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SYC Keelboat Sailing

Start Sailing

An introduction to the basics of sailing on a small keelboat, including boat handling, safety and sailing theory.

Click here for session times and dates

Length

  • 6 hour One Day course  (1 x 6 hr day) or
  • 12 hour Two Day course  (2 x 6 hr days)

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

Outcomes

Basic sailing and boat handling skills and knowledge.

Pre-requisites

Water confident.

Who should do this course?

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

Syllabus

1. Safety Equipment, clothing and safe practices

  • Is aware of hazards on board a boat and understands how to avoid them.
  • Understands the correct use of safety equipment on board.
  • Understands the importance of the correct fitting and wearing of personal flotation devices.
  • Understands the importance of appropriate clothing and footwear.

2. The Boat

  • Has basic knowledge of sailing terms, can identify parts of a boat, rigging and sails.
  • Can bend on, hoist, lower and stow sails.

3. Ropework

  • Can tie the following knots: figure of eight, bowline, round turn and two half hitches.
  • Has basic knowledge of the use of sheets, halyards, winches, clutches, mooring lines and cleats.
  • Can coil and stow a rope.

4. Sailing Skills

  • Understands the theory and basic principles of sailing including tacking and gybing.
  • Has basic wind awareness.
  • Can steer a boat on all points of sail under supervision.
  • Can trim sails on all points of sail.

5. Man Overboard

  • Understands the correct action to be taken to recover a MOB.

6. Rules of the Road

  • Has awareness of the basic rules of the road.
  • Can maintain continuous lookout.