Junior Courses (age 8 upwards) 2010
Stage 1
A safe and fun filled introduction to sailing in Optimist dinghies. The course will follow the RYA stage one syllabus and will teach you how to rig, launch and sail your dinghy wherever you want to go. A very basic introduction to sailing to enable the complete novice to handle a dinghy safely and successfully in light winds and under supervision.
Dates – 20/21 March, 15/16 May, 19/20 June, 24/25 July, 4/5 September
Cost -
Stage 2
A follow on course from Stage 1 with the emphasis still on fun. Using games and structured sessions the instructors will guide and encourage you to practice skills and learn new techniques whilst building confidence and an awareness of safety. For children who already have some basic knowledge, a chance to gain confidence afloat as well as putting theory into practice.
Dates – 17/18 April, 29/30 May, 31July/1 August, 2/3 October,
Cost -
Stage 3
Now that you’ve mastered the basics we are looking at sailing confidently by yourself, sailing the boat in a safe and efficient manner. By the end of the Stage 3 course you will be safety conscious and be able to sail a dinghy confidently in light winds. Captain of your own dinghy you will practice sailing backwards, forwards, upwind, downwind, tacking and gybing to your hearts delight.
Dates – 1/2 May, 12/13 June, 7/8 August, 2/3 October
Cost -
Stage 4
Stage is all about practicing the skills learnt on stage 3 until they become second nature. This course also looks at sailing double handed boats and being an effective crew and helm team in preparation for moving on to one of the 5 modules in the National Sailing Scheme.
Dates – 31 July/1 August, 21/22 August, 30/31 October
Cost -
RYA Start Racing
Learn all the skills required to enjoy club racing, including how to maximize boat speed and outwit your opponents on the start line, and around the course. Sessions will look at start procedures, mark rounding and applying the racing rules.
Dates – 3/4 April, 11/12 September
Cost -
RYA Sailing With Spinnakers
Now that you’ve mastered sailing with two sails, learn how to step up a gear and use the Spinnaker to improve the grin factor. Learn how to rig, launch, trim, gybe and recover the spinnaker as well as how to use it to best effect around a race course and sail the best course downwind. This course can cover either symmetric (traditional) or asymmetric spinnakers.
Dates – 24/25 April, 16/17 October
Cost -
RYA Seamanship Skills
Improve your helming skills and boat positioning by focusing on manoeuvres from picking up a mooring, anchoring, man overboard and reefing afloat to sailing backwards and sailing without a rudder. The ideal course to get you prepared for sailing in stronger winds or on larger stretches of water where help is a little further away.
Dates – 8/9 May
Cost -
RYA Performance sailing
This course builds on early skills learned and solidified over a seasons sailing. You will fine tune and refine skills such as tacking and gybing and also add light wind techniques such as roll tacking and gybing. The main focus is to sail faster which requires you to sail more efficiently in all conditions. This course predominantly uses two crew spinnaker dinghies. Once the course is complete you will be able to sail faster and more efficiently in light, moderate and strong winds.
Dates – 5/6 June
Cost -
Saturday Morning Race Coaching
This is an ideal way to learn the skills of racing in a less intensive course than the RYA Start Racing Course. Each session will look at a different aspect of racing such as starting, boat handling, rules, flags and sound signals, mark rounding and finishing. An ideal way to gradually get to grips with the complexities of racing and see you results improve throughout the course of the season as a result.
This non certificated course is available only to Club Members.
Dates -
Cost -
Supervised Sailing
What better way to continue your sailing than at our club sailing nights? One evening a week we offer sessions open to all members and training members, with no formal teaching, just a chance to sail with instructors in attendance and available to give pointers and provide safety cover where required. This is an ideal opportunity to build your confidence following a course or if you are new to sailing, safe in the knowledge that there is an expert there to lend a hand should it all go wrong, or if you want a little help with something you are struggling with and then be left to practice in a safe environment. The emphasis will be on recreation, relaxation and fun rather than instruction.
Dates – Every Monday evening from May to September (6.30 – 9.00)
Cost -
RYA Assistant Dinghy Instructor
The assistant instructor (AI) award provides recognition for the 'in-
Working under the supervision of a qualified Instructor this course would be ideal for people thinking of becoming a Dinghy Instructor at a later date or those who wish to help out with training at the club but don’t want the responsibility that goes with full instructor status.
Dates – 27/28 March
Cost – £10
Holiday Courses
Topper Camp
Five days of training and fun and games. Children will be split into small groups of 7 or 8 depending on their ability and work towards improving their skills and work towards an RYA certificate or work on racing skills with a top RYA coach. The last day is more of a fun day with games and a regatta for all participants and instructors followed by a bbq for all the family. Participants are required to have their own boat and priority for places is given to club members.
Dates – 16-
Cost – £120
Oppy Camp
Very similar to topper camp but as the name suggests for those who sail Optimists. Working in smaller groups than on Topper camp work towards RYA or IOCA awards.
Dates – 9-
Cost – £150
Multi Activity Course
An action packed week with the emphasis on fun rather than learning where you will get wet and have lots of fun learning to Sail, Kayak and drive powerboats as well as raft building and other wet and land based games.
Date – 26-
Cost -
Sailing Courses
The aim of these courses is to have fun, get active and learn to sail along the way. Aimed at 8 – 15 year olds groups are split according to age and experience.
Learn to Sail
RYA Stages 1/2. A fun and action-
Improver sailing
RYA Stages 2/3. Develop your skills and confidence on this intermediate course. At the completion of Stage 3 you should be able to sail in any direction, rig and launch your own boat.
Sailing confidence
RYA Stage 4. Develop the skills to sail a double handed boat as both helm and crew. This course focuses on the maturity of the sailor and their independence in solving problems ashore and afloat.
Dates – 6-
Costs – 5 day £200, 4 day £160, 2 day £85
Sail Fast
RYA Start Racing & Performance Sailing. A great week of racing in a variety of boats
for those with RYA Stage 4. Learn boat-
Dates – 1-
Costs – 5 day £200, 4 day £160
If you would like more information about any of the courses or are looking for something slightly different please contact the Club on 01425 483692 or email theoffice@spinnakerclub.co.uk.
Training is available to Members and non Members. Non Club Members are required to take out annual Training Membership which allows them access to unlimited training within that year. Membership rates for 2010 are £33 for adults and £21 for children under 18. The Training Membership fee is deducted from the cost of full Membership if you join the Club within 6 months of Training Membership expiry.
