dinghy launching sites

[harry barker]

Got myself a sailing dinghy last year and intend to sail and fish from her with my grandson.
I would like to launch somewhere near the Sunderland area,does anyone know any good slips to launch from.
I have looked at the slip behind Sunderland yacht club,but looks like you need to be a member to use it.
Anyone know others and any cost.

[lorry]

I`m in the same boat as you (pun intended) and I wondered how the ramp at the end of Hendon prom could be used for free but it looks a bit slippy and I wondered if it would be best using a rope to pull back up the ramp rather than get the car on a slippy ramp get it on top and tow up the trailer

[drifter]

I know very little about the availability of launch sites but when I'm leaving the Tyne I often notice guys launching on the South Shields side from a ramp just downstream from the red buoy (groyne). I often see ribs and dinghys launching from there and it looks like a decent spot for access etc. Not sure if you would have to join a "sailing club" or pay on the day but certainly worth an enquiry.

[Mike.Haley]

You can get a permit to launch from South Shields slip. Available from the Town Hall at a cost of about £40 for the season. You have to prove you have insurance. The permit also includes car parking.

[mark]

been a whiles since I looked but might be something on:

Boatlaunch.co.uk Home Page

if its a sailing dinghy, tynemouth sailing club is an option, below the spanish battery, and about the closest site of all to open water apart from cullercoats beach

[harry barker]

Made contact with sunderland resorts offices today,very friendly and helpful people.
They told me I could use the slip between the piers at sunderland where the lifeboat shelter is situated as long as I don't use a motor vehicle to launch my dinghy and the dinghy is not engine powered.
also I must keep the slipway clear of trailers and the likes because this is a RLNI launching site.
What they don't want is the slip being cluttered with vehicles and trailers,this is understandable.
This would cost me nothing apart of a donation to the RLNI which I'm very happy to do.

They did explain that a safety course at sunderland yc for my grandson on dinghy sailing would be helpful to myself and my grandson,good advice I thought.

Anyway thanks for all your suggestions and help.
regards.

[harry barker]

I`m in the same boat as you (pun intended) and I wondered how the ramp at the end of Hendon prom could be used for free but it looks a bit slippy and I wondered if it would be best using a rope to pull back up the ramp rather than get the car on a slippy ramp get it on top and tow up the trailer

Don't think this would be a good option mate,as you say a bit slippy but what would bother me is if the weather turned a bit nasty,both these ramps wouldn't be good to return to,also at 1/2tide because of the groynes running out to seawards could be a danger to a dinghy returning to shore and could damage the hull.
I fish from Hendon in the winter and wouldn't like to be out there in a dinghy trying to return to shore,you would have to opt to go into sunderland or wind depending sail off to seaham for refuge.

Someone maybe enlighten us on this because they are boat slipways at hendon and must have history.