Sailing skills courses 

Start Sailing and Basic Skills courses are standalone courses that complement the current practical courses of the sail cruising scheme.

The main focus for both courses is the principles of sailing the yacht, with very little time spent alongside or learning the skills required to crew and live on board a sailing yacht.

Start Sailing

The Sail Cruising Start Sailing course is an entry level course which can be run in conjunction with a Basic Skills Course.

It is great for families or individuals who would benefit from being trained in the basics of sail theory and manoeuvring a cruising yacht under sail.

The course covers the basics of sailing a yacht, getting the sails up as soon as is practical and focusing on sailing skills and manoeuvres. It covers all the basic sailing techniques and manoeuvres needed on a yacht under sail.  

By the end of the course you will have a basic understanding of yacht handling under sail as well as the relevant background knowledge.  It is recommended that all participants consolidate this short introduction with the Basic Skills Course.  

Duration: Approximately 16 hours (either spread over a series of sessions or two full days).

Basic Skills Course

The Sail Cruising Basic Skills Course builds on the skills gained during the Sail Cruising Start Sailing course, with the main focus being on the skills required to sail a cruising yacht.

This course is great for families or individuals who wish to improve their existing yacht handling skills under sail. Although primarily aimed at improving the skills of someone who has completed the Sail Cruising Start Sailing course, if a student has completed a Start Sailing course under the National Sailing scheme (ie in smaller keelboats or dinghies) they would also be eligible to attend this course.

This course is also very useful for improving the ability of an existing Competent Crew or Day Skipper to handle a yacht under sail. It covers all the sailing techniques and manoeuvres on a yacht under sail both as crew and helm, including slipping and coming alongside under sail, some basic yacht handling under power, sailing theory and basic safety including personal safety at sea, and sailing a yacht in tide or current.

On completion of this course, you will have a basic knowledge of sailing and be capable of sailing a yacht as crew and helm with a skipper on board in light winds.

It is assumed that every student starting this course has already mastered the practical skills and absorbed the background knowledge required for Start Sailing. Both courses can be combined which will then count towards two days of a Competent Crew Course.  

Duration: Approximately 16 hours (either spread over a series of sessions or two full days).