵️ 6th and 20th September
⛵️ 4th and 18th October
⛵️ 1st November
Sailing groups
Family fun
⛵️ Designed for children aged 5-7
⛵️ Supervised sailing in large boats
⛵️ Session aims are to gain confidence and learning-to-sail basics
⛵️ Limited to 4 places
Junior 1
⛵️ Aimed at 7/8 year olds upwards that can already sail to level two equivalent. I.e. can tack, gybe, sail round a sausage
⛵️ Limited to 8 places
Junior 2
⛵️ For those sailors who are confidently and consistently sailing around a triangle course
⛵️ Aiming for level 3 equivalent
⛵️ Limited to 8 places
Youth
⛵️ Further progression of sailing skills
⛵️ Introduction to racing and more advanced sailing skills (spinnakers/seamanship etc)
⛵️ Limited to 8 places