Sailing club - Learn to sail Mixed Ages!

Follow in the steps of Olympic medallist Hannah Mills and learn to sail on Llanishen Reservoir!

We’re looking to establish a Welsh Water Lisvane & Llanishen Sailing Club to facilitate rental access to our sailing fleet and we have developed an eight-week course to get you up to speed. Within the 8 weeks we aim to get you self sufficient with launching, sailing and recovering our sailing boats.

If you don't quite manage to get to grips with it in 8 weeks there may be the requirement of additional sessions to cover the gap in learning or re attending the 8 weeks course.

The course will take you from complete novice to self-sufficient in our single-handed sailing fleet (RS Zests and Hansa accessibility boats).

Under the watchful eyes of our qualified instructors, you will learn how to rig, sail and recover your own boat. By the end, you should be competent enough to get exclusive access to rent out one of our dinghy fleet for your own use anytime during our public hire sessions, morning, afternoon or evening!

Join us at Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs and discover how to harness the wind and captain your own boat!

Included in the price is wetsuit hire, a helmet (for under 18s), buoyancy aid, use of a single handed sailing dinghy and the instruction of our qualified instructors. All you need to bring is swimwear for under your wetsuit, a towel and shoes that you don't mind getting wet. We also recommend a simple anorak style waterproof coat to keep the wind off.

Water levels change so sometimes water sports and swimming might be limited. In rare cases, we might need to cancel them entirely for safety reasons.

Minimum ages

Suitable for anyone aged 8+ the 'Sailing club - Learn to sail induction' is a mixed age class, perfect for solo sailors, Adventurous families or thrill seeking young people!

Please note: There will be ongoing and final assessment made at the end of the 8 weeks regarding each individuals ability to sail independently.

It may be the case that an individual will require top up or extra tuition before they are allowed to rent the sailing craft independently. There may also be craft restrictions put in place i.e allowed to access the Hansa fleet first and require additional training before accessing the Zest fleet.

** SWIMMERS ITCH WARNING**

Update 18/11/24:

A small number of swimmers have reported mild symptoms akin to swimmer’s itch. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide regular updates.

Swimmer’s itch (also known as ‘cercarial dermatitis’)

What is swimmer’s itch?

Swimmer’s itch is an itchy skin rash. It is caused by an allergic reaction to a type of tiny flatworm that is found naturally in open water.

The tiny flatworms that cause swimmer’s itch live all over the world, in natural outdoor or ‘open’ waters, such as lakes, ponds and the sea. They are so small that we cannot see them, so it is not possible to know when they are there.

These flatworms do not infect people but they can cause itching if they come into contact with a person’s skin. The ‘itching’ cannot spread from one person to another, it needs direct contact with the worms.

Anyone who is in contact with the flatworms can get swimmer’s itch – this could be when swimming, dipping, wading or paddling in outdoor waters.

What should I do if I get swimmer’s itch?

People with swimmer’s itch are unlikely to need medical help, as it usually gets better by itself, and there is no test that needs to be done for it. But it is important that you don’t scratch the rash, to stop it getting infected with germs. Speak to your pharmacist if you need help with the itching.

It is also important to remember that itching skin and rashes can be caused by lots of other things. So, if you are unsure if you have swimmer’s itch, if your symptoms are getting worse or if you feel unwell after being in outdoor waters, see your GP or pharmacist for advice.

How do I know if I have swimmer’s itch?

Swimmer's itch usually happens within hours (1 to 48 hours) of being in the water. At first, it may cause a tingling, itching or burning feeling of the skin. Small reddish spots may appear, sometimes turning into larger rashes and blisters, with intense itching.

It usually only affects skin which directly touches the water. Skin that is covered by tight swimwear is usually fine.

Swimmer’s itch usually gets better without treatment and goes away by itself in 1-3 weeks.

As swimmer’s itch is an allergic reaction, people in the same water can have different reactions. But the more often someone has contact with the flatworms, the more serious (immediate and intense) their reaction may be.

How do I know when swimmer’s itch is a problem in water?

Swimmer’s itch is not a sign of pollution or ‘dirty’ water. But we are still learning more about why swimmer’s itch is a problem in some waters and not in others, and how this can change over time.

We think that swimmer’s itch is more likely to be a problem when water is warmer, in the Summer, in water where lots of water birds live or visit (e.g. ducks, geese and swans) and in shallower water with lots of plants. It may also be more of a problem in the early morning.

Children seem to be more likely to develop swimmer’s itch than adults, probably because they spend more time in shallow waters and may not dry themselves as well as adults do.

How can I reduce my chance of getting swimmer’s itch?

It’s difficult to know when and where swimmer’s itch will be a problem before you go into the water. Even if it has been reported as a problem somewhere, it may not always be a problem there in the future. But if you want to reduce your chance of getting swimmer’s itch:

• Avoid swimming or wading in warmer, shallow waters with lots of plants.

• Avoid swimming or wading where lots of water birds live or visit.

• Think about covering your skin e.g. wearing a full-length wetsuit, swim cap, wet suit gloves and booties. Remember your face will still be bare.

• Towel rub your skin dry straight after leaving the water.

• Where possible, shower straight after leaving the water.

It is also a good idea to rinse your wetsuit in clean fresh water after use.

You can find out more about safe swimming in outdoor waters here: https://phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/environmental-public-health/staying-safe-in-outdoor-waters-in-wales/

This advice is based on information from:

DermNet (2021): ‘Swimmer’s itch’. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/swimmers-itch

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020): ‘Swimmer’s itch FAQs’. https://www.cdc.gov/swimmers-itch/about/

World Health Organization (2021): ‘Guidelines on recreational water quality Volume 1 Coastal and Fresh Waters’. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/342625/9789240031302-eng.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1

·Swimwear to wear under a wetsuit

·Shoes you are happy to get wet (old trainers or water shoes) – footwear must be worn when entering or exiting the water

·Suncream

·Hat – either a warm hat or sunhat depending on the weather

·Towel

·Change of clothes

·Long sleeved top and closed toe shoes for archery

·Snacks & a water bottle if wanted.

A wetsuit, buoyancy aid and helmet (where appropriate) will be provided, however you are welcome to bring your own wetsuit if you wish.

1.Make sure you arrive in good time and have signed all relevant disclaimers and medical declarations in advance

2.Check in at the Activity Centre reception

3.Changing rooms and lockers are available

4.Meet your instructor