Start Crewing

A Keelboat Start Crewing course is the perfect start to becoming a skilled keelboat sailor. The course is Australian Sailing Accredited and instructed by qualified Australian Sailing Instructors. Start Crewing covers the basic safety, theory and practical skills involved in being a crew member on a small keelboat.

Our Start Crewing course is conducted on our club 7.5m (25ft) keelboats which are perfect for teaching and learning. We will provide you with a life jacket for your course and a wet weather jacket if you need one. You will not need any special clothing for your course, however we request that you wear non-marking (or light coloured) soled shoes and make sure to bring warm clothing that you are able to get wet. On rainy or windy days it is a great idea to bring a towel and a change of clothes.

Each participant will receive a theory book and a log book as well as a certificate of participation (this may be emailed after the course). Please remember to bring your books to the second day of the course!

We will have a lunch break each day and you are welcome to bring your own lunch or purchase lunch from our Member’s Bar. For safety reasons we are unable to take anyone on board who has consumed alcohol before or during the course.

Our Keelboat Programs are priced at $380pp and we do offer a member discount. If you would like to be notified when course dates are confirmed please email sycba@syc.com.au

Length

  • 12 hour Two Day course  (2 x 6 hr days) – ONE Day Trial Course Available (day one of two only)

A makeup date is also scheduled in the event of bad weather.

Start Crewing Outcomes

Sailing ElementCriteria
Preparationo Understands the importance of the correct fitting and wearing of lifejackets
o Understands the importance of appropriate clothing and footwear
Boats and Equipmento Has basic knowledge of sailing terms, can identify parts of a boat, rigging and sails
o Can bend on, hoist, lower and stow sails
Ropeworko Can tie the following knots: figure of eight, bowline, round turn & two half hitches
o Has basic knowledge of the use of sheets, halyards, winches, clutches, and cleats
o Can coil and stow a rope
Skills and Techniqueso Understands the theory and basic principles of sailing including tacking and gybing
o Has basic wind awareness
o Can trim sails on all points of sail
o Can tie up boat alongside using springs and mooring lines
Safety and Emergencieso Understands the correct action to be taken to recover a man overboard
o Understands the correct use of safety equipment on board
o Is aware of hazards on board a boat and understands how to avoid them
Sailing Theoryo Has awareness of the basic rules of the road
o Can maintain a continuous lookout

Start Crewing Pre-requisites

Water confident.

Over 16 years or 12 years with a guardian.

Who should do this course?

Anyone wanting to learn the basic fundamentals of crewing on a small keelboat.

Next Steps

Following the Start Crewing Course there are a number of options to continue your sailing:

Saturday Courses

Start Crewing / Saturday Courses

  • Saturday, October 24, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Saturday, October 31, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

3 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE

Start Crewing / Saturday Courses

  • Saturday, November 07, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Saturday, November 14, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

5 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE

Start Crewing / Saturday Courses

  • Saturday, November 21, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Saturday, November 28, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

5 PLACES AVAILABLE

$360 NON MEMBER $340 SYC MEMBER

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Start Crewing / Saturday Courses

  • Saturday, December 12, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Saturday, December 19, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

5 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE

Start Crewing / Saturday Courses

  • Saturday, January 09, 2027
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Saturday, January 16, 2027
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

4 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE

Start Crewing / Saturday Courses

  • Saturday, January 30, 2027
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Saturday, February 06, 2027
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

5 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE

Sunday Courses

Start Crewing / Sunday Courses

  • Sunday, October 18, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Sunday, October 25, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

3 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE

Start Crewing / Sunday Courses

  • Sunday, November 01, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Sunday, November 08, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

3 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE

Start Crewing / Sunday Courses

  • Sunday, November 22, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Sunday, November 29, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

5 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

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Start Crewing / Sunday Courses

  • Sunday, December 13, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Sunday, December 20, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

5 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE

Start Crewing / Sunday Courses

  • Sunday, January 10, 2027
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Sunday, January 17, 2027
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

5 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE

Start Crewing / Sunday Courses

  • Sunday, January 31, 2027
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Sunday, February 07, 2027
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

5 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE

Weekend courses

Start Crewing / Weekend courses

  • Saturday, October 31, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Sunday, November 01, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

5 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE

Start Crewing / Weekend courses

  • Saturday, November 07, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM
  • Sunday, November 08, 2026
    09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

5 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

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Women Only

Start Crewing / Women Only

  • Tuesday, December 29, 2026
    09:00 AM to 01:00 PM
  • Wednesday, December 30, 2026
    09:00 AM to 01:00 PM
  • Thursday, December 31, 2026
    09:00 AM to 01:00 PM

5 PLACES AVAILABLE

$380 NON MEMBER $360 SYC MEMBER

BOOK COURSE