If you join a sailing club you’ll have use of a slipway and pontoon as well as a dinghy park. But part of the fun of having a small boat is sailing somewhere new – there are hundreds of places to launch on the coast, up estuaries and on inland waters. If you’re on holiday you can sometimes get temporary membership of a club and use their facilities.
Most inland lakes and waterways need a permit before you can launch. The most popular areas have sailing centres where you can launch, leave your trailer, and pay for as long as you need. Some, like Rutland Water, provide rescue cover too.