Delph Sailing Club, Bolton
We are a family-friendly sailing club set between Egerton and Belmont on the outskirts of Bolton. Easy access from the surrounding towns of Chorley, Preston, Blackburn, Manchester and beyond.
Whether you are a complete novice or someone returning to sailing after a break, we can help give you the confidence to get out on the water and start enjoying sailing, as a social or competitive pursuit.
Recent News & Updates from Delph Sailing Club
Great work at Delph today, Andrew Hindle relaying paving flags, Poppy getting on with her artwork, and the rest of us making great progress with refurb. Galley is almost finished just needs a deep...
Sneak peek of what will be above the bar. Well done to the talented Artist. 🧑🎨 👌👌👍
Happy New Year It’s all happening at Delph SC! We’re not closed, just not sailing! I'm there most Sunday afternoons (and sometimes Sunday mornings)! Call in and have a brew and a chat See what...
What an excellent turnout for the Plum Duff. A great event in challenging conditions. Thanks to the race officer and his team and well done to Andy Flitcroft from Bolton SC who won in his Supernova....
Happy 70th Gary. Thank you Gary for all the time, effort and energy you give to the club.
Cracking bit of delph from the sky
We always welcome more members so if you fancy having a go or have a family member, a friend, a neighbour, a work colleague or know anyone who fancies coming down for a sail, why not get them to...
Thanks for a lovely end to the season with the Christmas Party. Thanks to all those who organised this and helped out.
Just a reminder for everyone. After the success of the last theory session we ran on a Friday evening Andy and Graham are going to lead another one on Friday 12th Dec at 7.30pm (5 minute gun at the...
Well done to our group members WAVE. We are currently working with them to secure their membership for the future and expand our paddle based activities at Delph. Bolton-based WAVE Adventures has...
Fireball calendar for 2026 Click image to open in new window. https://www.facebook.com/share/1BbY8T8zsL/
A link for the Fireball YouTube channel, from events to training and a bit of a laugh https://youtube.com/@fireballsailing?si=NOkVnFbxthBiNV6W
Annual Prize giving Dinner and a bit of a party. Here is the invite to the Clubs annual Prize Giving dinner on Saturday 29th November at Dunscar Golf Club. It’s the one event of the year where we...
ILCA Northern Circuit Dates 2026 16 events on calendar for 2026, starting at Delph Sailing Club Bolton in April, and running across a range of clubs in the North. The circuit qualification for 2026...
Rules and a pint (or two) 14th November from 7.30pm (5 minute gun and room at the bar at 7.25pm), Andy Taylor and Graham Clow are leading a session on rules and protests. They will be starting with...
A fantastic post about the achievement of Lilly a delph sailing youth, who was able to compete due to the donation and support of the John Merricks Sailing Trust...
Afternoon All. If there is interest, I would like to run a theory session at the club this coming Friday 24th (7.30pm) for those who have recently done their practical for L1 but need to finish...
Hi All, This Sunday 26th Oct is not only the end of British Summer Time it is the start of the Delph Frostbite Series. Two races starting at 13,00 hrs GMT. For many years we have tried to provide...
Afternoon Folks, Saturday 11th October 2025 is our next Delph Sailing Club Social. Our RNLI Fun Night & Fundraiser for all the family. Followed by the RNLI stall and raffle on Sunday 12th....
Frostbite series 2025 Entries are now open for the Frostbite series of racing. This year we plan to have the race teams covered by the sailors, so we are asking everybody who is planning on sailing...
Sept RYA training We have just completed our September RYA Saturday training. The last few Saturday’s have seen a group of new members getting stuck into L1 and some other members developing their...
Hi All, Our Powerboat instructor team are going to offer two courses in Nov/Dec 2025 for Delph Members. Details below. If you would like to book a place on either course let me know. There are...
It was a week of sailing on the stunning Lake Garda—but more than that, it was 4 Fireballs, 7 families and more from Delph diving into an unforgettable holiday packed with fun, legendary pizza,...
Laser / ILCA Grand Prix - Northern Series Delph SC – Saturday April 5th 2025 The Organizing Authority is Delph DSC in conjunction with the UK Laser Association NOTICE OF RACE 1.0...
Why not come down for a tour and sail at Bolton's Friendliest Club on Saturday, 20th April 2024 Date and time: Sat, 20 Apr 2024 10:00 - 16:00 BST Location: Delph Sailing Club in Bolton Longworth...
DELPH SAILING CLUB CLOSED EVENTS SAILING INSTRUCTIONS 2021-24 (March 2024) Instructions that apply to all closed events racing 1 RULES 1.1 The series will be governed by the rules as defined in The...
Sailingfast ILCA Northern Grand Prix Open Meeting Delph SC – Saturday 13th April 2024 The Organizing Authority is Delph DSC NOTICE OF RACE 1.0 RULES 1.1 Racing will be governed by...
DELPH SAILING CLUB Open Meeting 2023 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS 1 RULES Competitors should note that Delph Sailing Club implements the RYA Racing Charter and that they will be required to sail in...
Single Hander Open Meeting Delph SC – Saturday September 16th 2023 The Organizing Authority is Delph DSC NOTICE OF RACE 1.0 RULES 1.1 Racing will be governed by the rules as defined...
Personal Handicap values based on 2023 racing so far - includes Frostbite, Early Points and Wednesday Evening A. Negative value means that the boat has been sailed faster than the relative boat...
2023 Delph Miracle Open Notice of Race
Personal Handicap Values based on 2022 Race Results Personal Handicap values will be updated at the end of each series of races, with older races being replaced by more recent race results. Personal...
Delph SC Sailing Instructions for Closed Club Events 2021-24 DELPH SAILING CLUB CLOSED EVENTS SAILING INSTRUCTIONS 2021-24 (December 2022) Instructions that apply to all closed events racing 1...
Laser / ILCA Grand Prix - Northern Series Delph SC – Saturday April 15th 2023 The Organizing Authority is Delph DSC in conjunction with the UK Laser Association NOTICE OF RACE 1.0...
Notice of Race and Events for the 2023 season at Delph SC Please see the club calendar or website calendar for specific dates and race start times. Full details of the scoring systems for specific...
2023 Season PY Handicap Events https://delphsailingclub.com/frostbite-2022/ Fleet Racing Windward / Leeward Personal Handicap Events Sprint Events Double Hander /...
Plum Duff 2022 Delph SC Results are final as of 17:22 on December 28, 2022 Overall Sailed: 2, Discards: 0, To count: 2, Entries: 7, Scoring system: Appendix A Rank...
Frostbite 2022 Delph SC Results are final as of 13:38 on December 18, 2022 Overall Sailed: 12, Discards: 6, To count: 6, Entries: 36, Scoring system: Appendix A...
RNLI Results are final as of 6:56 on October 17, 2022 Overall Sailed: 3, Discards: 1, To count: 2, Rating system: PY, Entries: 19, Scoring system: Appendix A Rank...
Autumn Points Results are final as of 18:09 on October 9, 2022 Results are based on the Sailing Instructions which do not exclude the changing of rigs. Results...
Ladies (sailed as Helm or Crew) Results are provisional as of 7:13 on October 7, 2022 Overall Sailed: 74, Discards: 0, To count: 74, Rating system: PY, Entries:...
2022 Season PY Handicap Events https://delphsailingclub.com/frostbite-2021-2022/ https://delphsailingclub.com/shakedown-pursuit-2022/...
Solo Class Presentation Results are provisional as of 8:12 on October 3, 2022 Overall Sailed: 58, Discards: 2, To count: 56, Entries: 9, Scoring system: Appendix A...
Topper Class Presentation Results are provisional as of 8:10 on October 3, 2022 Overall Sailed: 54, Discards: 0, To count: 54, Entries: 10, Scoring system:...
Laser / ILCA Class Presentation Results are provisional as of 8:09 on October 3, 2022 Overall Sailed: 75, Discards: 0, To count: 75, Rating system: PY, Entries:...
Miracle Class (Helm and Crew combination) Results are provisional as of 8:07 on October 3, 2022 Overall Sailed: 49, Discards: 0, To count: 49, Entries: 27, Scoring...
Fireball Class (Helm and Crew Combination) Results are provisional as of 8:05 on October 3, 2022 Overall Sailed: 52, Discards: 2, To count: 50, Entries: 21,...
Personal Handicap Overall Results are provisional as of 7:57 on October 3, 2022 Overall Sailed: 6, Discards: 1, To count: 5, Entries: 29, Scoring system: Appendix...
Personal Handicap (Early Points) Results are final as of 7:53 on October 3, 2022 Overall Sailed: 3, Discards: 1, To count: 2, Entries: 21, Scoring system: Appendix...
Competitive Sailing
With a competitive racing series running twice weekly from Easter to New Year’s day and social sailing on Friday evenings, we have something to offer all levels of sailors.
Competitive Remote Control Laser Sailing
With a competitive racing series running Wednesday and Friday mornings.
RYA Sailing Training
If you are looking for formal qualifications, we run RYA training on many Saturdays throughout the season and most courses are included as part of your membership fees.
Our clubhouse enjoys stunning Vistas over the rolling countryside towards Manchester. With Bank Top beer in the Bar and Carrs Pasties in the Galley it is a great place to relax after a good days’ sailing.
Sailing Fun for All the Family
Our regular sailors range in age from 5 to 80+. Often with many generations of the same family racing with each other, so sailing really is the hobby that the entire family can enjoy together.
The club also hosts numerous social events for families and friends, throughout the year, and of course a Christmas party for the cadets.
Pop down to our Sailing Club and have a chat
If you would like to see what we are all about, please pop on down, any time we are sailing, and speak to the members about how you can join our fantastic club. The bar opens once the last boat is off the water!
Alternatively, drop us an email and we will see what we can do to help give you a taste of sailing at Delph.
Contact us for more information on Taste of Sailing!
We look forward to meeting you soon.
Interested in Sailing? Why not give us a try?
The History of Delph Sailing Club
Delph reservoir was completed in 1924, to provide a 78-acre source of water for domestic/industrial use and to supply extra, cleaner water to improve the River Irwell via Delph Brook.
The Sailing Club in Bolton was founded in 1962 when permission to sail on the water was granted.
The Club started modestly with two preferred dinghy classes – Fireballs and Enterprises. We used a wooden garage as the Clubhouse. This building still exists as storage, now known as the Bosun’s Hut. There was no electricity, and lighting was by bottled gas! A garden shed on stilts served as the race starting box.
Membership grew, and to the original fleets was added a Handicap fleet.
Then grew a Scorpion Fleet, Mirror Fleet, a Laser Fleet, and more recently the Solos separated from the Handicap Fleet to have fleet status of their own.
The Miracle Fleet evolved in a similar way, also RS200s. The Fast and Slow Handicap Fleets accommodate craft which has insufficient numbers for fleet status.
Current Fleet status now belongs to Lasers (ILCA 6/Radials), Solos, Miracles, Fusion and Fireflies. The Fast Handicap has Phantoms, RS400s, Scorpions, Fireballs, Supernova’s etc. And the Slow Handicap, Graduates, Streakers, Byte C2s, Toppers, etc.
If you’re a new member and don’t yet have a dinghy it’s a good idea to think about buying within one of the recognised fleets. That way there is specific help and advice always available.