River Scows

you can sail, row, race, potter or even fit it with an outboard

Legacy of Lymington River Scow

Experience the rich history of Lymington River's beloved Scows, sailing for over a century. Originating in the early 1900s, these versatile dinghies quickly gained popularity for both sailing and rowing. Adapted for use as tenders, they became essential to yachting life along the East and South Coast. Today, the tradition continues with modern versions crafted locally in GRP by John Claridge Boatbuilders. Whether sailing, rowing, racing, or leisurely cruising, the Scow offers endless enjoyment for families across generations. Discover the enduring charm and practicality of Lymington River Scows. Contact us to start your Scow journey today.

35+

years of excellence

100

sailing events a year

500+

New members annually

10

cruising awards won

Scow Fleet

Over 200 members, including non-owners, participate in our Lymington River Scow fleet with over 100 boats. Club members can join the RLymYC Scow Division and access club-owned Scows.

The Scow Fleet organises events throughout the year, designed to provide something for every sailor to enjoy. A regular and active programme is organised including class racing and weekly potters (cruising in company) during the sailing season and talks, walks and suppers in the winter. 



In addition to our Club Scow Fleet, the Lymington River Scow Class Association organises events during the season.

Scow Potters take place on Thursdays from April until the end of October. A convivial morning sail accompanied by support boats. In 2024 the Scow Potters started on Thursday 18th April and will end on Thursday 24th October.

The Club organises race training and coaching for Scow sailors during the season. For more information speak to the Scow Fleet Captain.

scow activities

The Royal Lymington Yacht Club has a full fixture list with racing for all every week. Boats from Yarmouth regularly join us to swell the number of boats coming to the start line.

Regular scow racing with RLymYC

Monday Evening Dinghy Racing

Monday Evening Dinghy Racing takes place from April to September at 18:00, with five class starts of which two are specifically for the Lymington River Scows. There are regularly over 30 Scows afloat split into two fleets, with the keener competitors sailing in Gold and those who are looking for a less intense racing experience opting for Silver. The key thing is that the competitors choose for themselves in which fleet to race.



The season is divided into two series – the early series from April to June and the late series from June to September. In addition, we organise an Autumn Series for Scows every Monday evening in September at 17:00.

Lymington River Scow Racing

In the summer on three Tuesday evenings there are a series of three short races, followed by a Figure of Eight Race in August:

  • Hinxman Trophy: Tuesday 14th May 2024
  • Alexina Trophy: Tuesday 18th June 2024
  • Captain’s Trophy: Tuesday 16th July 2024
  • Figure of Eight Race: Sunday 01st September 2024

Bar and Restaurant

Our restaurant, bar and sun terraces provide arguably the most picturesque views of the Lymington River and the Solent shore. Our family-friendly restaurant serves locally sourced, high quality nourishing food at affordable prices.

Join the RLymYC Scow Division!

The Division warmly welcomes new Members of any age. For more information, please email the Divisional Secretary at rlymycscowdivision@gmail.com.

Contact:
Doug Rogerson for Scow Captain
Mike Urwin for Vice-Captain
Jane Corden for Treasurer/Secretary
Doug Rogerson for Walks Coordinator
Graham Neal for Potters Coordinator
Mike Irwin for Race Secretary.

Explore More about Each Fleets

Explore detailed information about each fleet by clicking the links below. Each link will direct you to a dedicated page where you can learn more about the specific fleet, its history, specifications, and more.

Join Our Sailors' Crew Match Group on Telegram!

No boat? No problem! Join our Telegram group to find a boat that needs crew and go racing! Or if you need crew for your boat, join to find crew!

hear what our members say

Great night last night in particular the junior supper was a huge hit. Lots of great feedback on the lasagna, a good-sized portion, tasted delicious and well presented. Please can you pass on to the chef and his team!

On 3rd August we held our Red Fox Annual General Meeting and Annual Dinner at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. The whole event was a great success. Within days of appointing a new chef you produced an excellent menu for the dinner and arranged facilities for our AGM. You and your staff were always very efficient and friendly, and it all made for a very enjoyable evening. We showed our appreciation by doubling the normal gratuity.

We had an excellent Sunday lunch. Please warmly congratulate Darren, your new chef!

On behalf of myself and my family, we just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone involved in my father’s wake on Friday. It was utterly perfect, and I truly think he would have loved it. Please pass on our thanks to the lovely staff and yourself who made it run so smoothly. The weather was simply stunning, and the drinks went down a little too nicely!

The Burns Night was brilliant!  Many thanks to yourself and the team for doing a huge amount of work to make it a great success!  Everything was perfect!

I thought I would drop you a line to say 4 of us had very delicious sandwiches at the Club on Friday lunchtime. They were perfect for what we required – having popped into the Club for a glass of wine and a quick bite to eat.

Our Supporters