Youth RYA - Start Sailing Stage 1 (Age 8-15 years)
The Youth Scheme is usually completed in small dinghies suitable for your size. However, it can also be completed in keelboats and multihulls.
To make the most of our courses, ensure you are confident with the skills of one course before moving on to the next course. Most courses are a minimum of two days long (or an equivalent number of short sessions). They may be run over a longer period, especially if you haven't sailed since your last course. Sailing is a sport which gets better with practice, and you should try to sail between courses whenever you can. Practice makes perfect!
- Start your training with a course appropriate to your experience - read this advice from RYA
- Download the syllabus checklist
Requirements and Outcomes
| Stage 1 | A basic understanding of boat sailing, with some experience of steering and handling the boat |
|---|---|
| Assumed Knowledge | None |
| Minimum Duration | 2 days |
| Minimum Age | None, but training centres often take children from the age of 8 |
| Course Content | Launching and recovery, steering, parts of the boat, basic sailing |
| Ability after the course | Able to steer and understand basic principles |
| Times | Day One - Course Agenda |
|---|---|
| 9.00 | Arrive at Ancrum Outdoor Centre to register for your course and meet your instructors where you will be briefed and issued your sailing kit |
| 9.30 | Arrive at Dundee Sea Cadets Centre, Camperdown Dock to sign in for your course and meet your instructors where you will be briefed and issued your sailing kit and the instructors will show you the location of the changing rooms, toilets, lockers and drying rooms. (See notes below re clothing and equipment) |
| 10.00 | Rigging, launching, steering a boat under paddle and land drill for turning under sail |
| 13.00 | Break for lunch. There is a recreation room onsite and there is plenty of room for groups to sit and enjoy their packed lunch on the quayside of Camperdown dock |
| 14.00 | First solo sail - reaching between two buoys, stopping and understanding capsize |
| 16.30 | Finish sessions afloat and de-rig |
| 16.45 | Debrief and get changed |
| 17.00 | Depart |
| Times | Day Two - Course Agenda |
| 9.00 | Arrive at Ancrum Outdoor Centre |
| 9.30 | Arrive at Dundee Sea Cadets Centre |
| 10.00 | Rigging, launching, reaching, upwind sailing and getting out of irons |
| 13.00 | Break for lunch |
| 14.00 | Sail games |
| 16.30 | Finish sessions afloat and de-rig |
| 16.45 | Debrief and certificate presentations |
| 17.00 | Depart |
What to bring and other essential information
Included in your course cost is the use of our wetsuits, buoyancy aids, helmets and spray tops. Students will need to bring with them suitable footwear (Close toed footwear) (old trainers or wetsuit boots), swimwear (for under wetsuits) and shorts and T shirts, finally a towel is essential. A warm change of clothes for afterwards is also advisable. Other useful items not to forget are a water bottle ( drinking water available in kitchen), sun cream, sun hat and a waterproof camera. There are lockers available however we look after personal possessions belonging to the group. *RYA Books – If you already have a log book we would kindly ask you to bring it with you on your first day and hand it to your instructor. If you do not have a log book and would like to purchase one we do have them available for sale at our centre. A log book is yours to keep and all sailing qualifications gained at an RYA recognised training centre will be logged. If you do not have a log book , you will be issued one as part of course cost. Remember that the log book is yours to keep and should be used to record and log all sailing qualifications gained at an RYA recognised training.
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