LEARN TO SAIL AT WWYSA

Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, our training programmes offer something for everyone.

Youth Sailing

Youth Sailing

Our youth sailing courses are designed to introduce young sailors to the exciting world of sailing, while building their skills in a safe and fun environment. Aligned with the RYA syllabus, these courses offer a progressive pathway to becoming confident and competent sailors.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to improve your skills, we have a course for you.

Training Dates:

  • Monday, Wednesday or Friday evenings
  • 6pm to 8pm every week, April to October
RYA Youth Dinghy Sailing - Stage 1
Overview:

  • The perfect introduction to sailing. This course is designed for absolute beginners to develop basic skills, including how to sail a dinghy in light winds, tack, and control the boat under supervision.

Skills Covered:

  • Understand basic safety and rules.
  • Learn to rig, launch, and recover a dinghy.
  • Introduction to steering and controlling the boat.
  • Basic knot-tying and capsize recovery.

Training Content:

  • Launching and recovery, sailing across the wind, turning around, steering and basic parts of the boat

Certificate Issuing Criteria:

  • Able to sail across the wind, steer and understand the basic principles of sailing

Assumed Knowledge:

  • None

RYA Youth Dinghy Sailing - Stage 2
Overview:

  • Aimed at young sailors who have completed Stage 1. This course builds confidence and develops control of the boat, with a focus on sailing in different conditions and handling the boat independently.

Skills Covered:

  • Launching and sailing in both light and moderate winds.
  • Tacking, gybing, and controlling the boat in a straight line.
  • Basic theory of tides, wind, and weather.

Training Content:

  • Basic sailing skills, ropework, collision avoidance

Certificate Issuing Criteria:

  • Able to tack and control boat speed, and understand basic principles

Assumed Knowledge:

  • Basic knowledge and steering ability to Stage 1 standard

RYA Youth Dinghy Sailing - Stage 3
Overview:

  • Aimed at young sailors who have completed Stage 2, this course builds confidence and independence on the water. Stage 3 introduces more advanced boat handling skills, including sailing in different wind conditions, rigging and launching solo, and understanding the basic principles of sailing theory.

Skills Covered:

  • Launching and sailing in both light and moderate winds.
  • Tacking, gybing, and controlling the boat in a straight line.
  • Basic theory of tides, wind, and weather.

Training Content:

  • Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques, capsize recovery, sailing theory

Ability After The Training:

  • Able to launch & sail a dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions

Assumed Knowledge:

  • Up to and including Stage 2 standard

RYA Youth Dinghy Sailing - Stage 4
Overview:

  • This course builds on Stage 3 and gives sailors the skills and confidence to sail in a wider range of conditions. Sailors will be ready to venture out and sail safely in more challenging environments.

Skills Covered:

  • Rigging, launching, and sailing in moderate to strong winds.
  • Introduction to navigation.
  • Understanding the effects of wind and tide.
  • Introduction to crew roles and responsibilities on a boat.

Training Content:

  • Transferring pre-learnt skills, techniques and manoeuvres to sail crewed boats, enhance rigging, launching, recovery and practical skills to recover a man overboard.

Ability After The Training:

  • Can sail a double-handed boat on all points of sail. Launch and return to a beach, jetty or mooring in moderate conditions.

Assumed Knowledge:

  • Up to and including Stage 3 standard

RYA Youth Dinghy Sailing - Seamanship
Overview:

  • This course develops advanced boat handling and seamanship techniques, preparing sailors to take more responsibility afloat. It focuses on control, safety, and the practical skills needed to handle a dinghy with increased independence and confidence.

Skills Covered:

  • Coming alongside, mooring, and anchoring.
  • Sailing backwards and rudderless sailing.
  • Managing a capsize in more complex situations.
  • Practical seamanship and decision-making afloat.
  • Knots, ropework, and understanding basic rules of the road.

Training Content:

  • Through a range of practical scenarios, sailors will learn how to manage a variety of situations afloat with greater control and composure. Emphasis is placed on planning, adapting to changing conditions, and developing seamanship awareness and good judgement.

Ability After The Training:

  • Can confidently handle a dinghy in a variety of situations and make sound decisions afloat. Understands seamanship principles including anchoring, coming alongside, and safety considerations in different environments.

Assumed Knowledge:

  • Up to and including Stage 4 standard

Our Youth Sailing Sessions

Our youth sailing sessions run on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, offering young sailors the chance to learn and develop their skills in a fun and supportive environment. Due to high demand, most sessions are fully booked, but we operate a waiting list for those keen to join. If you're interested in a specific course or would like to enquire about availability, use the links below to get in touch—we'll do our best to find you a spot!

Monday

Fully Booked

Wednesday

Fully Booked

Friday

Fully Booked