Sailing - RYA Learn to Sail

Title: RYA Learn to Sail Course

Price: £380 p/p

Catchment area: Serving London, Brighton and the counties of Sussex, Kent and Surrey in the South East of the UK.  About 45mins from Eastbourne's sovereign harbour and 20 minutes from Newhaven harbour and Lewes to the East.  About an hour from Croydon and 40 minutes from Haywards Heath and Gatwick Airport to the North.  About 45 minutes from Worthing, an hour from Littlehampton and 35 minutes from Shoreham Harbour yacht club.

Location: Pontoon 19, West Jetty, Brighton Marina.

Parking: Free in the marina multi storey car park.

Candidates: Novices, families, schools, beginners.

Frequently asked questions:

Do I need a licence to drive a boat / sail a yacht?

The short answer is, in the UK, amazing as it may sound, legally you do not need to hold any licence or attend any course to drive a powerboat or sail a yacht.. for anything up to 24m or under 500 gross tons.  

The long answer is.. it’s complicated!  It depends where you are sailing, which company/club/country, what type of boat, who you are on the boat with and the reasons you are on the water. ie leisure or commercial.  The Learn to Sail Course is a minimum requirement for some flotilla companies and clubs, but above all, it’s just great first step into sailing.  In the mean time try taking a look at our recommended '6_steps_to_sailing.pdf' for sailing

What licence do I need to join SailnetUK’s Sunday Morning ‘Club’?

You will need at least a SailnetUK RYA Learn to Sail certificate. This will automatically qualify you for our Sunday morning Sailing Club where you can keep up your sailing skill and build on them with racing skills, spinnakers, performance sailing etc.  It’s a great way to meet new people too!  What’s more it’s just £25 a session with no joining fees, or any other financial commitment.  You can literally check ahead for availability, book online and turn up!

Do I ever need to renew my RYA Learn to Sail Certificate?

No, your RYA Learn to Sail certificate is for life.  However, if it has been a while since you have put your training onto practice, then it would be prudent to do a sailing refresher course or’ brush up’.

Is there a Sailing exam at the end of the course?

No, the course has no formal assessment or test.  There is obviously sailing training syllabus to follow which involves continual assessment, but it is very informal. You literally learn as you sail, and as long as you have paid attention during the course, there is no reason you won’t be able to breeze through the course.  No-one has walked away without a certificate yet!

Where will my RYA Learn to Sail licence be valid?

Remember this is not a ‘licence’ it is a certificate and is not a legal requirement anywhere, but is a minimum requirement with some flotilla companies.  However, if you are travelling abroad it would be prudent to work towards your ICC certificate.  Although RYA qualifications are generally internationally acceptable, the ICC is a legal requirement in some countries. 

What is the right Learn to Sail course to take, there seems to be so many?

There are many sailing courses and it can be quite confusing.  Even with the RYA there are two separate sailing schemes with different levels.  At SailnetUK we take the best bits from both schemes and combine them to create our  '6_steps_to_sailing.pdf'.

This RYA Learn to Sail Course is a 4 day practical sailing course but tends to be referred to in many ways –

RYA Learn to Sail, Beginners Sailing, RYA Start Sailing and Basic Skills, RYA Learn to Sail Course, Sailing Courses for Novices, Beginners Sailing Course, Sail Training Course, RYA National Sailing Scheme, Sailing Courses for beginners, Day Sailing Course, Small Yacht Sailing course, Boat Skipper's Beginners Course, Sailing Courses for novices, Sailing lessons for beginners, Beginner Sailing Lessons.

...whatever the course is called, always MAKE SURE THE COURSE AND THE TRAINING CENTRE/SAILING/ YACHT CLUB IS ENDORSED BY THE RYA (Royal Yachting Association), otherwise minimum standards of boats, instructors and equipment cannot be guaranteed, they may be operating illegally, and you may be putting yourself at risk!

Why choose SailnetUK’s RYA Learn to Sail Course when all courses follow a similar syllabus?

We only use multi disciplined, experienced instructors who use their skills on a day to day basis.  We have one of the highest ratio’s of Senior Keel Boat and CRB checked instructors in the country, are endorsed by the RYA, Trading Standards, and are the only Sailing school to win not just one but TWO Tourism Excellence Awards for our sailing activities.  We also cap our courses at a 5:1 student to instructor ratio, so you get individual attention.

Is there a fee for issuing a RYA Learn to Sail Certificate?

No, it is all included on the course fee.

Are there any other hidden costs?

No.  If you book online, there are no ‘claw back’ credit card charges, VAT charges, parking fees or any other charges, which can quickly push up the price of a ‘cheap’ sailing courses.  If you book over the phone however, a 2% credit card charge will still apply.

Why go to Brighton Marina to do my Learn to Sail Course?

Many Training Centres can be draughty out of the way places incompatible with a learning environment.  At Brighton Marina, you are in the heart of one of the biggest marinas in Europe, and only ten minutes from the open water.  Brighton Marina with its many cafe’s bars and restaurants is a great place to hang out afterwards too!

Do you do group discounts, special dates, special offers or ‘on location’ training?

For groups of 4 or more, we are happy to discuss your specific needs, whether it be a Learn to Sail Course group discount rate, a date to suit you, holding the course at your dive club, boat club, marina, crew house or business.  As a Brighton Berth Holder Member (BMBHA) you will get a further 10% off our already competitive price. (Only £10 joining fee!).  Special prices and special offers apply to new bookings only.

What does the course cover?

START SAILING LEVEL 1

This course provides a short introduction to sailing for novices. By the end of the course, participants will have a basic understanding of boat handling techniques and background knowledge, be safety conscious, have a basic knowledge of sailing and be capable of sailing without an instructor on board in light winds.

Tuition is provided by trained instructors, using a maximum supervision ratio of 5:1.

Rigging Knowledge of spars and rigging, parts of the sail and sail controls

Ropework Can tie a figure of eight knot, round turn half hitches and secure a rope to a cleat

Sailing Techniques and Manoeuvres

• Has wind awareness
• Has a practical understanding of the following manoeuvres:
• Reaching - sailing across the wind
• Stopping - lying-to
• Controlling speed
• Tacking - turning the front of the boat through the wind
• Getting out of irons
• Sailing upwind
• Sailing downwind
• Gybing - turning the back of the boat through the wind

Launching and Recovery/Departure and Arrival

Understands the principles of: Leaving the shore/mooring, Returning to shore/mooring, Wind awareness ashore

Section B - Onshore teaching

Sailing Theory and Background - Has awareness of other water users

Has basic knowledge of rules of road - power versus sail, port versus starboard, overtaking boat, windward boat

Meteorology - Has awareness of onshore and offshore winds Knows sources of weather information

Man Overboard Recovery - Understands action to be taken to recover a man overboard

Emergency Equipment and Precautions - Awareness of potential hazards of fuel and gas, Has knowledge of stowage and use of fire extinguishers

BASIC SKILLS LEVEL 2

Section A - Practical

Rigging Understands how to rig according to weather conditions, Able to reef

Ropework Can tie a bowline, clove hitch and rolling hitch. Able to use winches.

Sailing Techniques and Manoeuvres Has basic practical understanding of the following:

• The Five Essentials - sail setting, balance, trim, course made good.
• Leaving and returning to a beach, jetty or mooring
• Coming alongside a moored boat
• Knows basic rules of the road: power/sail, port/starboard, windward boat, overtaking boat
• Aware of lee shore dangers, sailing in close company with others and man overboard recovery
• Able to paddle a sailing dinghy and row a boat around a short triangular course, come alongside and make fast

Use of Engine

Has knowledge of engine checks, starting, stopping and running procedures. Able to come alongside and pick up a mooring.

Section B - Onshore teaching

Sailing Theory and Background

Has knowledge of: Points of sailing and No Go Zone

How a sail works - basic aerodynamic theory

Sea Sailing - Basic advice for inland sailors, including taking local advice. Speed over ground with/against tidal flow

Inland sailing - basic advice including local bylaws, permits, overhead power lines, locks and weirs

The dangers of hypothermia and the importance of first aid training, particularly cardio pulmonary resuscitation

Meteorology - Knows sources of weather and shipping forecasts, when to reef. Understands Beaufort Wind Scale

Clothing and Equipment Knows importance of personal safety, clothing and buoyancy boat buoyancy and basic equipment depending on boat type (may include anchor, paddle, bucket, bilge pump)

Emergency equipment and precautions Knows importance of first aid kit and flares including stowage. Visual methods of attracting attention, action to help those in distress.

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