About Our Club

 

Our club is a small, friendly group of people from many walks of life all of whom share a love of messing about in and with boats.

It is unique in its mix of surroundings, programme and friendliness. Whilst we do have the occasional race, we mostly prefer to cruise together or just do our own thing.

The Club moorings at St Pierre Pill are set between the two Severn Estuary road crossings, very close to where some of the largest tidal currents in the world occur.

It is a very quiet haven where often all manner of bird life can be watched, particularly waders, shell duck and sparrow hawks.

It is often teeming with fish, particularly mullet which as the tide comes in, can be seen skimming the surface of the water to feed.

The boats are well protected from the worst of any weather and wave action, due to the moorings being out of the Estuary flow.

Some of us even swim in the Pill, usually intentionally.

The tide plays a vital part in what we do and when we do it.

 

We can sail up river to one of several pills, have time to cook an omelette, make a brew and still be back at our Pill in time to moor up and get ashore before we are trapped by the mud.

Equally we can usually guarantee to reach Cardiff on a tide and it's even easier to get back on another.

The tide has many advantages. Just outside the Pill we are protected from the main flow by the Charston sands, giving about two miles of protected water in which to get the feel of things, if necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

The Severn Estuary rightly has an awesome reputation, but in our situation it is almost benign.

The greatest danger to boats is being rolled over after going aground; it is all about planning.

With correct timing, and appropriate seamanship, we are able to emerge from the Pill so there is so much water that it is difficult to run aground anywhere.

The club has been here for over fifty years and we have not lost a boat yet.

 

 

 

 

 

Sailing is the main activity and sailing craft are predominant on the moorings. Currently we have no dinghy sailing but in the past it was our main thrust. Dinghies could sail in company with cruisers and could be kept on trots afloat.

 

Our facilities are limited. They include a hut by the Pill where club equipment is kept, having a kitchen with electricity, water, microwave, fridge table and chairs and flushing toilet.

The other 'price' is that we do have to walk to our boats at times other than at weekends in the summer when it is dry.

So, if you want to step from you car into your boat, we are NOT the club for you.

Boats are accessed via a dinghy which is kept locked to one of the jetties.

There is a slip for launch and retrieval next to a grid iron for cleaning off (or working on) below the waterline.

The near by Welsh Village of Mathern with its beautiful old church is just a short walk from the Pill.

 

The village doesnt boast much in the way of shopping but there is a Pub.

 

 

 

 

 

The Millers Arms serves good beer and good food.

Mathern is also where we hold our monthly club meetings.

These are held at the Mathern Athletic Club (MAC) on the first Wednesday of the month starting at 19.30 Hrs for club business and 20.00 Hrs for social events.

Please come and visit either at the Pill or MAC. Bring a friend if you wish even if they may not be considering joining.

You can also contact any of the committee for further details. We look forward to meeting you.

The annual fees for all this

 Download an application form here

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