Although sailing started at HOAC in 1950, the centre was only established as an independent registered Youth Educational Charity in 1992 when Council financial cuts threatened closure. Its brief then, as now, is to provide outdoor and environmental education for the whole community but with priority given to young people and those who are disadvantaged or disabled. 

Time and HOAC have moved on but the brief is still the same, open access for everyone and every opportunity for young people of all aspirations and abilities to join in and benefit from the HOAC experience. The young sailors in 'Tera Club' love the new, faster dinghies and regularily race them. Racing has really taken off and fleets of 20 or more boats now battle it out on Sunday afternoons. With so many youngsters coming through from 'Pico Club' and the Young Leaders Schemes the more established racers are being hard pressed by our younger members. Some of these are now becoming windsurfing, sailing and canoeing instructors to help teach future generations.