Youth training dates on Saturday mornings have been decided by your three Senior instructors that volunteer their time to get as many children as possible on the water in a safe, fun and learning environment. There are 9 sessions that are spread over the warmer sailing months, so get the dates in your diaries to avoid conflicts
23rd May
6th June (Club 50th Anniversary weekend)
27th June
11th July
25th July
8th August
22nd August
5th September
19th September
The sessions include landbased drills, rigging, sailing, games, fun races and de-rigging, with participant numbers limited by available instructors/ boats, so we sign up participants on the day on a first come, first served basis.
These session are a great opportunity to:
1. try out sailing at minimum cost (£10 a session – cash on the day please as you sign in) and in a friendly non-threatening environment
2. have a taster session if you are thinking of booking your child onto one of the RYA courses at the club
3. practise and develop their skills further in a safe setting under the supervision of qualified RYA instructors.
• No prior experience required, we work with beginners through to more advanced sailors
• A great opportunity for confident teenagers who are interested to start prepping for Assistant Instructor and then Dinghy Instructor qualifications in the future, to take their first steps in training at the club.
• Groups are generally split between Optimists for young beginners, who graduate to RS Tera and then to RS Feva and Laser dinghies once they gain confidence and have grown a bit.
• Buoyancy aids are provided, but sailors should come dressed expecting to get wet, wear dinghy boots or old trainers and bring a towel and a warm change of clothes. (suncream, sun hats and sun glasses essential on those balmy sunny summer Saturdays to come….!)
Generally we start sessions with participants signed on, changed and ready to go afloat at 10:00, run sessions on the water ‘til approx 12:00 and then those who want to sail in the afternoon can often get involved in some informal racing with their instructors on the water at the discretion of the SI. Registration starts at 9.30am
Parents/carers will need to sign consent and medical declaration forms for the children, they are expected to help rig and derig boats and are always welcome to help out as additional hands during sessions under the direction and at the discretion of our Instructors. Parents are expected to remain at the club throughout or designate a willing responsible adult (known to the child) who will stay on site and be responsible for their children when they are off the water.