Discover Sailing Day 2025

On the 25th May 2025 the club will be open for prospective members to try sailing. Our volunteers will meet you on arrival, and show you around the club. You will be provided with a buoyancy aid and taken for a sail (45 mins to 1 hour). Your visit will conclude with refreshments in the clubhouse. Please bring a change of clothing, towel and some old trainers or beach shoes. There is a charge of £15 per person. Should you choose to join the club the charge will be refunded.

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Welcome to Grassholme

We are County Durham’s only sailing and watersports club. Located at Grassholme Reservoir near Middleton in Teesdale, in the North Pennines National Landscape, we have 49 hectares of water which allows plenty of space for learning, racing, cruising and paddling. The Waterside Park provides a circular walk of 4 miles, and links to the Pennine Way and other footpaths.

Where are we

Club Boats

The club has a range of boats that are available for members use free of charge. From our largest boat the Bahia which can accommodate five people, through performance boats such as the Vago and Laser, to our fleets of Picos and Oppies. There is a boat to suit everyone at Teesdale.

Book a boat

Membership

We believe that we offer an excellent watersports experience at a very competitive price. Membership includes the use of club dinghies, stand up paddleboards and sit on kayaks. For those with their own boats a parking space is included. Paddlesports membership is available for those who don’t want to sail, or shore membership if you want to stay on the land. We do ask members to help with the running of the club as their skills allow.

Our Membership Fees

Learn To Sail

We are a Royal Yachting Association Recognised teaching centre. Our experienced instructors make use of a wide range of double and single hander club boats to provide courses to national standard in dinghy sailing at both junior and adult level.

More about our training courses

Book a training course

Junior & Youth Sailing

We actively support the development of junior sailing through Learn to Sail courses using boats supported by the Teesdale Area Action Partnership. As they progress youngsters are encouraged to take part in racing at Teesdale and other clubs. All the work we do with junior members is in line with our club safeguarding policy.

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Racing

For experienced sailors and those honing their skills we have a busy racing schedule. Throughout the season there are a number of handicap series and one off events. The Grassholme Cup is our principal competition held over two days, others include the Round the Lake for the fastest lap of the lake.

See our results page

Watersports

Paddlesports including canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding are growing in popularity and with a shore line of 5 km there is plenty to explore. Members may launch their own craft or use club stand up paddle boards and sit on kayaks free of charge.

Paddle boarding Rules & Guidelines

Non-members Enquire about Launching

Buddy Boating

Club members can use the water during daylight hours for buddy sailing, paddle-boarding or canoeing from May until the end of September. Follow our buddy boating guidance and book using the website so we can keep a track of water users. Wednesday evenings are when most members generally meet at the club for buddy boating.

Buddy Boating Rules & Guidelines

Book onto buddy water-sports