The S’Lowdown on: Rye Watersports

Rye Watersports is a family-oriented watersports centre just outside Rye on the road to Camber Sands.

If you want to learn a new skill on the water – these are your people! You can learn to sail, windsurf, stand up paddle board, wingfoil and kitesurf with them on their large inland lake. Open from March through until October each year it’s the perfect place for beginners to learn and for the more experienced to hone their skills and its location – just a stonesthrow from the coast – benefits from the sea breezes.

These folks certainly know their stuff, having been established since 1986 – they’ve more accreditations than you can shake a stick at (or maybe poke an oar at?) –  they are a Royal Yachting Association Centre, Dinghy Sailing & Windsurfing School,  BSUPA Stand Up Paddleboarding and BKSA Kitesurfing Centre.

Kids’ Activity Days, and windsurfing & dinghy sailing clubs are held throughout the Summer holidays for children aged 7 upwards. The centre has an Adventure Activities License which means they are authorised to teach children of all ages and are regularly inspected to uphold their high standards of care.  

But it isn’t just fun for kids! Adult sailing, kite surfing and windsurfing courses are available too, along with SUP lessons and wingfoil lessons.  We’re assured that wingfoil is the very latest thing – if you don’t know (we didn’t!) –  ‘winging’ uses an inflatable strut or boom to give you the power to move across the water. The hydrofoil under the board then lifts you onto the surface of the water, so you experience the sensation of literally flying! Unlike windsurfing, the wing isn’t attached to the board, as it is superlight, and is flown by your own hands!  Check it out on their website – it looks AMAZING!

Paddleboard, Windsurf, Dinghy and Canoe hire is available by the hour and day sailors with their own equipment are welcome too.

Offering 2 hour taster sessions through to full activity days and courses, it’s the perfect way try out a new skill.  At the end of your time on the water you can pop in to their on-site Hoolie café for a hot drink or perhaps spot of homemade lunch!

All course dates and hire are bookable online through their website

For up to date news, you can follow them on Instagram @ryewatersports and Facebook @Ryewatersports