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SAILING PATHWAYS

YOUTH SAILING ACADEMY

The Academy provides a range of opportunities for young people to participate in the sport of sailing in Canberra and compete interstate and overseas, while developing leadership qualities, and attaining recognition for their achievements. If you are unsure which class best suits your child, please contact the Sailing School Office for advice or refer to this progression guide.

ADULT COURSES

If you are over 17 years of age, check out our Adult Courses page.

The Canberra Yacht Club provides a range of fun opportunities for young people to participate in the sport of sailing in Canberra through 8 week courses during term 1 and term 4 of the ACT school year. Students progress through the programs and can work towards competing interstate and overseas if they love racing. Students develop leadership qualities and attain recognition for their achievements.

The Canberra Yacht Club Sailing School operates a five level Junior Sailing Program. The levels progress from a basic introduction to sailing, to an introduction to racing to finally a full racing program. The first four levels of this program are taught through the school holiday or term time Youth Sailing programs, the final level is taught as part of either the Optimist Race Squad or the Youth Race Squad.

It is important to note that in all term time classes spaces are limited and positions in Gold, the Optimist Training Program and the Youth Race Squad are by invitation only.

If you are unsure which class best suits your child, please contact the Sailing School Office for advice.

ph. (02) 6273 4777

TERM TIME TACKERS PROGRAMS

7-11 years old.

The CYC's Tackers Programs are designed for school children aged between the ages of 7 to 11 as safe, fun games based learning in specially designed Optimist Dinghies. All Canberra Yacht Club staff are qualified instructors through Australian Sailing. These levels are competence based and the rate at which students move through the material will vary.

Saturdays 9.30–11.30am

Term 1 and Term 4

Participants will learn the basics of sailing, boating safety, and confidence in the boat. The boats are sailed two-up, with sailing games replacing traditional theory.

Tricks and Techniques

Saturdays 12–2pm

Participants will learn to sail single-handed, rig and launch independently as well as skills such as stopping, coming alongside and sailing backwards.

Sailing Fast

Fridays 4-6pm

Focuses on sailing faster through boat and sail trim as well as racing skills and how wind shifts, tide and current affect the boat.

TERM TIME OUTTHERE SAILING PROGRAMS

12-17 years old, beginner sailors.

Saturdays 2:30-5:00pm

The Silver program aims to develop student's sailing skill to a pre-racing level. Participants in this course can be beginners or can be developing and refining skills that they may have learned in a holiday course (level 1). Successful completion of the Silver program will involve the fulfilling of the requirements of Levels 2 and 3 of the learn to sail program. These levels are competence based and as such the rate at which students move through the material will vary. The majority of this program will be sailed in Toppers.

Learning to Race

Fridays 4-6.30pm

This program is designed to get teenaged students to further develop their skills from basic sailing into racing. This program is offered as invitation only. The course works on gaining the basic knowledge about racing and easing into the club racing; the students will be working towards their level 4 in sailing. After they have completed the course they may then go into either the Optimist program or the Youth Racing Squad.

TERM TIME RACE SQUAD PROGRAMS

Optimist training program, green fleet and race squad 7-11 years old.

Sundays 10am – 12.30pm

This program is designed to allow students to develop their sailing skills in the International Optimist dinghy. There are significant restrictions on the size of students who can sail Optimists. As such, these programs are offered as invitation only. The aim of these courses is to enable students to develop their skills so that they can meet the requirements of Levels 3 and 4. The Green Fleet program extends the student’s sailing skill in the Optimist dinghy to a pre-racing level, teaching new skills as well as developing and refining skills. In the Optimist Race Squad students further develop skills relevant to racing including start lines, rules and tactics, wind strategy and racing terminology. Participants are encouraged to sail in the club summer race program on Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon, as well as attending interstate regattas. Participants are responsible for their assigned CYC boat for the duration of the course, or own their own.

YOUTH RACING SQUAD

12 - 17 years old.

Wednesdays 4.30 – 7.30pm

The Youth Racing Squad is for sailors who are competent in racing and are interested in travelling for events and sailing in Club racing on Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon. This program is offered as invitation only. The program is designed to further the sailor’s knowledge of the rules, tactics and strategies of sailing as well as teaching them new boat handling skills that are useful in race situations and sail settings for all conditions. YRS is sailed in allocated CYC Lasers, or participants own their own boats.