North London Sailing Association

NLSA is fortunate to own a residential sailing base in the small Essex town of Brightlingsea which is situated on the Colne estuary between Colchester and Clacton. With a long maritime tradition of fishing and boatbuilding, Brightlingsea is now a centre for leisure boating, providing a huge expanse of sheltered estuarine and coastal waters ideal for dinghy day cruising and racing at all states of the tide.

Groups of up to 18 members can be accommodated at the Old Custom House. Accommodation is in simple but comfortable dormitories or two-person cabins, and is centrally heated with showers and drying facilities. Weekends are run on a group self-catering basis, with everyone contributing to the domestic activities.

Brightlingsea RYA Course Charges 2009 v1.pdf

NLSA Dinghy Cruising Weekends

NLSA runs several sailing weekends a year for members, usually sailing Wayfarers, although other boats are used occasionally. Wayfarers are excellent sea boats with good stability but capable also of lively sailing performance. All sailing is supervised by a Senior Instructor and full safety cover is provided. Sailing is usually day cruising to one of the many destinations on the Colne or Blackwater estuaries, although special activity weekends - for example tidal racing practice, or navigation, or weekends especially for families - are also run. An additional charge is payable for Brightlingsea weekends to cover catering and fuel costs.

Booking Form for NLSA Member's Dinghy Cruising Weekends

Travel Directions and kit List

For details of activities at Brightlingsea, Contact  the Lettings Coordinator, Christine Williams.
The base and boats are also available to external sailing groups when not in use by NLSA. Contact Christine Williams for details.

For a map of Brightlingsea and the location of the Coastal Base at The Old Custom House, 126 Sydney St, Brightlingsea CO7 0BD Map location - Click here 

History of the Old Customs House