Thank you for visiting the website of the Etherow Country Park Sailing Club, the only sailing club in Stockport. Feel free to browse our site and see what we have to offer.
Etherow is a friendly club (when racing we experience good-natured rivalry!) and we welcome everyone: from those who may never have put their foot in a dinghy before, to Olympic team coach. Membership is inexpensive and we have some club boats that can be used, for a nominal charge, during the early stages. There are plenty of boats for sale within the club and elsewhere for very little money.
Winter Sailing
Our club sails all the year round (though we insist on wet or dry suits during the winter months. The only thing that stops us, as happened in the big freeze of 2010-11, is our lake being covered with thick ice.
The highlight of the festive season for many members is the Boxing Day race when a first crack can be had at working off the turkey and mince pies, though those suffering withdrawal symptoms from the latter can usual find something of like nature to sustain them.
By custom it is the job of our President to act as Race Officer on Boxing Day.
Mayor names new ECPSC safety boat
The culmination of a year of fundraising came over the May Day weekend 2011 when the Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Hazel Lees officially named the club's new safety boat as 'Hippo'. She poured a mini bottle of bubbly over the front of the boat before it was launched ready for action on a very breezy day.
The boat is a rigid inflatable type with sponsons that provide much better performance for assisting sailors when their boats get into difficulties. The previous craft had high hard sides and it was very difficult to get anyone out of the water and avoid overbalancing and dumping the rescuers in the water! It was very uncomforable to be dragged over the side. The outboard engine also struggled in high winds - the very time it was most needed - and it was difficult to pull any craft that had been inverted to safety.
The club is working to offer sailing opportunities for the over 50's and people with disabilities and the new boat will make an enormous difference to that endeavour.
