Watersportvereniging De Helling
Watersportvereniging De Helling is a broad sailing and watersports club in Culemborg on the river Lek with around 750 members. The club offers Jachthaven De Helling, a club ship as clubhouse, and shared club boats including two Polyvalks and a Laser, plus berths and canoe storage. The programme covers youth sailing with Optimist and CWO training, club sailing, regattas such as the Zomeravondregatta, rowing, sloeproeien, canoeing and an electric sloop section. Founded on 4 July 1951, the club celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2026 and combines tradition with a diverse offer for beginners and experienced watersports enthusiasts.
History
Watersportvereniging De Helling was founded on 4 July 1951 by owners of sailing and motor boats. Over the years it grew into a broad watersports community with sections for sailing and motor boats, rowing, sloeproeien, canoeing and Havenkoor Deining. The rowing section was established in 1996 and today has about 100 to 120 members. Havenkoor Deining started in 2000 as a one-off project for the club's 50th anniversary and grew into a choir of around 50 singers. The sailing section with club boats began in 2018 with the Polyvalk Fuut on loan; in 2019 the club bought Polyvalk VolvoFalk and in 2020 a second own Valk. In the 2020 corona year the club boats went out a record 300 times; the section grew to 41 and in 2021 to 50 members. In 2024 an electric club sloop (Zuidwestersloep 595, Caatje op de Lek) was purchased and an e-sloop section founded. Stichting De Helling owns the club ship and rents it to the association; the foundation handles major maintenance. Today the club has around 750 members and in 2026 celebrates its 75th anniversary with an extensive jubilee programme.
Information
Facilities
Jachthaven De Helling with pontoons, club ship as clubhouse with bar, two club Polyvalks and a Laser, canoe storage with 60 places, winter storage, electric club sloop.
Activities
Youth sailing, club sailing (Polyvalk/Laser), racing including Zomeravondregatta, rowing, sloeproeien, canoeing, e-sloop sailing, Havenkoor Deining, Klein Vaarbewijs 1 courses.
Youth section
Active youth sailing training for children and young people aged 9 to 16 on Optimist and Topaz at the Redichemse Waard (Afgraving), with CWO diplomas, seven course weekends from May to September and an annual sailing camp.
Boating license training
Available: 1
Course in the winter months