Burwain Sailing Club was founded in 1951 for dinghy sailors and this continues to be our main activity. Our sailing sessions take place on Saturdays between March and November and on Wednesday evenings between April and August. During these sessions there is a programme of races but these are also the best times to simply come sailing. Most of our training activity also takes place at these times.

The most popular dinghys sailed at the club are GP14s, Solos, Streakers, Lasers and Toppers. All are well suited to dinghy racing on Lake Burwain and new members are therefore encouraged to choose one of these classes when they are ready to buy a boat. Many other classes are also sailed from time to time including K1s, Supernovas, Phantoms, Larks, Visions, Mirrors, Enterprises and Merlin Rockets. Our races are all run on the RYA’s Portsmouth Yardstick handicap system to ensure fair racing between different classes.

Racing is by far the best way to develop and improve your sailing skills. Learning from others, whether that’s setting up the boat, rounding buoys, dealing with wind shifts and different wind strengths, or employing the race rules to best advantage can all increase your knowledge and competitiveness rapidly. Whilst an ambition to win a race one day is a good long-term goal, your short-term targets can include getting to the start line, starting a race, getting to the first mark and then completing the course. Many of us are new to sailing and several members try racing for the first time each year, so if you are new to racing you may find that after only one or two races you are no longer at the back!

The RC (remote control) Laser sailing dinghy is a one quarter scale radio controlled single-sailed boat which operates just like a conventional dinghy in that it is powered only by the wind, apart from the sail setting and the rudder which are remotely controlled by the sailor from the club house jetty. With each boat there is a choice of sails from large to small so that they can be sailed in light to strong wind conditions.

One of the attractions of sailing radio-controlled model yachts is that the skippers, regardless of physical ability, can experience the challenge and skill required to sail a course without actually being in the boat. This therefore makes the sport available to all abilities and avoids the risk of getting wet. You will be side by side with your fellow competitors which makes this a very sociable sport, besides which the club house is close at hand for a brew between races.

The RC Laser sailing takes place every Sunday between 11am and 3pm with a break for lunch. The best way to find out more is to come along and chat to the sailors in breaks between one of our short 10 minute races.

We are delighted now to be able to welcome paddleboarders to Burwain Sailing Club under the lease for water sports which the Sailing Club has with the lake’s owners, the Canal and River Trust. Paddleboard members are permitted to use the lake with the added benefit of having access to the club’s amenities including toilets and changing rooms, brew making facilities and somewhere for any non-paddleboard members of your party to keep warm and dry. Paddleboarders are particularly welcome to come along while sailing activities are taking place on Saturday afternoons and Wednesday evenings, as this is a great way to meet other club members and you may well get a chance to have a go at sailing. Paddleboard members have access to the lake and club facilities at any time.

The only open water swimming permitted on Lake Burwain is organised by Pendle Triathonon Club. The Tri club are group members of Burwain Sailing Club and through this membership, and with the agreement of the Canal and River Trust, open water swimming may now take place in accordance with strict safety measures. The Tri club organise open water swimming sessions on Thursday evenings each Spring and Summer.

All enquiries should be made direct to the Tri Club at www.pendletriclub.co.uk , E-mail: pendletriclub@gmail.com or Instagram: @pendletriclub or by telephone: 07970427520.