Australian Sailing's Tackers 1 – Having Fun is a beginner-friendly, games-based sailing program designed for children aged 7 to 12. Delivered through the Fraser Coast Sailing Academy in cooperation with the Maryborough Sailing Club, the course introduces kids to the basics of sailing in a safe and supportive environment. Participants sail in pairs or single handed in small boats, learning fundamental skills such as steering with a tiller extension, tacking, gybing, and understanding wind direction—all through fun, non-competitive activities on and off the water. No prior sailing experience is required, and all equipment, including boats and lifejackets, is provided. This course is delivered over the course of 3 days, culminating in a Tackers 1 completion certificate.

To provide the best possible experience for participants, the course will operate over an 8-week period from July 26th to September 13th, and will be conducted on the first four Sundays with suitable weather conditions within those 8 weeks. Sundays affected by poor or unsafe weather will be skipped.

---

Course Overview
This course aims to provide children aged 7-12 with a fun, safe and affordable way to get into sailing. 

Course Prerequisites

• Water confident
• 7-12 years-old

Who should do this course?

This course is designed for participants who wish to have fun and learn the basics of sailing through games on and off the water.

Course Outcome

By the end of the Tackers 1 course, the participants will be able to:

• Steer with tiller extension under towing paddling power
• Tie a figure 8 knot, round twice and two half hitches
• Tack (push turn)
• Gybe (pull turn)
• Reach around a figure of 8 course using both tacking and gybing
• Sail with tiller extension
• Sail upwind and downwind by following the safety boat

You will gain your Tackers 1 completion certificate.