DOZENS of people enjoyed a day out on the water when Dorchester Sailing Club staged an open day.

The club owns Dorchester Lake, off Abingdon Road, and rookie sailors were invited along on Saturday for a taste of sailing out on the lake in 15ft Enterprise dinghies.

Club spokesman Caroline Gregory, from Abingdon, who has been a member for eight years, said: “The lake has a beach launching area and very pleasant surroundings.

“My son Alastair is 17 and is now a very keen sailor – he’s a dinghy instructor.”

Patrick Fleming, who runs the club, added: “It was a very busy day.

“Members of the public came along and enjoyed a 20-minute sail.

“We’re running a training course for about 30 children this week, as well as one for a dozen adults and it’s fully booked.

“Sailing is an Olympic sport, so it’s extremely popular at the moment.

“We like to think that after about five or six days’ training with us, people will be able to take a boat out themselves.”

Hilary Mackintosh, from Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, near Wallingford, went to the open day with her son James, 13.

She said: “James enjoyed it a great deal and now he wants to go sailing again.”