About the Club

The club has its sailing waters at Setley Pond (click for map) located in the New Forest just south of Brockenhurst. The pond is co-located with a Picnic Area and model boaters can park directly adjacent to the water. We share the pond with the New Forest ponies and cattle that come to drink, and the herons and cormorants who come to eat!

Model Yacht sailing at Setley Pond dates back to 1972. The Sailing Section of the present Club was founded in 1978 with the primary purpose of model yacht racing. The Scale Section was established in 1980 with an interest in all scale model boats, both motor and sail. Nowadays the two sections of the Club are run separately but in close collaboration.

Sailing Section

The Model Yacht Racing Section of the club meets at the lake on Tuesday and Friday Mornings at 10am. They race International RM and 1m Class, National 36R Class and 6m yachts. Information and Contact details for the Sailing Section are available on the Sailing Section pages of this web site.

The Sailing Section is affiliated to the Model Yachting Association.

Scale Section

The Scale Model Section meets on Thursday and Sunday mornings at about 10am throughout the year (weather permitting), and a very friendly welcome is extended to all visitors. Our models range from rowing boats to liners and from sailing dinghies to square rigged ships (but note that fast electric racing boats or IC boats are not allowed by the Forestry Commission Regulations).

The Scale Section has a thriving membership of over 150 modellers. We hold annual exhibitions in Highcliffe and Lymington, typically there are over 70 boats on display and each raises several hundred pounds for various Club charities. Our members also display their models at other clubs, exhibitions, and local Life Boat open days.

Anyone interested in starting the hobby or joining the club is welcome to come along to the lake on a club morning. A membership application form is available here (PDF format please download and print) but please note that the committee reserves the right to approve applications. To get in touch with the Scale Section please see the Contact Us page.

The Scale Section is affiliated to the South West Association of Model Boat Clubs.