Orford Sailing club runs a full compliment of RYA Youth courses from Stage 1 up to the advanced modules, including Seamanship, Start Racing and Spinnakers.
Our main training season for Junior sailing courses runs during the summer holidays in July and August. Our RYA Youth courses are particulalry popular so early booking is advised! The club requires children to be aged 8+ to attend group courses, all of which are taught by our RYA Dinghy instructors.
For younger children, looking to start sailing, we recommend our Topper course programme as a fun introduction to sailing, as these courses run as 4 half-days across a week.
For children aged 11+, or those with more experience, we recommend joining straight on our entry level RYA Stage 1&2 course, taught in RS Fevas across a week of full days.
In addition to our courses, we offer bespoke coaching sessions tailored to your individual needs as well as own-boat tuition for sailors who already have a boat of their own and want to develop their skills in it.
Please check the OSC Calendar for dates.
To book courses follow the Training Courses Booking link to Sailia or for further questions contact: Training@orfordsail.org.uk
A basic understanding of how a boat sails, with some experience of steering and handling the boat and a range of sailing skills and knowledge to help in becoming a confident sailor.
None
5 Full Days
Launching and recovery, steering, parts of the boat, basic sailing skills, ropework and collision avoidance.
Able to steer, tack, control boat speed, and understand basic principles.
Rigging, launching and sailing in any direction.
Up to and including Stage 2
4 Full Days
Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques & maneuvers, capsize recovery, and sailing theory.
Able to rig, launch and sail a dinghy around a triangular course in moderate conditions and attempt maneuvers under instruction.
Sail a double handed boat as crew or helm and solve a variety of problems afloat.
Up to and including Stage 3
4 Full Days
Can rig, launch and return to a beach, jetty or mooring in any wind direction, sail a crewed dinghy efficiently around a triangular course in moderate conditions, accurately execute sailing maneuvers without instruction and understand advanced sailing and meteorological theory.
Confident in independant sailing skills and techniques, and ready to progress onto the advanced modules.
The fundamentals of racing
Sailing and knowledge to at least Stage 3.
2 Full Days
All the skills to start racing, including how to maximize boat speed, how to start and how to complete a course.
Able to take part in racing in good conditions.
Seamanship Skills
Sailing Skills to Stage 4 Standard
2 Days
Launching and recovering the boat in different circumstances e.g. windward and leeward shores, stopping, reducing sail e.g. reefing., recovering a man overboard, anchoring, towing and rope work.
Able to handle a wide range of situations afloat.
Theoretical and practical understanding and expereince of sailing with Spinnakers.
Sailing Skills to Stage 4 Standard
2 Days – run on request and taught on a 1-1 or 2-1 basis
The theory behind sailing with spinankers, how to rig, hoist & drop a spinnker and utilise an asymmetric spinnker whilst gybing and sailing downwind.
Able to rig, hoist, drop, sail downwind and gybe with an asymmetric spinnaker.
These sessions make sailing easier to access for local children aged 8 – 11.
We offer young people the opportunity to try out dinghy sailing in a safe structured environment. They experience the fun, teamwork and excitement that being on the water offers.
These informal sessions teach them all kinds of invaluable life skills and also provide much local knowledge.
Sailing develops independence, confidence, and creativity and provides opportunities for pupils to develop. OSC hopes to make strong connections with local families in the community.
All these sessions are organised by volunteers from within the Club.
