About the club The St Denys Sailing and Rowing Club was founded in 1889 when St Denys was a village standing in the fields alongside the tidal Itchen. The local worthies, especially the church, decided that the local young men would benefit from the exercise and teamwork that rowing could offer and a deal was done with Dyer's Boatyard for the use of boats and premises. Membership was initially restricted to the tything of Portswood and Bitterne.

The Club today owns a range of boats which would astonish the original membership. Boating has evolved from purely rowing to take in all aspects of getting afloat. The oldest boat dates back to 1907, while the newest are constructed in more high tech materials. Gorgeous clinker built rowing boats, which would grace Wind in the Willows, rub gunwales with modern, marine ply, sliding seat skiffs. As well as the rowing fleet, there are all sorts of canoes: singles, doubles, Canadian and sea kayaks. The sailing fleet starts with Toppers and includes a Laser, a Pico, Mirrors, Family 14, Wayfarer, a Drascombe Lugger and Dabber and a small sailing cruiser. Whatever kind of boat takes your fancy, we have it (Sunseekers exluded!) The fleet is housed in a boathouse just above Cobden Bridge on the River Itchen with instant access to the water via a slipway. Riverside Park is on the far bank. The atmosphere is totally informal and relaxed and complete beginners will find plenty of advice and assistance to get started.

Looking upstream from Cobden bridge at half tide. The Club slipway can be seen just beyond the houseboat.

The annual membership subscription allows use of all of the boats. Accompanied children under 15 can boat for free, making this an affordable and ideal activity for families. It provides year round fun and exercise and our rowing machines come complete with scenery and wildlife! Members are provided with a key and can use any of the boats as time and tide permit. There is plenty of opportunity either side of the two hour high tide when boating is possible. Boat Club members are made very welcome by the Social Club which leases the upstairs part of the club house. Sometimes it is just nice to sit and watch the goings on after a Summer evening on the water (also good for plane spotters as they come and go from Eastleigh !)

Looking downstream from Cobden bridge at half tide towards the railway bridge past Dyers Boatyard.

A lovely stretch of  river leads around a mile upstream to Woodmill for rowing or canoeing and there is plenty to explore downstream to the Itchen Bridge

The annual row for lunch at the "Mucky Duck" (White Swan at Mansbridge) is one of our most popular events

The top end of the river may not be as good for flat out sailing as Southampton Water but there is ample room for tacking and there are several events each year when we go further a field, such as up the Hamble or to Poole Harbour and Chichester Harbour

Once you are a member just turn up at short notice, contemplate the weather and then decide whether to go sailing, rowing or canoeing. Or all three!

How to find and contact us

Find out about the St Denys area