We are a welcoming group of model yacht, boat and ship enthusiasts.  The Woodspring Model Sailing Club (Woodspring MSC) was formed on 8th October 1974 to encourage the building and sailing of radio-controlled model watercraft.  We have just celebrated our 50th Anniversary and you can read more about the first 50 years of the club in the attached document.  There is also a full list of the members who have served the club's committee.

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Our home water is the Portishead boating lake, a large man-made lake dating from the early 20th century.  It is filled from a freshwater spring and from the high spring tides, giving a brackish water.

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Radio-controlled sailing models have many attractions.  Beginners can quickly learn how to sail them and the variations in the wind and natural conditions mean that there is always some challenge and interest in sailing them.  Sailors of full-sized yachts will find many similarities in sailing model yachts.  Our model yachts are silent and they can typically sail for many hours at a time because the batteries only operate the radio control, not a motor.  If you have not seen model yacht racing or scale model sailing before then do come along to the lake and perhaps talk with our members about it.  It is an extremely enjoyable and relaxing hobby and one that always attracts interest from the public.

 

The club’s calendar includes our yacht racing meeting series and some other events such as exhibitions.  Members also sail scale models including scale sail, electric and steam-powered models.  For scale models we usually enjoy ‘free sailing’ although if enough members are present then we can also set up a course with buoys to sail around.  Members are free to meet and sail at any time and many retired members also sail their scale models during the week.

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There is no need to be a club member to sail models at Portishead lake grounds, however there are many advantages to joining the Woodspring Model Sailing Club if you sail model boats.  We are a friendly club and it is always more fun to sail models with other enthusiasts.  If you are building a model then you will know how many questions arise along the way.  Discussing these questions with other modellers is often the quickest way to find the answer and it can reveal better ways to do things that you may not have thought about.  When you are sailing, the club offers useful facilities including buoys for laying out courses and rescue equipment including our club dinghy.  You can also exhibit your models with us at our exhibitions.  Members also benefit from the club’s third party insurance scheme*.  The club always welcomes new members, which helps keep the membership fees at very low levels.

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* The club’s insurance covers all of our modelling activities for third party liability including sailing and exhibitions.  Please note that owners of steam-powered models must ensure that they have a current boiler test certificate for their steam models.  The Woodspring Model Sailing Club does not provide boiler testing facilities.  The club does not support internal combustion (i.c.) powered models due to noise levels – the Portishead Lake Ground is a peaceful area shared with the public and with wildlife.
 

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