Watersports
Get on the water at our 1km dock at Surrey Docks Fitness and Watersports Centre. Take in the stunning location with a skyline backdrop of the city. We offer a wide range of watersports here including sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, rowing and power boating as well as RYA and BCU-accredited courses and activities
![watersports-paddlesports](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/watersports-paddlesports.png)
Recreational watersport sessions
Take on the dock and have fun with our open water sessions including paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing. All equipment provided.
![southwark-inserts-adult-begi9nner-sailing](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/southwark-inserts-adult-begi9nner-sailing.png)
Adult beginner sailing courses
Learn all the basics in our beginner level sailing courses following the RYA pathway. No experience necessary
![southwark-inserts-adult-advanced-sailing](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/southwark-inserts-adult-advanced-sailing.png)
Adult advanced sailing courses
Take your sailing to the next level with our advanced level courses. Learn seamanship skills and sailing with spinnakers.
![watersports-junior-sailing](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/watersports-junior-sailing.png)
Junior sailing courses
Adventure onto the water and learn how to set sail under supervision. If you’re looking to get into sailing then this is the perfect way to start.
![watersports-open-water](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/watersports-open-water.png)
Open water swimming
Open water swimming has arrived! Join our 300m swimming loop sessions on Tuesday and Fridays.
Recreational Watersport sessions
Have fun on the Dock where you can paddleboard, kayak, canoe, windsurf and sail. All equipment is provided including the craft and buoyance aid, so all you need, is to be is ready for adventure! Personal crafts are not permitted on the Dock.
Wetsuits are not provided.
Cost: £31.50 (non members). Alternatively you can sign up to a watersports membership for £190 per year which includes unlimited sessions.
Session times
Saturday and Sunday all year round:
10am – 12:30pm
1:30pm – 4pm
Wednesday from mid-April to mid-September
5pm – 8pm
Bookings are for the entire session time. Spaces are limited so we recommend that you book sessions in advance to avoid disappointment. Members can do this up to a week in advance through the website or via the Southwark Leisure app.
Sailing courses
We teach a range of adult and junior sailing courses for beginners through to advanced following the RYA pathway.
![southwark-inserts-adult-begi9nner-sailing](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/southwark-inserts-adult-begi9nner-sailing.png)
Adult level 1 start sailing course
A course for beginners to learn to launch, rig and sail in all directions.
Using our singlehanded, this course will introduce you to sailing over 2 days. It covers all you need to know to get afloat under supervision. By the end of the course, you will have a basic understanding of dinghy sailing techniques and a basic background knowledge.
This course is for anyone wanting a taste of sailing, and a great way to learn the basics for recreational purposes, or before progressing further in the RYA sailing scheme.
Assumed knowledge: None
Course content: How to sail in all directions, including an awareness of launching and recovering. Basic manoeuvring
Ability after course: Able to sail in light winds under supervision
Duration: 2 days (16 Hours)
Price: £234.80
Member Price: £187.84
![southwark-inserts-adult-2](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/southwark-inserts-adult-2.png)
Adult level 2 basic skills
Build confidence and gain skills needed to sail and make the correct decisions in good conditions.
Assumed knowledge: sailing skills to the standard of RYA Level 1 (Start Sailing) course.
Course content:
- rigging, launching and sailing in all directions
- capsize recovery
- essential safety knowledge
The course can take place in both singlehanded and double handed dinghies
Ability after course: Able to sail and make decisions in good conditions
Duration: 3 days (18 Hours)
Price: £260
Member Price: £208
![southwark-inserts-adult-3](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/southwark-inserts-adult-3.png)
Adult level 3 better sailing
An improvement course to consolidate existing skills and trying new ones
Assumed knowledge: Sailing skills to the standard of RYA level 2 (Basic Skills)
Course content: Further coaching to consolidate Level 1 and 2 skills and taster sessions from the advanced modules
Ability after course:
- more confident in sailing skills and technique
- ready to progress onto the advanced modules
Duration: 2 Days (16 Hours)
Price: £234.80
Member Price: £187.84
Advanced sailing courses
![Sailing course](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Untitled-design-1.jpg)
Seamanship skills
Learning how to handle a boat in a variety of testing situations
Assumed knowledge: Level 3
Duration: 2 days (16 hours)
Course content: learn how to handle a boat in all conditions and solve problems afloat and refine existing skills
Ability after course: will be prepared to deal with most common problem situations afloat
Price: £234.80
Member Price: £187.84
![sailing knot](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/sailing-knot.jpg)
Day sailing course
Develop the skills needed for passage planning and decision making for a day sail in a dinghy
Assumed knowledge: Level 3
Duration: 2 days (16 hours)
Course content: here we will cover pilotage/ navigation how to deal with adverse conditions and meteorology.
Ability after the course: will be able to plan and execute a day sail trip
Price: £234.80
Member Price: £187.84
![southwark-inserts-adult-advanced-sailing](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/southwark-inserts-adult-advanced-sailing.png)
Sailing with spinnakers
Everything you will need to know about sailing with spinnakers
Assumed knowledge: Level 3
Duration: 2 days (16 hours)
Course content: how to rig a hoist gybe drop and recover from a capsize and the associated theory
Ability after course: you will be able to use a spinnaker and recover effectively
Price: £234.80
Member Price: £187.84
Junior beginner sailing courses
![watersports-junior-sailing-1](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/watersports-junior-sailing-1.png)
Stage 1&2 combined
This is a complete sailing introduction course for juniors. Upon completion of the course, you will be able to name parts of the boat and sail safely in a controlled environment
Assumed knowledge: none
Ability after course: be able to sail in any wind direction safely in a solo single handed dingy in a supervised environment
Duration: 5 days (30 hours)
Cost: £252.60
![watersports-adult-sailing](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/watersports-adult-sailing.png)
Stage 3 course
A developmental course refining and introducing new skills
Assumed knowledge: Stage 2
Course content: This course will develop theory, manoeuvres and the skills needed to sail in a moderate environment and how to recover from a capsize
Ability after course: will be a confident and independent sailor in moderate conditions
Duration: 5 days (30 hours)
Cost: £252.60
![watersports-junior-sailing-2](https://southwarkleisure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/watersports-junior-sailing-2.png)
Stage 4 course
Making the move to double handed boats
Assumed knowledge: Stage 3
Course content: Learn how to sail a double hander boat as crew and helm with a focus on manoeuvers and limited problem solving while afloat
Ability after course: will be able to sail confidently in moderate conditions as crew or helm and be confident in there ability
Duration: 5 days (30 hours)
Cost: £252.60
Open water swimming
We have just launched open water swimming sessions at Surrey Docks Fitness and Watersports Centre. If you’re a confident swimmer with a love for the outdoors then come and join our Greenland Dock 300m swimming loop with inspiring views of the city skyline.
Before you attend any sessions, everybody is required to complete a 15 minute competency swim test.
Session times:
Tuesdays: 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Fridays: 7am – 9am
Price: £9 per session
Swim safety:
Sessions available are dependent on weather conditions and water temperature. All our sessions are fully supervised by our qualified safety team.
Water testing is very important to us and is tested regularly at many locations around the docks. This is in accordance with EU bathing standards and is always marked as Excellent.
All swimmers must attend the water safety briefing prior to each session and sign a waiver form.
What to bring:
All swimmers must wear a coloured swim hat and a tow float. If you don’t have a tow float, we have some available to purchase at the centre.
Wet suits must be worn if water temperature is lower than 16 degrees. Please bring a wet suit to each session in the event that water temperature drops below 16 degrees. We do not have wet suits available for hire on site.
Changing room facilities are available at the centre. Please bring a padlock for your belongings.