Who are we?
The University of Exeter Sailing Club is the most successful and largest university sailing club in the country. We run both competitive team racing training, development training and social sailing sessions.
In 2016 and again in 2020, a total of nearly 100 alumni donated in excess of £15,000 to enable the Sailing Club to replace some of their fleet of Fireflies. Let's enable that to happen again…
Help Us Put the Next Generation of Sailors on the Water
At the University of Exeter Sailing Club, sailing isn’t just a sport — it’s a gateway. A gateway to confidence, teamwork, competition, lifelong friendships, and a love of the water that stays with students long after they leave university.
For more than 70 years, the club has introduced thousands of young people to sailing. Every year we welcome complete beginners who have never set foot in a boat, alongside experienced racers aiming for national success. What unites them all is access to the water — and that depends on having the right boats beneath them.
Why We’re Fundraising
Our club is growing faster than ever. Casual sailing sessions are full, the development teams are taking events by storm and our Team Racing squads are training harder than ever to maintain Exeter’s position as one of the UK’s top university sailing clubs, after teams finishing 1st and 2nd at the BUCS National Finals 2025.
But boats don’t last forever. After years of constant use, several of our Fireflies are reaching the end of their working lives. Increasingly, valuable time is lost to repairs, limiting how much sailing we can offer and who we can take out on the water.
This campaign is about changing that.
With support already secured from the University and through the sale of older boats, we’re now asking for your help to bridge the final gap and invest in new Fireflies that will serve EUSC sailors for the next 15–20 years.
The Impact of Your Support
Your contribution will directly enable:
- More beginners to experience sailing for the first time in safe, reliable boats
- Greater access to casual and coached sessions throughout the week
- Stronger training for our developing racers
- Sustained national success in fleet and team racing
- A long-term future for one of the UK’s most active university sailing communities
These boats won’t just be used by one team or one cohort. They’ll carry hundreds of students — many discovering sailing for the very first time — across the water year after year.
Why It Matters
University sailing plays a crucial role in the wider sailing ecosystem. Many of our members go on to race at clubs across the country, volunteer, coach, or remain active within the sport for life. By supporting this project, you’re not just helping EUSC — you’re investing in the future of sailing itself.
Whether you’re an alumnus remembering your first windy reach, a family member supporting a current sailor, or someone who simply believes in widening access to sport, your support makes a real and lasting difference.
Thank You
Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to ensuring that no student is left onshore because of a lack of equipment. We’re incredibly grateful for your support and excited to share the impact of this project as our new boats hit the water.
Thank you for helping us keep Exeter sailors sailing — today, tomorrow, and for many years to come. ⛵
