Junior Learn To Sail
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Children aged 8-14 years are invited to join the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club ‘Learn to Sail’ programme.
Our qualified instructors provide a fun and safe introduction to sailing using the Clubs’ fleet of Optimists, O’pen Skiffs, RS Fevas, and RS Quest dinghies.
The programme runs during Term 1 and Term 4, with 8 weekly lessons held on consecutive Sundays. Each session is 3 hours long, with start times of approximately 8.30am, 9.00am or 1.00pm depending on the tide.
Course Fees for all levels are
$600 for 8 sessions, cost includes a BBYC membership for the duration of the course.
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.
Dates for next courses coming soon...
|
Session |
Date |
High Tide |
Start Time |
Finish Time |
|
1 |
18th Oct |
1.31pm |
1.00pm |
4.00pm |
|
2 |
25th Oct |
7.15am |
9.00am |
12.00pm |
|
3 |
1st Nov |
1.00pm |
1.00pm |
4.00pm |
|
4 |
8th Nov |
7.25am |
9.00am |
12.00pm |
|
5 |
15th Nov |
12.15pm |
9.00am |
12.00pm |
|
6 |
22nd Nov |
18.04pm |
1.00pm |
4.00pm |
|
7 |
29th Nov |
11.51am |
9.00am |
12.00pm |
|
8 |
6th Dec |
6.19pm |
1.00pm |
4.00pm |
|
Rain Saver |
13th Dec |
11.10am |
9.00am |
12.00pm |
|
Rain Saver |
20th Dec |
4.28pm |
1.00pm |
4.00pm |
To book click here:Click here
Email the Sailing Academy coach@bbyc.org.nz for any queries.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 8 weeks. 3 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 50 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 RS 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 RS 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.
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, four 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.
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