Dinghy Training Courses
| Adult courses | Youth courses | Advanced courses | Learn to race courses |
|---|
Learning in a dinghy is a great way to start sailing. Single-handers (boats sailed by one person) are a popular choice and can be the quickest way to learn due to being lightweight and easy to rig and launch. If you dont fancy being in a boat alone, double-handers are larger boats designed to be sailed by two people, making it an enjoyable way to learn with others aboard. The choice is yours!
Once you've mastered the basics, there are plenty of opportunities to continue to develop your skills with our advanced and racing courses. Find out more about our dinghy courses below.
Adult courses
The National Sailing Scheme is a series of short courses, each run over a number of sessions or two full days. Progress quickly from beginner to expert in a controlled, safe and enjoyable environment.
| Level 1 - Start Sailing | Level 2 - Basic Skills | Level 3 - Better Sailing |
|---|---|---|
| A course for complete beginners. Learn how to sail in all directions and awareness of launching and recovery | Build your confidence and gain the skills needed to sail and make decisions in good conditions | Improve your sailing, consolidating skills and trying new ones in a variety of conditions. |
Youth courses
The Youth Sailing scheme is usually completed in small dinghies suitable for the size of the sailor, but courses can also be completed in keelboats and multihulls. Our expert instructors offer a safe environment for children to have fun, learn and challenge themselves.
| Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| An introduction to the parts of the boat and the basic principles of how to get a boat sailing. | Develop the sailing skills needed to sail around a course tacking, gybing and controlling boat speed. | Build your confidence and develop the skills needed to sail in different directions in moderate conditions. | Learn how to sail a double-handed boat as crew or helm and solve a variety of problems afloat. |
More for under 16s
RYA Youth Sailing certificates are a huge achievement and, once completed, can be used for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme or for GCSE PE at school..
Advanced courses
Following on from the early courses in both the National and Youth Sailing schemes, you can choose one of the advanced modules below to suit your sailing interests. All courses are available to both adults and young people.
| Seamanship skills | Day sailing | Sailing with spinnakers | Performance sailing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learn how to handle a boat in all circumstances and solve problems afloat. | Master passage planning and decision making for going on a day sail in a dinghy. | Everything you need to know about sailing with conventional or asymmetric spinnakers. | Improve your boat handling and confidence in performance dinghies. |
Learn to race courses
Progressing through the RYA racing courses will take you from complete beginner to experienced competitor, developing your skills in the core areas of starting, boat-handling, speed, tactics and strategy.
| Start Racing | Club Racing (Intermediate) | Regional Racing (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|
| A course for new sailors, wishing to start racing. Build your confidence and general racing knowledge by learning the skills needed to enter and compete in a race. | Perfect for racing at club level. Build on your boat handling, speed and develop strategic plans based on the conditions. | Develop the skills needed to adapt to racing at different venues and in more challenging conditions. |
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Last updated 18:40 on 6 June 2022
