About Us

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The Sailing club is for all officers and staff of the Metropolitan Police Service. We also have an associate membership category and welcome affiliated yacht clubs, other Police Forces & Emergency Services, along with their family and friends.

Please go to the Join now page for full details and eligibility.

Yacht Charter

The club owns two yachts, a Hallberg Rassy 342 and a Sun Oddyssey 349 both of which are equipped to a high standard and are fully coded under the MCA. They are all available for private charter to club members at extremely reasonable prices.

Where members don’t have the necessary qualifications, we can often provide skippered charters and members day sails.

For full details of prices, availability and other information, please go to Yacht charter

Training Courses

The club is recognised by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) to run sailing practical and shore based theory courses at every level enabling members to progress from novice to RYA Yachtmaster Ocean.

We also run powerboat courses from RYA Level 2 which is an entry level course right up to RYA advanced and own boat tuition.

Additional training modules designed by the club to supplement the RYA scheme are also available.

For full details of all the courses we offer, please go to Yacht charter

Cruises and Social Events

Club cruises are ideal for members looking to have a relaxing two day cruise around the Solent to a more challenging cross channel passage to foreign shores.

They also provide wonderful opportunities to involve family or friends as well as meeting other club members and visit places of interest.

All cruises are skippered by a MCA / RYA commercially endorsed skipper and where required a first mate.

For full details of all the cruise program, please go to Cruises

Membership and Benefits

Membership costs just £66 per year for serving and retired MPS officers and staff as Full Members and £75 per year for all other categories of Associate Membership.

Please go to the Join Now page for full details and membership application forms.

All Members are entitled to substantial 30% discount on the full range of clothing from Musto

The Broadway Base, Club House

This is our base of operations and is located at Mercury Yacht Harbour on the River Hamble near Southampton.

The centre includes a club house/crew room, a fully equipped classroom for teaching shore based courses, secure storage for equipment, some workshop facilities and member dinghy storage within a secure fenced compound.

Mercury Yacht Harbour is in Satchell Lane, Hamble which is easily accessible from Junction 8 of the M27.

The marina has a Bar/Restaurant, excellent showers and laundry facilities and close by is a 24 hour Tesco ideal for the purchase of supplies for your sailing trip. Hamble Village also has excellent Pubs and Restaurants.

Club Structure

For many years the MPSC operated successfully as a members club but in a climate where there is a growing tendency towards litigation, the decision was taken to become a company limited by guarantee. By doing so we reduce the liability of the members and the committee to a maximum of £1.

All that changed was the framework in which we operated – we are still a members club which operates wholly for the benefit of those members and their guests.

The Executive Committee is made up of a maximum of 8 directors who are responsible for deciding future strategy and for making the important decisions. The day to day running is undertaken by a few part time professional staff and a team of volunteers. If you are able to offer help, then please do get in touch on our club line 07920 799 270 or 07931 548 947 or 07437 914054. If you have any questions or queries regarding the Club/Committee or would like to assist in any way, contact the clubline on the numbers above or email contact@mpsc.london, or write to MPSC, Mercury Yacht Harbour, Satchell Lane, Hamble, SO31 4HQ

How to find us

Mercury Yacht Harbour, Satchel Lane, Hamble, Hampshire, SO31 4HQ

Directions

Lat: 50°52.03’N  |  Long: 1°18.07’W

BY ROAD
The postcode for your Sat Nav is SO31 4HQ.

From the M3 take the M27 Eastbound for Portsmouth. Exit Junction 8 of the M27 for Southampton East/Hamble. Follow signs for Hamble on B3397, Hamble Lane, going straight across three roundabouts. After the third roundabout, turn left into Satchell Lane (signposted to Mercury Yacht Harbour). Follow the road for approximately 1 mile. Mercury Yacht Harbour is on the left.

BY RAIL
There is a main line station at Southampton Central, from where a local service operates to Hamble station. From Hamble rail station a local bus service operates to Hamble village. After alighting from the bus at Hamble village, proceed along Satchell Lane, the entrance to the marina is approximately 1 mile along on the right. Use the National Rail Enquiries website to plan your journey.

Executive Committee

Gareth Granville

Vice Commodore

Gareth leads the committee meetings and responsibility is to the organisation and management of the entire club.

Rick Earle

Director

Rick is a member of the Executive Committee working closely with the Vice Commodore on varying work projects. 

Martyn Potter

Director

Martyn is a member of the Executive Committee working closely with the Vice Commodore on varying work projects. 

Paul Doherty

Director

Paul is a member of the Executive Committee working closely with the Vice Commodore on varying work projects. 

MPSC Team

These are the club members employed by the MPSC who you’ll most likely see around the Broadway base, maintaining yachts or greeting you on your charters, cruises and courses.

They are also all members of the Operation Team that maintains the yachts and they’re there to help you.

Chris Stephens

Club Secretary

Chris is the club Secretary managing Company business in close liaison with the Directors and also works closely with Lee, Mel and Ross to oversee the smooth running of the club for its members. 

Melanie Calvert

Club Principal

Melanie is our RYA club Principal.  She is employed by the club and ensures we maintain the standard required by the RYA for teaching RYA courses. She is also responsible for recruitment of skippers and instructors for our wide range of cruises and courses. 

Ross Ellison

Harbour Master and Operations Team

Ross is responsible for the mammoth task of maintaining our yachts, the Broadway base and all operational aspects of the club. He works closely with Chris and Lee on a daily basis, regularly reports to the directors and ensures the smooth running of the boats and the Broadway base. 

Lee Giffard

Office Management and Club Administration

Lee manages the day to day running of the club, managing and facilitating charters and cruise bookings and works closely with Chris, Mel, Ross and the Directors to oversee the smooth running of the club for its members. 

Non-executive Deputies

Chief Instructor Power  –Micheal Burke
Chief Instructor Sail – Mason King

Medical and Dietary Declaration

Having a medical condition need not necessarily prevent you from taking a full part in the course but the Club Principal must be aware of any potential problems.

If you are in any doubt about your fitness to take part in a course, speak to us on the clubline prior to your course.

By completing the course booking form you make the following declarations and undertakings:-
I hereby declare that I have recorded below details of any medical condition which may affect my fitness to participate in the course and in particular I have included details where I suffer from asthma/bronchitis, angina or heart condition, fits, fainting or blackouts, severe headaches, diabetes, travel sickness, allergies to medication or other allergies.

I undertake to inform the Metropolitan Police Sailing Club Ltd and the course instructor of any relevant medical condition which may become apparent between now and the start of the course, and of any medication I am taking.

I have included below details of any dietary requirements and any allergies, including allergies to food and medication.