Westminster Windjammers & Pimlico Paddlers
Important: Kayaking, canoeing, sailing and powerboating are assumed risk sports. Whilst WBB makes every effort to ensure users' safety, these sports inherently carry more risk than playstation, watching TV, knitting, etc. Your safety is our paramount concern so if you wish to discuss this with us then please do.
The Royal Thames Yacht Club.
Thanks to the generosity of the RTYC, we are able to award sailing bursaries
to two young members of WBB to give them an amazing opportunity to go
to sea on sail training vessels for an offshore sailing adventure. The
Bursaries will be awarded at the end of the year to those who would benefit
from such an opportunity, have clearly demonstrated perseverance and dedication
in developing their sailing skills and shown a supportive attitude in
helping others.
Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards
Established in 1999, The Jack Petchey Foundation gives grants to programmes and projects that benefit young people aged 11-25.
WBB can pass on these achievement awards and regularly hold a ballot for a young person to receive an Achievement Award. The young people themselves are the voters. The winner is publicly congratulated for their achievement and receives:
• A framed certificate
• A Jack Petchey Young Achiever badge
• £200 to be spent on a school/club or community project of
the recipient’s choice.
The young person chooses how their award money is to be spent - this can be spent on additional activities or new equipment (but cannot be spent on core/running costs).
Watersports at Westminster Boating Base
The above programme begins on 2nd April 2012
Evening weekday Sailing ends 27th September and evening kayaking 31st October 2012
For print versions of the session schedule and youth and adult membership details, please click here
See our online calendar to keep up-to-date with current alterations to the scheduled programme
Get last minute changes to the programme and other updates via our Twitter, Facebook and Google+ newsfeeds
Get on the water:
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Prices
Annual
Youth Membership |
We charge £10 for annual* membership, more is always welcome and please be generous if you can. Donations can be given at any time throughout the year. *Clothing regulations apply from November to March. |
| Adult
Courses: |
Priced individually as listed on the Sailing page, kayaking page and powerboating page |
| Adult (24 years +) per session rate: | £12.00 |
| Book of
5 Adult session vouchers |
£50 |
| Adult (24 years +) season tickets: | Summer season ticket (April-Oct inc.) £130 Students! A 25% discount applies to the cost of a season ticket upon proof of fulltime education. *Clothing regulations apply from November to March. |
| Groups: | If you are a group wanting a one-off session we can organise this for you based upon a minimum 2 hour session. The charges are as follows: Kayaking/Canoeing: Extended sessions are charged at a further £80 per hour. Please contact us. Sailing: A higher instructor to pupil ration means the costs for sailing are a little higher. Please contact us for further info |
| Schools: | WBB can run a series of sessions in either kayaking or sailing for school groups during term-times, either as part of their PE or after-school. These can be certificated and or be suitable for GCSE PE. Contact us for more info |
Please note that we cannot accept credit or debit cards!
Security
The changing rooms are locked during session times but should you wish to secure your valuables, a number of lockers are available for your personal effects. You will need to supply your own padlock to secure the locker. We recommend a combination padlock as there is no key to lose whilst you are on the water. Combination padlocks are available to buy in-house for £4.00
Equipment and Clothing
WBB will provide your boat and personal buoyancy but you will need to bring all your personal clothing including shoes to wear on the water. A windproof is always a good idea as even on a warm day, it is easy to get cold from windchill.
Winter Clothing Regulations
Clothing regulations apply through the winter from 1st November through to 31st March.
SAILING: A winter-weight wetsuit (5mm thickness on the body) or a drysuit plus other appropriate clothing including soft-soled shoes.
KAYAKING:2 options
- A summer-weight wetsuit (3mm thickness on the body; full leg coverage but not necessarily arms) plus a cagoule and other appropriate clothing including soft-soled shoes.
- A drysuit plus other appropriate clothing including soft-soled shoes.
Rental: WBB has a limited number of wetsuits and cagoules suitable for kayaking which are available to hire for £1 per session.
Should you wish to purchase specialist clothing, WBB keeps a stock of Typhoon, Yak & Crewsaver, second-hand and new wetsuits, drysuits, boots, gloves, cagoules and spraydecks.
Ask in-house for details.
Our Staff
All of our staff hold either British Canoe Union or Royal Yachting Association (or both) qualifications. These are the national governing bodies of the sports of canoeing, kayaking and dinghy sailing in the UK. In addition to this, the core staff have over 50 years of experience between them so you are in safe and experienced hands. WBB prides itself on its safety record which is unscathed in over 30 years of operating on the tidal Thames.
All of our staff and volunteers are Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checked.
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Vacancies
Westminster Boating Base is a charity teaching young people and adults to sail and kayak on the tidal section of the River Thames in the centre of London.
Part-time Kayaking, Canoeing & Dinghy
Sailing Instructors
NGB qualified, enthusiastic and dynamic Instructors are required for the
forthcoming season starting in April and finishing at the end of October.
Instructors with BCU and RYA qualifications are needed.
Further training will be available to successful candidates to gain other NGB qualifications including RYA Safety Boat Certificate.
Please apply by sending your CV by email to: alan@westminsterboatingbase.co.uk or by post to: Alan Price, Director, Westminster Boating Base, 136 Grosvenor Road, London, SW1V 3JY.
Powerboat Instructor
If you are a qualified Powerboat Instructor and are interested in working
with us on a part-time basis, please send your details and/or CV to the
above address.
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