Adult Learn to Sail

Start Sailing - Adult Learn to Sail

Mixed Male/Female Class

The initial Adult ‘Learn to Sail a Dinghy' (Start Sailing 1) program at Port Kembla Sailing Club runs over 4-5 weeks* and will take you from novice to competent! During this course, you will have hands-on experience as both skipper and crew with an experienced instructor, learning the basics. You are expected to attend all sessions to get the most out of the course.

Port Kembla Sailing Club is located on the northern shore of Lake Illawarra next to Berkeley Harbour. It has a grassy rigging area, clubhouse with canteen, changerooms with hot showers, a sandy beach and plenty of parking.

The course will be conducted on the club's fleet of three, large and stable RS Vision dinghies. For weeks 1 & 2, you will have an instructor on board. After that, instruction will be given by the instructor aboard a safety boat (RIB). You will need to be water-confident and have sufficient strength and agility to right a capsized boat and get back on board. Courses are limited to nine participants with two instructors.

Throughout the Learn to Sail program, instructors will follow the Australian Sailing-prescribed syllabus, with an emphasis on learning and progression, while keeping safety and fun in mind!

After participants complete Start Sailing 1, progression is at the sailor’s discretion or the instructor’s recommendations.

Please note that this course is for participants 15 years and over.

PKSC Adult Dinghy Learn to Sail Pathway

• Start Sailing 1 - 5 x 3hr sessions (Novice sailors)
  Start Sailing 2 - must have completed SS1 or have demonstrated competence
  Better Sailing - must have completed SS1 & 2 or have demonstrated competence
  Start Racing - must have completed BS or have demonstrated competence
  Better Racing - must have completed SR or have demonstrated competence

Course Overview - Start Sailing 1

This course introduces participants to dinghy sailing and its fundamental skills, learn terminology, correct handling of equipment and practice launching and returning to shore, and capsize recovery. Participants will be able to identify points of sailing and be able to sail upwind and downwind as well as change direction.

Course Prerequisites

Water confident and a reasonable level  of fitness and agility. Dinghy sailing involves learning capsize recovery and getting back on board.

Course Cost

$320 for 4-5 weeks (15 hours).

*Nominally 4 weeks, with an extra week if bad weather prevents the course from proceeding in one of the weeks.

The booking fee of $100 is to reserve your spot. The balance of $220 is payable two weeks before course commencement.

If you withdraw more than two weeks before the course begins, $100 is refundable; less than 2 weeks, there is no refund. 

Who should do this course?

This course is designed for participants who wish to begin sailing in a dinghy. All the equipment and gear will be provided.

Course Outcome

You will gain your Start Sailing 1 completion certificate. 

What to bring

• Buoyancy vests are supplied. 
• Wear clothes that you don't mind getting wet - a light long-sleeved shirt (for sun protection) and shorts
• Light footwear that you don't mind getting wet. Reef shoes are perfect.
• A hat and sun-screen
• Water bottle
• A towel to dry off.

You will learn the basics of sailing including: how to rig your boat, safe sailing practice, how to use sails and steer a sailing dinghy at different points of sailing, and fundamental seamanship skills about the weather and knots, and  able to safely right a boat after a capsize.  

By the completion of the course, you will be proficient in boat terminology, able to rig independently, and able to safely sail at all points of sailing in light conditions.  

Start Sailing 2

After completing Start Sailing 1, you can progress to the next level in your sailing journey by participating in the Start Sailing 2 course over 5 weeks. 

Better Sailing

Our courses are designed to assist you in becoming a competent sailor, confident enough to participate in club activities such as afternoon racing. That's when the real fun begins!

It's never too late to learn! First-timers from the age of 15 can join our adult classes. Adults who are new to sailing are taught with the direct involvement of an instructor in a small group. When there is sufficient confidence, adults may then 'go solo' on a club boat to further develop their skills. You will be encouraged to participate in training events over the season and perhaps have a chance to crew on a variety of sailing boats at regular Saturday races and weekend regattas. If you are bitten by the bug, you may choose to buy your own boat and join in the wonderful world that sailing can offer you or your whole family. Also, many parents watch on with envy as their kids are having fun and decide to have a go themselves.

• How to rig a boat
• Parts of a boat
• Safety
• Wind and weather
• Steering and the points of sailing (upwind, downwind) - tacking and gybing
• Setting the sails
• Tying knots
• Launching and retrieving
• Theory of sailing
• Rules of the road
• Introduction to racing and race management
• How to recover from a capsize

Sailing is a sport that requires some fitness and agility. We are a sailing club, not a yacht club*. This means that you will get wet, with the likelihood of capsizing, at least in the training. The aim of our course(s) is to enable you to have the skills to be able to join in club activities as a full, boat-owning member or be a regular crew. If this sounds like you, enrol in Start Sailing 1 at the foot of the home page. 

If you have further questions, please make contact via email - presidentpksc@gmail.com

To whet your appetite, there are many YouTube videos about learning to sail. Here are a few to get you started:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3iIOpuhXtU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b477nzyJum0