Learning to sail is great fun and the sense of achievement you get, when you've
mastered the basics and are in control of the boat, is a feeling you'll never
forget.
This course is for beginners who have done little or no dinghy sailing before. It is the first part of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) training scheme and its aim is to provide a brief taste of the sport including basic boat handling techniques and essential background knowledge. The course lasts about 12 hours and is run on one weekend (Saturday & Sunday) . Students who complete this course should attend an RYA Level 2 course to complete the basic Learn to Sail course recommended by the RYA.
· Rigging - Wind awareness, Spars and rigging. Parts of the sail. Sail controls. Foils - Centre board/daggerboard and rudder · Ropework Figure of eight knot. Round turn & two half hitches · Launching & Recovery - Securing boat on trolley. Wheeling trolley - clear of other boats and overhead cables. Wind awareness. Launching and leaving the shore. Coming ashore and recovery of dinghy. · Sailing Techniques & Manoeuvres - Wind awareness. Reaching - sailing across the wind. Stopping - lying to. Tacking - turning the front of the boat through the wind. Getting out of irons. Sailing upwind. Sailing downwind. Gybing - turning the back of the boat through the wind.
· Capsize Recovery · Racing - Clubs and classes · Sailing Theory & Background - Awareness of other water users. Rules of the road: port/starboard; windward boat overtaking boat. · Meteorology - Onshore and offshore winds. Sources of weather information. · Clothing & Equipment - Clothing and footwear. Personal buoyancy.
- Students are invited to attend weekend courses. Start time at weekends is 9.30 am. Courses are usually completed between 5.30 and 6.00pm. Course dates and detail are available below
Students who complete the RYA Level 1 course and who enrol for RYA Level 2 are able to sail at open sessions at DSWC. Centre staff encourage students to maintain their skills whilst awaiting their Level 2 course by attending evening open sailing sessions.
Includes an RYA logbook, all tuition, use of equipment including safety equipment (personal buoyancy) course notes and handouts, lunches, tea, coffee and membership to the DSWC (for the duration of the course) .
COST £170 non members - £150 members
Membership of DSWC entitles members to reduced course fees as well as free use of Centre craft (as appropriate to members skill and prevailing weather conditions). Membership details are available on the net and in the Centre foyer.