Dorset offers some of the best dinghy sailing in southern England, with sheltered harbours, wide bays and several RYA-recognised sailing centres providing tuition and boat hire for all abilities. Whether you’re looking to try sailing for the first time, complete an RYA course or hire a dinghy for an afternoon on the water, Dorset has excellent facilities for both adults and children.

Poole Harbour is particularly popular with beginners thanks to its sheltered waters and numerous sailing schools, while Portland Harbour is internationally recognised as one of the UK’s premier sailing venues. More experienced sailors can also enjoy the open waters of Weymouth Bay when conditions are suitable.

Most sailing centres offer a range of RYA training courses together with dinghy hire for experienced sailors. Equipment such as buoyancy aids is usually included, while wetsuits may also be available depending on the operator.

Price information: Prices were checked on 26 July 2026 but may change. Confirm current prices, opening arrangements and availability directly with the operator before travelling.

Dinghy Sailing Lessons and Hire in Sandbanks and Studland

Poole Harbour is one of the UK’s leading locations for learning to sail. Its sheltered waters, relatively shallow depths and large sailing area provide ideal conditions for beginners, while more experienced sailors can also enjoy exploring the harbour and developing their skills. Several RYA-recognised sailing centres operate around Sandbanks and Studland, offering tuition, equipment hire and nationally recognised sailing courses.

The Watersports Academy

Address: 15 Banks Rd, Poole BH13 7PS (Google map)

Telephone: 01202 708283

Website: https://thewatersportsacademy.com/

Located on the waterfront at Sandbanks, The Watersports Academy offers dinghy hire together with professional tuition and RYA sailing courses for beginners and improvers. Laser Pico and Topaz Omega dinghies are available to hire, while lessons and courses are taught by qualified instructors on the sheltered waters of Poole Harbour.

Dinghy Sailing Lessons
2 hours £65pp
2 hours £85pp (Private one-to-one lesson)
includes tuition, hire of sailing boat, life jacket & wetsuit

Sailing Dinghy Hire
Pico £25 per hour (max 2 people per boat)
Double Hander £35 per hour (max 4 people per boat)
includes hire of sailing boat & life jacket
A safety boat is always on hand

RYA sailing courses.
Start Sailing Course
Stage 1 & 2 Beginner Course 2 days £199pp

Basic Skills Course
Stage 3 & 4 Improver Course 2 days £199pp

Studland Watersports

Address: Knoll Beach, Studland, BH19 3AX (Google map)

Telephone: 07980 559143

Website: http://studlandwatersports.co.uk

Studland Watersports operates from Knoll Beach on the Studland Peninsula and offers a wide range of watersports activities and equipment hire. As well as kayaks, paddleboards, windsurfers and pedalos, the centre hires sailing dinghies suitable for both beginners with experience and more confident sailors. A safety boat is available during hire sessions.

Sailing Dinghy Hire
RS Zest £25 / hr – suitable for singlehanded sailing
RS Vision £30 / hr – suitable 2-4 people
RS16 Catamaran £35 / hr – suitable 2-3 people

A safety boat is always on hand in case of capsize. A minimum RYA Level 2 or equivalent experience is necessary to hire out a dinghy and the main hirer must be over 16 yrs old.

Shell Bay Sailing Centre

Address: Studland Peninsula, BH19 3BA (Google map)

Telephone: 07853 986345

Website: www.shellbaysailing.co.uk

Shell Bay Sailing Centre is an RYA-recognised training centre located at the northern end of Studland Beach overlooking the sheltered waters of Poole Harbour. The centre offers dinghy hire together with adult and junior sailing courses, private tuition and nationally recognised RYA qualifications.

Dinghy Sailing Lessons
Adult 2 day course £240
Youth 5 half days £260
Private tuition 2 hour session (1 person) £110
Private tuition 2 hour session (2 persons) £180

Sailing Dinghy Hire
Topper / Topaz Uno / Pico: 1 hour £25, 3 hours £40
Topper Mango: 1 hour £35, 3 hours £75
Laser 2000 / Topper Argo: 1 hour £40, 3 hours £85

A minimum RYA Level 2 Basic Skills or equivalent experience is necessary to hire out a dinghy

Rockley Watersports

Address: Watersports centre at Poole Park BH15 2SF (activities take place on Poole Park boating lake Google map – ideal for the shorter taster sessions) and a large centre at Rockley Point BH15 4RW (Poole Harbour Google map). Their headquarters is at 13 Parkstone Road, Poole, BH15 2NN

Telephone: 01202 677272

Website: https://www.rockley.org

Rockley Watersports is one of the UK’s largest commercial sailing centres and offers a comprehensive programme of RYA sailing courses for children, adults, schools and groups. Activities take place both on the sheltered boating lake at Poole Park, which is ideal for introductory sessions, and on the open waters of Poole Harbour at Rockley Point for more advanced training. The centre also offers instructor qualifications, family sailing holidays and courses in a wide range of other watersports.

A full range of RYA sailing courses, instructor training and holiday programmes is available. Visit the Rockley Watersports website for current course dates and prices.

Dinghy Sailing in Weymouth and Portland

Portland Harbour is recognised as one of the UK’s finest sailing venues and was the sailing venue for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The large, sheltered harbour provides excellent sailing conditions for beginners and experienced sailors alike, while nearby Weymouth Bay offers more challenging open-water sailing when conditions are suitable.

Andrew Simpson Centre (ASC)

Address: Osprey Quay, Portland, DT5 1SA (Google map)

Website: https://www.andrewsimpsoncentres.org

Located within the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), the Andrew Simpson Centre is a leading sailing and watersports charity offering affordable access to sailing for children, adults and community groups. The centre provides RYA training courses, youth sailing clubs, adult sessions and opportunities for sailors of all abilities to enjoy one of the country’s premier sailing venues.

Regular youth sailing clubs are available from £15 per session, making the centre one of the most affordable places in Dorset for young people to learn to sail. Adult group sessions and the full range of RYA sailing courses are also available throughout the season.

The Andrew Simpson Centre is particularly well known for introducing newcomers to sailing while also providing clear progression routes through the RYA training scheme in a world-class sailing environment.

Understanding RYA Dinghy Sailing Courses

Many dinghy hire centres in Dorset require sailors to hold RYA Level 2 Basic Skills (or an equivalent qualification) before allowing them to hire a sailing dinghy without an instructor. This ensures that sailors can safely rig, launch and recover a boat, understand the basic rules of sailing and deal with common situations such as capsizing.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) National Sailing Scheme is the UK’s recognised training programme for learning to sail. Courses are taught by qualified instructors at RYA-recognised training centres throughout Dorset and provide a clear pathway from complete beginner to confident independent sailor.

Website: https://www.rya.org.uk/training/

RYA Level 1 – Start Sailing

Level 1 is designed for complete beginners with little or no previous sailing experience. During the course you will learn the fundamentals of sailing, including steering, controlling the sails, sailing on different points of sail, launching and recovering a dinghy, and basic safety procedures.

By the end of the course you should be able to sail a dinghy under close supervision in light winds.

RYA Level 2 – Basic Skills

Level 2 develops the knowledge and practical skills needed to sail independently in good conditions. The course covers rigging a dinghy, launching and recovery, tacking, gybing, man-overboard recovery and capsize recovery.

After successfully completing Level 2, most sailors have the experience required to hire a sailing dinghy from commercial sailing centres, although individual operators may have their own additional requirements.

RYA Level 3 – Better Sailing

Level 3 builds confidence and refines existing skills by introducing sailing in a wider range of conditions and helping sailors improve their boat handling techniques. Depending on the training centre, the course may also provide an introduction to seamanship, racing or more advanced manoeuvres.

Youth Sailing Scheme

Children and teenagers follow a separate RYA Youth Sailing Scheme, progressing through Stages 1 to 4 before moving on to more advanced courses. The programme is designed specifically for younger sailors using age-appropriate boats and teaching methods.

Advanced RYA Courses

After completing Level 2, sailors can continue their training through a range of specialist RYA courses covering topics such as racing, seamanship, performance sailing and sailing with spinnakers. These courses allow sailors to develop more advanced techniques and prepare for club racing or more challenging sailing conditions.

Best Places for Dinghy Sailing in Dorset

Poole Harbour

Poole Harbour is one of the UK’s finest locations for dinghy sailing and is particularly popular with beginners and families. As one of the largest natural harbours in the world, it offers extensive sheltered waters with relatively small waves, creating excellent conditions for learning to sail and developing confidence on the water.

Several RYA-recognised sailing centres operate around Sandbanks and Rockley, providing lessons, boat hire and nationally recognised training courses. The harbour also has numerous sailing clubs and hosts regular racing throughout the year, making it a popular destination for both recreational and competitive sailors.

Studland Bay

Studland Bay provides a quieter alternative to the busier sailing centres around Sandbanks. The sheltered waters between Studland and the entrance to Poole Harbour offer pleasant conditions for dinghy sailing, particularly during lighter winds and calmer weather.

Both Studland Watersports and Shell Bay Sailing Centre provide dinghy hire and sailing tuition, making the area an excellent choice for visitors looking for a more relaxed sailing experience surrounded by the natural scenery of the Isle of Purbeck.

Portland Harbour

Portland Harbour is recognised internationally as one of the UK’s premier sailing venues and hosted the sailing events during the London 2012 Olympic Games. The harbour’s large expanse of sheltered water provides excellent sailing conditions across a wide range of wind directions, attracting everyone from beginners to Olympic and international sailors.

The Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, together with the Andrew Simpson Centre, has helped establish Portland as one of Britain’s leading sailing destinations. The combination of professional coaching, world-class facilities and reliable sailing conditions makes it an outstanding location for learning, training and competitive sailing.

Weymouth Bay

For sailors looking to venture beyond the sheltered waters of Portland Harbour, neighbouring Weymouth Bay offers a more challenging open-water environment. Depending on the weather, the bay can provide stronger winds and larger waves, making it better suited to experienced sailors who are confident sailing in coastal conditions.

The combination of Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay gives sailors the opportunity to progress from sheltered inland-style sailing to more demanding open-water sailing within the same area.

Which Location Should You Choose?

Location	Best For
Poole Harbour	Beginners, families, RYA courses and sheltered sailing
Studland Bay	Dinghy hire, quieter sailing and scenic surroundings
Portland Harbour	RYA training, youth sailing, intermediate and advanced sailors
Weymouth Bay	Experienced sailors looking for open-water conditions

Before You Go Dinghy Sailing

Before heading out, always check the weather forecast, wind strength and tide times, particularly if you plan to sail outside the sheltered waters of Poole or Portland Harbours. Conditions can change quickly, and stronger winds may make sailing unsuitable for less experienced sailors.

Wear a properly fitted buoyancy aid at all times and dress appropriately for the weather and water temperature. If you’re hiring a dinghy or taking a lesson, listen carefully to the safety briefing and familiarise yourself with the boat and any local sailing rules before launching.

Take a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof pouch if possible, and let someone know where you are sailing and when you expect to return. Less experienced sailors should remain within designated sailing areas and avoid venturing into open water unless they have the appropriate skills and experience.

Be aware of other harbour users, including yachts, motorboats, ferries, paddleboarders, kayakers and windsurfers, and always give larger vessels plenty of room to manoeuvre. In busy areas such as Poole Harbour, keep clear of marked navigation channels and follow any local harbour regulations.

Many sailing centres operate seasonally, and lessons or boat hire may be affected by weather conditions. Opening times, equipment availability and prices are subject to change, so it’s always worth checking directly with the operator before travelling.

Information last updated: 26 July 2026

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