Welcome from SGBA Commodore, John Bradbury

Welcome to the Stoke Gabriel Boating Association, usually known as the SGBA. We are an eclectic bunch of people who enjoy being on the beautiful River Dart in almost anything that floats with someone on board. We have members with sailing dinghies, rowing boats, cruising yachts, windsurfers, canoes, kayaks and motor boats. Unusually for a club of our size, we own around 30 boats which can be used by members competent to do so. We are an accredited RYA training centre for dinghy sailing and powerboat courses.

Our location is on the picturesque (especially when the tide is high) Stoke Gabriel Creek, about 5 miles upstream of Dartmouth and 4 miles downstream of Totnes, the upper tidal limit. Launching from our dinghy park, which accommodates about 80 members’ and club boats, is best at half tide or above – there’s more water to sail on then too! However, launching and recovery is feasible from the stony foreshore at Mill Point at any time. Here, in a disused quarry, we have a small boat store for club equipment. The store and dinghy park are accessible at high water, via the high water path and new quarry steps. At the quay, where the public road ends, we have a clubroom and locker room for members’ equipment.

About the SGBA

The SGBA was established over forty years ago to be the focus of on-the-water activities for the village of Stoke Gabriel in south Devon. Over the years the club has grown both in terms of membership and what it can offer to the local community. The club aims to:

• promote boating on the Dart 
• provide sail training for youngsters 
• be a focus for the on-the-water activities of the local community 
• and contribute to the life of the village of Stoke Gabriel. 

For boat owners we have lockers, dinghy park and canoe racks. For non-boat owners we have a fleet of sailing dinghies, rowing boats, and canoes that can be borrowed by members. And for everyone there is a busy social programme of shore and water based events throughout the year.

The club works closely with other sailing clubs on the River Dart and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) to provide a comprehensive training programme for adults and children in sailing and on motorboats.

Facilities

Our Club House on the quay at Stoke Gabriel has lockers for hire and a club room with kitchen.

Out in the old quarry at Mill Point, along the foreshore towards the river from the Club House, we have the Training Dinghy Store (often known as the Boat House) where all the club boats are stored. In late 2009, the Bibby Family generously donated the Mill Point Quarry and Foreshore to the SGBA, securing our future for years to come.

The club boating fleet consists of 7 Toppers, 6 Laser Bugs, 6 Laser Picos, 2 Lasers, 1 Wanderer, 3 kayaks, 3 canoes, two motor boats and a Whitehill rowing skiff. All of which can be used by members who have paid the additional "Boat Users Fee" and are suitably qualified.

Members can apply for boat storage space in the Dinghy Park, toast rack for inflatables or canoe racks. They can also request a locker in the Club House. There is often a waiting list for these facilities.

Webcam

The webcam overlooking the Stoke Gabriel pontoon is now running again courtesy of Bill Christopher.