RYA Sailing Courses
Are you new to sailing and want to take your first steps towards going out on the water? Learn the fundamentals of sailing in a variety of vehicles, from dinghy sailing, to catamarans and keelboats, with our RYA Start Sailing courses.
Then, take your sailing prowess to the next stage, with Level 2 and Level 3 courses, designed to teach new skills and improve your techniques on the water. Advanced courses are for those experienced at sailing, and will help to develop your boat handling and manoeuvring skills, while increasing your self-reliance and decision making as a sailor.
We also offer youth courses for ages 8 and over, providing the perfect opportunity for children to learn new valuable skills and start their sailing journeys at an early age, or for the whole family to take part in the activity together.
Looking to embark on a career in the outdoor industry and become a sailing instructor? We also have a range of instructor courses, enabling you to upskill and turn the activities you love into a career.
BEGINNER SAILING
- 16 years+
- 2 days
- Beginner
Our two day RYA Keelboat Level 1 – Start Sailing course will give you a fun introduction to the world of sailing. On board our own keelboat this will give you the opportunity to follow in the steps of some of the best yachtsmen who started off sailing small keelboats.
- 16 years+
- 2 days
- Beginner
This 2 day course will be spent predominantly in double handed dinghies but you may have the opportunity to try out a single handed dinghy depending upon the overall ability of the group and the prevailing weather conditions.
- 16 years+
- 5 days
- Beginner
Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to try something new, this week-long journey will leave you hooked on the thrill of sailing.
IMPROVE YOUR SAILING
- 16 years+
- 2 days
- Improver
RYA Level 2 Start Sailing Catamarans (2 days) – Improve your sailing on this 2 day course which has an emphasis on providing lots of practical experience out on the water, aimed at building your confidence and competence.
- 16 years+
- 2 days
- Improver
This two-day RYA Basic Skills (Level 2) course builds upon Level 1, focusing on practical sailing in J80 keelboats on the Menai Strait. You’ll learn improved tacking, gybing, coming alongside moorings, and man overboard recovery. By course end, you should be a competent light-wind sailor, capable of sailing a short course independently with nearby coaching.
- 16 years+
- 2 days
- Improver
This two-day improver course bridges basic and advanced sailing, offering a taste of various modules to help sailors choose their specialisation. It consolidates techniques, builds confidence, and introduces advanced activities like keelboat sailing in J80s on the Menai Strait, potentially including seamanship, day sailing, spinnaker skills, and even racing.
- 16 years+
- 2 days
- Improver
RYA Better Sailing (Level 3) builds confidence and technique, bridging basic skills and advanced modules. It consolidates existing knowledge, encourages independent sailing, and may offer a glimpse into specialized sailing areas.
- 16 years+
- 5 days
- Improver
During the week, enhance your sailing abilities and potentially earn two RYA certifications. RYA Better Sailing (Level 3) bridges basic to advanced skills, building confidence for independent sailing and introducing advanced techniques. Seamanship Skills focuses on essential boat handling, decision-making, docking, man overboard recovery, and reefing.
ADVANCED SAILING
- 16 years+
- 2 days
- Advanced
This 2-day course introduces asymmetric spinnaker sailing, offering opportunities for participants to practice both helming and crewing.
- 16 years+
- 2 days
- Advanced
This course focuses on boosting a sailor’s self-reliance and decision-making through hands-on boat handling and seamanlike maneuvering skills. Over two days, you’ll learn launching and recovery in various conditions, stopping, reducing sail, man overboard recovery, and anchoring techniques.