Helensburgh residents are being encouraged to try sailing for the first time at an event this weekend.

The Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club is gearing up for the start of the new sailing season by opening its doors this Sunday, and wants members of the public to come along.

Families and individuals that are completely new to sailing, or individuals who are looking to get back out on the water, are invited to attend the open day, which takes place at the club’s premises in Rhu on Sunday, April 28.

Sunday’s open day is part of a nationwide campaign led by the RYA which will see clubs across the country get people out on the water for the first time.

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On Sunday there will be opportunities to go out on the water, visit the clubhouse, meet members and find out about activities on offer.

The club will also be offering substantial discounts on annual memberships for people who join on the day.

In addition to the open day this Sunday, the RNCYC is also offering free sailing activities every Friday evening in May.

This is intended to give people more time on the water, getting a feel for the type of sailing they might want to do, and experts will be on hand to offer some coaching.

The RNCYC hosted a world championship event for the sport’s top blind and visually-impaired racers last September, and is gearing up to host a number of top-class events including the Scottish qualifier of the British Keelboat League in 2019.

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Carolyn Normand from RNCYC said: “There’s a place for everyone at the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club.

“We wanted to hold our open day right at the start of the sailing season to allow people to come to visit us to see what our club has to offer.

“We typically get between 40 and 60 people coming along to our open days so we’re keen to build on this number and introduce even more people to sailing.

“This year we’re also holding a series of ‘fun Fridays’ every Friday in May to offer people different on-the-water experiences.

“Each week will have a slightly different theme but the emphasis for all of them will be on having fun and we’re hoping that families will take part.

“We’ve already had lots of interest from young people wanting to get involved in our cadet training programme which is now full, but there are lots of other opportunities for young people to learn to sail with us.

“We have a full calendar of events on and off the water this year so it really is a great time to come down and get involved.”

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The RNCYC open day will run from 10am until 4.30pm on Sunday, April 28 and will also include a boat jumble sale, teas, coffees and cakes, and bar lunches.

If you’re interested in going out on the water, please wear warm, waterproof clothing and suitable footwear.

To find out more information, visit rncyc.com/ptbo.