Junior Learn To Sail
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Boys and girls aged 8-14 years and over are invited to join the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club ‘Learn to Sail’ programme. The programme offers young sailors the chance to experience sailing through the use of Club yachts under instruction from qualified instructors.
Our fleet has a variety of sailing boats available for use including Optimist, O’pen Skiff and RS Fevas dinghies for the immediate use of young sailors.
Each course is held over 5 lessons. One lesson per week for 5 weeks. Every lesson is 4 hours in duration and will be run either in the morning or afternoon depending on when high tide falls.
Sessions will either start at approx. 9.00am or 1.00pm
Classes run on consecutive Sundays.
Course Fees for all levels are
- Members of Bucklands Beach Yacht Club discount $270
- Non-members of Bucklands Beach Yacht Club $285
Course content for Level 1 beginners 'Start Sailing' covers
Wind Direction – Rigging an Optimist – Sailing Skills – Rope Work – Safety – Basic Sailing Rules – Launching and Recovery – Naming of Boat Parts – Capsizing.
Course content for Level 2 'Sailing Faster" covers
Learn more sailing terms – Safety Advanced – Knot knowledge – Weather, tides and currents – Balance essentials – Points of sail – advanced – Launching and retrieving – more tips – Tacking technique – The art of gybing – Boat handling.
Course content for Level 3 ‘Learn to Race’ covers
Ready to race – Boat Balance – Forces on the boat – Start and finish lines – Tactics and strategy – Mark roundings – Ways of the weather – Communication and teamwork.
Next Course – Starting 24th September 2024- Level 1, 2 & 3
| Date | High Tide | Start Time | Finish Time |
| 22nd Sept | 10.21am | 9.00am | 1.00pm |
| 29th Sept | 6.06pm | 1.00pm | 5.00pm |
| 6th Oct | 10.34am | 9.00am | 1.00pm |
| 13th Oct | 4.18pm | 1.00pm | 5.00pm |
| 20th Oct | 10.11am | 9.00am | 1.00pm |
| RS 27th Oct | 4.37pm | 1.00pm | 5.00pm |
Email the Sailing Academy coach@bbyc.org.nz to register your interest.
How old does my child need to be to participate?
The Courses are available for children between the ages of 8 to 14 years of age.
What is the duration of the course?
The course runs for 5 weeks. 4 hour long sessions either in the morning or afternoon depending on the tide.
Are there any prerequisites before my child can participate?
The only prerequisite is that each child must be able to swim a minimum of 25 meters in a Life Jacket/Buoyancy Aid.
What types of boats are used?
Optimists, O’pen Skiff and Rs Fevas. Optimists are a single hander for beginners, O’pen Skiff are a single hander for more experienced sailors and our RS Fevas are a two hander. The Quest is designed for up to three children plus a coach.
How many children will be on a boat?
Both the Optimist and O’pen Skiff is one person per boat, two for the RS Feva dependant, three children on the Quest plus a coach.
Will my child learn how to steer and crew on a sailing dinghy?
Yes, but some kids may prefer to crew. This is a normal step to gain confidence and they will come into their own when they are ready. Some sailing dinghies also require crew and that is just as important as helming.
My child is a little cautious about sailing?
We specialise in children who are not confident. We know how scary it can be for a child when it is their first time sailing and try to spend extra time with these children who are not confident, or perhaps not as quick at picking up the skills as the others. Our instructors are keen to assist and help these students reach their sailing goals.
What safety precautions are there for my child?
We take safety very seriously. We have on and off water policies that our instructor’s follow and use to base their decisions upon. When on the water all participants must wear life vests. There are constant reminders about safety, sunburn and weather protection. We have an approved ratio of students to instructors as recommended by Yachting New Zealand.
Are parents encouraged to participate with their children?
Indeed, parental involvement is gladly welcomed in this programme. Areas of help and assistance will be getting patrol craft into the water, getting Optimists out of the lockers, assistance with launching and retrieving the sailors and washing and storing the boats. With parents help the lessons on the water and in the classroom can be longer and less time spent washing and packing the boats away.
What safety precautions are there for my child?
We take safety very seriously. We have on and off water policies that our instructor’s follow and use to base their decisions upon. When on the water all participants must wear life vests. There are constant reminders about safety, sunburn and weather protection. We have an approved ratio of students to instructors as recommended by Yachting New Zealand.
Does the course follow a syllabus?
The course is based upon the Yachting New Zealand syllabus. At the completion of each course sailors are awarded attainment certificates.
What to expect
We have a full fleet of fifteen modern self-bailing Optimists, nine O’pen Skiffs, three RS Feva’s and a RS Quest. Your child will be allocated their own boat each Sunday. Each session you will spend a little time in the classroom, some time on land rigging the boat and practising drills. Then the rest of the session will be spent on the water, having fun and learning to sail.
The next Junior Holiday Programme
Holiday Programme – 7th to 10th October 24
Start time 9.00am, – Finish time 2.00pm.
Where to go
Junior Sailing Centre, 57 the Parade, Bucklands Beach.
What happens after Junior learn to sail?
After Level 3 Learn to Race course is completed, we invite you to join the BBYC Centreboard Cadets which will introduce your sailors to the centreboard racing division – For further information click