Learn to sail with the RYA
INTRODUCTION
Possibly the quickest and easiest way to learn to sail. Small boats are easy to handle and generally light to launch and transport. Learn to sail on your own in a single handed boat or with a crew. You can potter about exploring your local stretch of water, join a sailing club full of like-minded people, or learn to race.
What is a dinghy? |
What is a keelboat? |
What is a multihull? |
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A small, light boat that you generally rig ashore and launch every time you go sailing. Because of this, dinghies are easily transportable but also prone to capsizing! They are great fun to sail with an immediate response. However, there are some types of boats and also conditions where you will need to be quick and agile to balance the boat. If you don't mind ending up in the water occasionally, dinghies might be just the thing for you.
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A larger, more stable boat with a fixed keel which stops the boat from capsizing. Keel boats are a step up in size from dinghies, more like a small manageable yacht but generally not as big as a cruising yacht. They can bridge the gap between dinghies and cruisers, offering many benefits of both, to the adult beginner.
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Twin or three hulled dinghies which are fast and fun!
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Adult and youth sailing courses
Our National and Youth Sailing Schemes are a series of two-day courses for anyone wanting to learn in dinghies, small keelboats or multihulls. They are designed to help you enjoy whichever aspect of the sport appeals to you. Following on from the early courses in both the National Sailing Scheme and the Youth Sailing Scheme, you can choose one of the five advanced modules to suit your sailing interests, eg. Start Racing, Day Sailing, Seamanship Skills, Sailing with Spinnakers and Performance Sailing. These are available to both adults and young people.
SMALL BOAT
SAILING COURSE
Youth beginners' courses
YOUTH
BEGINNERS' COURSES
Youth beginners' courses
The certificates within our Youth Sailing Scheme are a significant achievement. Instructors sign off each skill as you complete it and, once completed, your certificate can be of use in other areas of your study or activities such as PE at school, or the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
The RYA runs a programme called Onboard, which enables children to start sailing and windsurfing through their school's PE activities.
The RYA runs a programme called Onboard, which enables children to start sailing and windsurfing through their school's PE activities.
COURSE DETAILS
DESCRIPTION & DETAILS
Youth beginners' courses
The Youth Scheme is usually completed in small dinghies suitable for your size. However, it can also be completed in keelboats and multihulls.
To make the most of our courses, ensure you are confident with the skills of one course before moving on to the next course. Most courses are a minimum of two days long (or an equivalent number of short sessions). They may be run over a longer period, especially if you haven't sailed since your last course. Sailing is a sport which gets better with practice, and you should try to sail between courses whenever you can. Practice makes perfect!
STage 1 - A basic understanding of how a boat sailing, with some experience of steering and handling the boat
Stage 2 - A range of sailing skills and knowledge to help in becoming a confident sailor
Stage 3 - Rigging, launching and sailing in any direction. Equivalent to Level 2 in the National Sailing Scheme
Stage 4 - Sail a double handed boat as crew or helm, and solve a variety of problems afloat. (optional if Stage 3 was taken in a double hander
Assumed knowledge
STage 1 - None
Stage 2 -Stage 1, unless you are doing a combined Stage 1 and 2 course. Basic knowledge and steering ability
Stage 3 -Up to and including the Stage 2 course
Stage 4 -Up to and including Stage 3
Minimum duration
2 days
Minimum age
STage 1 - None, but training centres often take children from the age of 8
Stage 2 -None, but training centres often take children from the age of 8
Stage 3 -None, but training centres often take children from the age of 8
Stage 4 -None, but training centres often take children from the age of 8
Course content
STage 1 - Launching and recovery, steering, parts of the boat, basic sailing
Stage 2 - Basic sailing skills, ropework, collision avoidance
Stage 3 - Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques, capsize recovery, sailing theory
Stage 4 - Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques and manoeuvres in crewed boats, recovering a man overboard
Ability after course
STage 1 - Able to steer and understand basic principles
Stage 2 - Able to tack and control boat speed, and understand basic principles
Stage 3 - Able to launch and sail a dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions
Stage 4 - Can launch and return to a beach, jetty or mooring, and sail a crewed dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions
The Youth Scheme is usually completed in small dinghies suitable for your size. However, it can also be completed in keelboats and multihulls.
To make the most of our courses, ensure you are confident with the skills of one course before moving on to the next course. Most courses are a minimum of two days long (or an equivalent number of short sessions). They may be run over a longer period, especially if you haven't sailed since your last course. Sailing is a sport which gets better with practice, and you should try to sail between courses whenever you can. Practice makes perfect!
STage 1 - A basic understanding of how a boat sailing, with some experience of steering and handling the boat
Stage 2 - A range of sailing skills and knowledge to help in becoming a confident sailor
Stage 3 - Rigging, launching and sailing in any direction. Equivalent to Level 2 in the National Sailing Scheme
Stage 4 - Sail a double handed boat as crew or helm, and solve a variety of problems afloat. (optional if Stage 3 was taken in a double hander
Assumed knowledge
STage 1 - None
Stage 2 -Stage 1, unless you are doing a combined Stage 1 and 2 course. Basic knowledge and steering ability
Stage 3 -Up to and including the Stage 2 course
Stage 4 -Up to and including Stage 3
Minimum duration
2 days
Minimum age
STage 1 - None, but training centres often take children from the age of 8
Stage 2 -None, but training centres often take children from the age of 8
Stage 3 -None, but training centres often take children from the age of 8
Stage 4 -None, but training centres often take children from the age of 8
Course content
STage 1 - Launching and recovery, steering, parts of the boat, basic sailing
Stage 2 - Basic sailing skills, ropework, collision avoidance
Stage 3 - Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques, capsize recovery, sailing theory
Stage 4 - Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques and manoeuvres in crewed boats, recovering a man overboard
Ability after course
STage 1 - Able to steer and understand basic principles
Stage 2 - Able to tack and control boat speed, and understand basic principles
Stage 3 - Able to launch and sail a dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions
Stage 4 - Can launch and return to a beach, jetty or mooring, and sail a crewed dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
DAY 2
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
DAY 1
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
DAY 2
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
DAY 2
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
ADULT
BEGINNERS' COURSES
Adult beginners' courses
The scheme is a series of two-day courses for adults wanting to learn in dinghies, small keelboats and multihulls.It has been designed to help you enjoy whichever aspect of the sport appeals to you.
COURSE DETAILS
DESCRIPTION & DETAILS
Learn to sail with the National Sailing Scheme
The scheme is a series of two-day courses for adults wanting to learn in dinghies, small keelboats and multihulls.
It has been designed to help you enjoy whichever aspect of the sport appeals to you.
Adult beginners' courses
The scheme is comprised of a series of two-day courses enabling you to progress quickly from beginner to experts in a controlled, safe and enjoyable environment. Each course can be taken in a dinghy, small keelboat or multihull (click here for an explanation).
Level 1 - Introducing you sailing with all you need to know to get afloat under supervision
Level 2 - Setting out the foundations of sailing for you
Level 3 - Consolidating skills and trying new ones
Assumed knowledge
Level 1 - None
Level 2 - Sailing skills to the standard of Level 1
Level 3 - Sailing skills to the standard of Level 2
Minimum duration all stages
Level 1 - 2 days
Level 2 - 2 days, but is often combined with the Level 1 course into a 4 or 5 day course
Level 3 - 2 days or equivalent
Minimum age
16 yrs
Course content
Level 1 - How to sail in all directions, including an awareness of launching and recovering
Level 2 - Rigging, launching, sailing in all directions. Capsize recovery and essential safety knowledge
Level 3 - Coaching of level 1 and 2 skills and taster sessions from the advanced modules
Ability after course
Level 1 - Able to sail in light winds under supervision
Level 2 - Able to sail and make decisions in good conditions
Level 3 - More confident in sailing skills and techniques, and ready to progress onto the advanced modules
The scheme is a series of two-day courses for adults wanting to learn in dinghies, small keelboats and multihulls.
It has been designed to help you enjoy whichever aspect of the sport appeals to you.
Adult beginners' courses
The scheme is comprised of a series of two-day courses enabling you to progress quickly from beginner to experts in a controlled, safe and enjoyable environment. Each course can be taken in a dinghy, small keelboat or multihull (click here for an explanation).
Level 1 - Introducing you sailing with all you need to know to get afloat under supervision
Level 2 - Setting out the foundations of sailing for you
Level 3 - Consolidating skills and trying new ones
Assumed knowledge
Level 1 - None
Level 2 - Sailing skills to the standard of Level 1
Level 3 - Sailing skills to the standard of Level 2
Minimum duration all stages
Level 1 - 2 days
Level 2 - 2 days, but is often combined with the Level 1 course into a 4 or 5 day course
Level 3 - 2 days or equivalent
Minimum age
16 yrs
Course content
Level 1 - How to sail in all directions, including an awareness of launching and recovering
Level 2 - Rigging, launching, sailing in all directions. Capsize recovery and essential safety knowledge
Level 3 - Coaching of level 1 and 2 skills and taster sessions from the advanced modules
Ability after course
Level 1 - Able to sail in light winds under supervision
Level 2 - Able to sail and make decisions in good conditions
Level 3 - More confident in sailing skills and techniques, and ready to progress onto the advanced modules
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
DAY 2
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
DAY 2
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
IMPROVERS' AND ADVANCED
COURSES
Improvers' and advanced courses
Following on from the early courses in both the National Sailing Scheme and the Youth Sailing Scheme, you can choose one of our five advanced modules to suit your sailing interests. These are available to both adults and young people. Each course can be taken in a dinghy, small keelboat or multihull.
COURSE DETAILS
DESCRIPTION & DETAILS
Following on from the early courses in both the National Sailing Scheme and the Youth Sailing Scheme, you can choose one of our five advanced modules to suit your sailing interests. These are available to both adults and young people. Each course can be taken in a dinghy, small keelboat or multihull (click here for an explanation). Generally, you will be ready for these courses if you have completed Level 2 or 3 of the National Sailing Scheme, or Stage 3 or 4 of the Youth Sailing Scheme, and have had some practice too.
Seamanship Skills - How to handle a boat in all circumstances and solve problems afloat
Day Sailing - Passage planning and decision making for small boat cruising
Sailing with Spinnakers - Everything you need to know about sailing with conventional or asymmetric spinnakers
Performance Sailing - Improve your boat handling and confidence in performance dinghies
Assumed knowledge
Seamanship Skills - Sailing skills to the standard of the Level 2 course
Day Sailing - Skills and background knowledge to at least the standard of the Level 2 course
Sailing with Spinnakers - Sailing and background knowledge to the standard of the Level 2 course
Performance Sailing - Competent boat handling - probably at least one full season after completing Level 2
Minimum duration
2 days
Course content
Seamanship Skills - Launching and recovering the boat in different circumstances, stopping, reducing sail, recovering a man overboard, anchoring
Day Sailing - Preparing and planning for a day cruise, pilotage and decision making including adverse conditions
Sailing with Spinnakers - How to rig the boat, gybe and recover one type of spinnaker, either conventional or asymmetric. How to sail the best possible course downwind
Performance Sailing - Coaching to improve your sailing, primarily in two person boats with spinnakers
Ability after course
Seamanship Skills - Able to handle a wide range of situations afloat
Day Sailing - Able to plan and execute a cruise, depending on conditions
Sailing with Spinnakers - Able to use one type of spinnaker, conventional or asymmetric
Performance Sailing - Able to sail faster and more efficiently in all conditions
Seamanship Skills - How to handle a boat in all circumstances and solve problems afloat
Day Sailing - Passage planning and decision making for small boat cruising
Sailing with Spinnakers - Everything you need to know about sailing with conventional or asymmetric spinnakers
Performance Sailing - Improve your boat handling and confidence in performance dinghies
Assumed knowledge
Seamanship Skills - Sailing skills to the standard of the Level 2 course
Day Sailing - Skills and background knowledge to at least the standard of the Level 2 course
Sailing with Spinnakers - Sailing and background knowledge to the standard of the Level 2 course
Performance Sailing - Competent boat handling - probably at least one full season after completing Level 2
Minimum duration
2 days
Course content
Seamanship Skills - Launching and recovering the boat in different circumstances, stopping, reducing sail, recovering a man overboard, anchoring
Day Sailing - Preparing and planning for a day cruise, pilotage and decision making including adverse conditions
Sailing with Spinnakers - How to rig the boat, gybe and recover one type of spinnaker, either conventional or asymmetric. How to sail the best possible course downwind
Performance Sailing - Coaching to improve your sailing, primarily in two person boats with spinnakers
Ability after course
Seamanship Skills - Able to handle a wide range of situations afloat
Day Sailing - Able to plan and execute a cruise, depending on conditions
Sailing with Spinnakers - Able to use one type of spinnaker, conventional or asymmetric
Performance Sailing - Able to sail faster and more efficiently in all conditions
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
DAY 2
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
DAY 2
0645HRS- 0800 HRS Report to Sailors Inn for theory sessions along with a light breakfast
0815HRS - ETD Boarding sailing shuttle at the sailors inn.
0845 HRS - ETD Sail Boat from the jetty
1245 HRS - ETA Sail Boat at the jetty
1300 HRS - Debriefing , rewards, awards
