Dinghy sailing courses
Lightweight and easy to rig and launch, dinghies are a great choice for beginners and more advanced sailors
Dinghy sailing 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 don’t 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, foiling and racing courses. Find out more about our dinghy courses below.
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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
A course for complete beginners. Learn how to sail in all directions and awareness of launching and recovery
Level 2 - Basic Skills
Build your confidence and gain the skills needed to sail and make decisions in good conditions
Level 3 - Better Sailing
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
An introduction to the parts of the boat and the basic principles of how to get a boat sailing.
Stage 2
Develop the sailing skills needed to sail around a course tacking, gybing and controlling boat speed.
Stage 3
Build your confidence and develop the skills needed to sail in different directions in moderate conditions.
Stage 4
Learn how to sail a double-handed boat as crew or helm and solve a variety of problems afloat.
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.
Learn to foil
Our foiling courses will enable you to progress from your first foiling take off, to sustaining flights and entering the world of foiling transitions. To feel the amazing feeling of flight, you'll need to be a Level 2 sailor, able to sail a dinghy in a breeze.
First Flights
An introduction to the concept of foiling, the equipment and all the knowledge you need to 'take off' for the first time.
Sustained Flights
Gain the skills and confidence to sustain foiling and feel comfortable steering. All transitions will be non-foiling.
Performance Flights
Control the foil with confidence in a wider range of conditions and unlock the knowledge and skills needed to sustain flight into tacks and foiling gybes.
Learn to race
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. You'll need to be a Level 2 or Stage 3 sailor to start racing.
