In 1977 the Centre was born as a Compound for Youth and School organisations to share.The groups had their own dinghies and worked as autonomous organisations sharing facilities…………..a storage compound, a tap and a shed for changing! From these humble beginnings we have developed through much hard work by countless volunteers and supportive parents, especially during the mid 90’s, saw us expand from a motley collection of dinghies to a Youth Group in our own right, with our own fleet of dinghies and associated safety craft.
20 plus years on, AYAC still operates with the same ethos, that of getting local youngsters on the water, to have safe fun, learning, and building lasting friendships. Even more so today, as costs increase for leasure pursuits, and families are divided, AYAC aims to offer the amazing experience that is sailing, either on the sea, or on a close by lake.
We have a fleet of dinghies that we maintain ourselves, with a mix of single handed, double handed, and larger dinghies to provide for all skills, and experience base.
To make this happen, all members parents and carers volunteer, in some capacity, to make the sessions on, and off the water, a success. Be it helping the young sailors get their dinghies on and off the water, being a crew or helm on the safety boats, making hot chocolate for everyone coming off the water wet, but happy, or even helping with the sailing, as a crew member, or competent helm. AYAC is aims to include anyone who comes to the dinghy pen. There are taster sessions, a try out on the water, to see if it is for the new youngster. We keep the membership fee as low as is possible, to ensure people from all walks of life can come sailing.
We are proud of our place in the local community, and have support from Littlehampton Harbour Master, the Arun River Users Forum, many local organisations, schools, scouts, and other sailing clubs.
AYAC is kept going with love, volunteer support from many, the local coucil's support with the compound, and, mostly, by the constant flow of young people wanting to be part of Team AYAC!
