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Introduction 

Learn to sail with the RYA

Possibly the quickest and easiest way to learn to sail. Small boats are easy to handle and generally light to launch and transport. Learn to sail on your own in a single handed boat or with a crew.

You can potter about exploring your local stretch of water, join a sailing club full of like-minded people, or learn to race.

Find a course near you!

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Adult and youth sailing courses

Adult and youth sailing courses

Our National and Youth Sailing Schemes are a series of two-day courses for anyone wanting to learn in dinghies, small keelboats or multihulls. They are designed to help you enjoy whichever aspect of the sport appeals to you.

Following on from the early courses in both the National Sailing Scheme and the Youth Sailing Scheme, you can choose one of the five advanced modules to suit your sailing interests, eg. Start Racing, Day Sailing, Seamanship Skills, Sailing with Spinnakers and Performance Sailing. These are available to both adults and young people. 

See our online brochure by clicking here.

Adult beginners' courses

Youth beginners' courses

Improvers' and advanced courses

Racing courses

What they are

Two-day Level 1 and 2 courses teaching the basics and getting you sailing on your own

Four courses broken into bite sized chunks to get you sailing on your own

More advanced courses in specialist areas including day sailing, seamanship skills, performance sailing and sailing with spinnakers

Three courses taking you from novice racer to feeling confident to compete at club racing or regional events

Who they're for

No minimum age but it is suggested that under 16s learn through the Youth Sailing Scheme

Anyone under 16. Children can usually start taking courses from around the age of 8.

Adults who have achieved Level 2, or can sail to at least that standard. Youths who have achieved Stage 3 or 4, or can sail to at least that standard

 Adults who have achieved Level 2, or can sail to at least that standard. Youths who have achieved Stage 3 or 4, or can sail to at least that standard

Find a training centre

Get the contact details to see where and when you can take one of these courses, and what it will cost.

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