RYA Start Sailing (Level 1)

The RYA Start Sailing course is a weekend RYA approved course to start you sailing. Learning any new skill is a challenging, rewarding and satisfying experience that requires a willingness to try.  Erith Yacht Club wants to help and support as many people as possible in becoming a sailor. We have many, many years of helping landlubbers start safely on their journey to become experienced sailors, able to rig boats and sail to their heart’s content.

Our instructors

Erith Yacht Club’s RYA certified volunteer instructors are usually members of the club and know the area you will be sailing in. They have years of experience and enjoy sailing so want to make your sailing as enjoyable and interesting as possible. They run the RYA Level 1 sailing courses as relaxed friendly events that follow RYA certified methods to get you sailing. Instructors have completed training designed to get you the key skills you need in the clearest, most straight-forward way and to give you constructive feedback as you learn and gain experience sailing. As members your instructors know the club and can introduce you to others wanting crew to sail after you have completed the course.

What you will be sailing in

The RYA Start Sailing course will introduce you to sailing in a small, easy to manage sailing boat called a dinghy. You’ll get comfortable on the water in ultra-stable Laser Stratos Keel boats which you can sail with up to three other people, allowing our instructors to be at your side to provide support as you start to sail.

What the course covers

This means that as well as getting a well thought through course designed to As well as providing a wealth of background knowledge needed to sail, we will give you ample opportunity to actually sail a dinghy. The course covers:

  • Preparing to sail – Clothing and equipment, working with ropes, precautions and considering the weather
  • Basic sailing terminology – Parts of the boat, wind and tide direction
  • Launching and recovering your dinghy
  • Basic safety practices and ‘rules of the road’ when out on the water
  • Sailing a boat in a straight line
  • Tacking – Turning the boat through the wind to change direction

At the end of the course we aim to have you confidently sailing a dinghy under supervision in light winds.

Qualification

The Start Sailing course is an internationally recognised route to learn sailing. Completion of the course will see you issued with a Royal Yacht Association (RYA) certificate so your knowledge and experience will be recognised around the world.  

Cost

Level 1 and Level 2 Dinghy training courses cost £100 for members and £175 for non-members meaning that if you become a member you can save a total of £150 of your first year’s membership if you plan to do both courses.

How to book

Please email the training team if you are interested in a course or have a question. Equally, contact us if we have not advertised a course that you are interested in.

If you have booked  a course we will send all relevant details including what to bring, what to do and anything else you will need to be prepared for the course you are undertaking.

Attending the course

Check our training page for details on what to bring for your training course at the club and details on how to get to the club

Next steps

In a weekend, you will learn how to start sailing, and you will receive international RYA certification to prove you have done it. Of course, you are not expected to become a sailing master in a weekend, everyone needs more time and practise before they feel comfortable sailing, and before they set off to sail alone.

After attending this RYA Level 1 course, you can visit the club to practise what you have learnt. We would encourage you to consider becoming a Prospective Member to attend organised sailing sessions shown in the club calendar to build your sailing experience. These sessions are a perfect way to enjoy improving your sailing skills, at your own learning speed, with the help of our experienced sailors. They will also help you build contacts with club members to go sailing.

Beyond practice, completing the Level 2 RYA Basic skills course will get you sailing independently and able to take a club boat out with others. You might also start considering purchasing your own dinghy to keep at the club.

Priority for members and prospective members

Like other courses at Erith, if you are a member or prospective member, we will try to help you complete the qualification through priority booking when the course is run or through reciprocal agreements with other neighouring clubs. When offered at Erith members can save with a special member price.