Welwyn Garden City Sailing Club Christmas Celebrations

Welwyn Garden City Sailing club has had it’s home at Stanborough Park for many years, working in partnership with Better to support both their weekend competitive racing sessions and their weekday leisure sessions.

Traditionally the club enjoy their “Christmas Pudding” regatta every December as a festive close to their sailing year; sadly in December 2022 the weather had other ideas.

Thanks to the efforts of Commodore Charles Adams, and his Chief Elf, Marjorie, the "Knot The Christmas Pud Regatta" was born; a Welly Celebration on shore in place of the regatta.

The group gathered for their planned frosty walk, decked out in wellies and Christmas hats ...unfortunately the weather was so bleak that the walk had to be abandoned. However all was not lost as the staff at Stanborough were happy to provide the group with a warm room to meet up in for hot punch, panettone and mince pies. We look forward to welcoming them back to the water in 2023.

In addition to the sailing club main weekend sessions, Stanborough has also offered long term support to the Silver Tops group within the club. The Silver Tops sessions have been in existence for over 20 years and was originally for those who started to sail when they were over 50 but is now open to anyone; once they have achieved RYA level 2; who is able to attend on a Tuesday or Friday morning for more leisurely sailing. The benefits of sailing include not only a physical work out such as maintaining muscle strength, but also improves concentration, reduces stress and promotes mental wellness.

The Silver Tops take a break from sailing through the winter months but continue to enjoy a social gathering at Stanborough twice a week, which Better are happy to facilitate as part of our continuing philosophy of promoting good physical and mental health for all our customers. 

The Silver Tops Sailing Club celebrated Christmas at Stanborough Park, in our warm meeting room, with their annual festive social session. Entertainment included live music provided by “Two Shades of Grey” David S and Fred who played the ukulele, with fantastic balloon art provided by David S. In addition the group played table tennis, two of their favourite dice games and had a healthy walk around the lakes.

A quote from David S “a member of the Club””

Since starting sailing in 2000 at the age of 56 I have joined a very friendly group that meets to sail on the lake in the summer. Some of our members have retired from sailing , or are less mobile, so Stanborough’s winter support has enabled all of us to continue to enjoy the Silver Tops camaraderie, year round.

Stanborough Park is proud to have the Silver Tops as part of the centre programme and to continue to support their summer sailing sessions and winter programme of social sessions through 2023 and beyond.