Welcome to the Tackers Learn to Sail Program    

Tackers is a fun introductory, games-based kids learn to sail program designed for ages 7 to 12 years.  Kids don’t need to have any sailing experience or club membership to participate.  All the equipment, including the boats and lifejackets, is provided.

Tackers is delivered in small dinghies specifically designed for the program and supervised by Australian Sailing qualified Instructors and Assistant Instructors who are on the water all the time the kids are sailing.

Programs are either 4 or 5 days during the school holidays or over 8 – 10 weeks during term time. Each course is focused on having fun and playing games while learning the basics of sailing.

Tackers 1 – "Having Fun" 

This program is designed to provide a safe and enjoyable introduction to dinghy sailing for primary school aged kids (7-12 years).  Suitable to complete beginners.

Kids sail in pairs in small boats called OziOpti’s.  They learn the basics of boat handling, and manoeuvring, practice safety drills and how to recover from a capsize.  All exercises are incorporated into games so the kids are unaware they are in a lesson, they are just having fun.  It’s a great way to meet new friends while having fun on the water.

Tackers 2 – Tricks & Techniques

Have you completed Tackers 1?

Enrolment into Tackers 2 requires the completion of Tackers 1.

This course is designed to consolidate the experience and knowledge gained in ‘Tackers 1’.   New skills and knowledge are introduced that will enable the successful participant to safely and competently sail a dinghy in controlled conditions independently (One child per boat), with lots of support, supervision and encouragement from the Instructor and Assistant Instructors.

Tackers 3 – Sailing Fast!

Have you completed Tackers 2?

Enrolment into Tackers 3 requires the completion of Tackers 2.

Upon completion of Tackers 3, sailors will be able to apply knowledge of fundamental boat handling to independently manoeuvre their boat in moderate conditions on all points of sailing. This is a chance for the kids to sail boats on their own, learning how to make the boat go faster and playing more games, all whilst still under the guidance and supervision of the Instructor and Assistant Instructors.

Have you completed Tackers 3?

Here is the next exciting step in your sailing pathway!

Enrolment into Green Fleet will require the skills & knowledge developed in Tackers 3

Our Green Fleet is open to young sailors who have completed Tackers 3 and are keen to try their hand at sailing around a course and learning more about racing.  You’ll have a coach on water with you for assistance & guidance, but you’re now becoming a more proficient sailor & making decisions yourself!

Our Green Fleet sail on Saturday mornings, alongside our Pelican and O’pen Skiff Classes.  They will complete one race each week, with the race starting around 11:15am so, arrive around 10.30, to allow time to get dressed, check boat over and launch.  The aim will be for our Green Fleet participants to complete one full lap of the Saturday morning Junior Racing course. This will include following a start sequence and managing a course with multiple other boats on it all while under guidance of qualified instructors.

Our Green Fleet program runs on Saturdays during Term1 & Term 4. 

The entry fee for this racing program is $140. 

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN!

When I’m on the water I can . . .

• Race using all of the ‘Green Fleet’ rules.
• Raise my centreboard downwind.
• Start a race with flag and sound signals.
• Stay close to the start line.
• Finish most races that I start.
• Complete a race course, rounding marks in right direction and in correct order. 

And when I’m on shore I can . . .

• Identify basic start sequence flags and their meanings.
• Become familiar with common race courses.
• Adjust sail settings to suit conditions and increase speed and performance.
• Rig and derig my boat from scratch.
• Launch own boat and sail out to race course.

UP COMING COURSES -

Tackers 1 - Holiday Program - Monday 28th September 2026 - Friday 2nd October 2026 (9am-2pm) - Registration coming soon

Tackers 2 -  Holiday Program -Monday 28th September 2026 - Friday 2nd October 2026 (9am-2pm)  - Registration coming soon

Tackers 3 -  Holiday Program - Monday 28th September 2026 - Friday 2nd October 2026 (9am-2pm) - Registration coming soon  

Tackers 1 - Term 4 Wednesday Afternoons (4pm-6.30pm)  - Dates TBC

Tackers 2 - Term 4 Wednesday Afternoons (4pm-6.30pm - Dates TBC

Tackers 3 - Term 4 Wednesday Afternoons (4pm-6.30pm) -  Dates TBC

Tackers 1 - Term 4 Saturday Mornings (8.30am-11.00am) - Dates TBC

Tackers 2 - Term 4 Saturday Mornings (8.30am-11.00am) - Dates TBC

Tackers 3- Term 4 Saturday Mornings (8.30-11.00am) - Dates TBC

TACKERS GREEN FLEET - SATURDAY MORNINGS - TERM 4- (10.45-12 midday approx) - Dates TBC

Course Fees

Our Tackers 1 courses are $300 per student and our Tackers 2 & 3 courses are $320 per student (as the kids move on to sailing a boat by themselves).

Course Fee includes:

• Up to 25 hours of tuition by Australian Sailing qualified instructors
• Small Instructor to Student ratio of only 1:6
• Use of Tackers dinghies, including sails & all equipment
• Use of a lifejacket
• Provision of on-water safety/coach boats
• Activity Sheets
• Certificate on attainment of all competencies

       Active Kids Vouchers are accepted. 

If you wish to use your voucher as part payment for your course please enter the discount code 'ACTIVEKIDS' on registration, and email your voucher code to the Sailing Office at  sailing@16s.com.au.    

If you would like any further information regarding our Tackers Program please contact the Sailing Office via sailing@16s.com.au or 4945 7736.