Beginners' Course Availability:

Course 1 (May/Jun) - Finished
Course 2 (Jun/Jul) - Finished
Jnr Course - Finished
dates & costs

Contact the Training Principal:

  • Mark Meadows
  • Tel: 01332 760361

Race Officer Training:

Training Programme:

Sailing Courses:

Power Boat Courses:

Training

Burton Sailing Club is an RYA recognised teaching centre (RYA listing). As such we have to meet high standards for the quality of our instruction and safety, and are subject to regular inspections to ensure these standards are maintained. We extend our warm welcome to all that want to learn to sail or improve their sailing techniques. We regularly offer "Beginners" or "start sailing" courses to the general public. This are as described in the RYA level 1 & 2 syllabus. The club also provide advanced sailing, first aid and power boat courses from time to time especially to club members. See the course programme for planned courses.


Beginners' course

Our beginners' training courses will take you from a complete novice to someone able to handle a dinghy safely in light wind conditions. You will start gently with an instructor and soon develop the confidence to go solo. By the end of the course you will be able to rig your own training boat and sail a triangular course. More information on the content/syllabus covered by the course is covered below, but for costs & dates please contact our training officer (details below).
Please remember that all water based activities can be cold and as such we recommend the following be adopted by all water enthusiasts. Help and advise on these items can be discussed with our training officer in more detail at any time, but are part of the course syllabus:
  • Wetsuit/dry suit ideally for dinghy sailing but alternatively warm clothing of some type.
  • Waterproof/windproof clothing.
  • Soft/old shoes/trainers (they will get wet).
  • Hat (as most body heat is lost via your head).
  • If you wear a watch make sure it is waterproof, glasses should have restraining cord.
  • A towel and change of clothing for when you return to the clubhouse.

Beginners' Course Dates & Costs 2008

There are two beginners' courses currently set in the calendar for 2008. They always run on Saturdays from 0900 to 1600, with an hour for lunch. The dates of which are:
  • Course 1 = May 10, 17, 24, 31 & June 7
  • Course 2 = June 28, July 05, 12, 19 & 26.
There is also a Junior course Mon - Fri 0900 to 1600 over the week
  • Jnr Course = Mon-Fri, July 28 - Aug 02
The course costs are:
  • Children (Aged 10 to 17) = £100 (£80 for members)
  • Adults = £160 (£100 for members)
  • Family = For a family paying full training fees the Annual Subscription to the club for the remainder of the year is waived.
If you would like to apply for a course please contact us at

Syllabus

The aim of this course is to provide a brief taste of dinghy sailing for novices. No previous experience is necessary. By the end of the course, participants will have had a short introduction to the sport of dinghy sailing, including basic boat handling techniques and essential background knowledge. It is recommended that all participants consolidate this short introduction with the Basic Skills course - Level 2.
  • Clothing
  • What to wear
  • Personal buoyancy
  • Rigging
  • Rigging a training dinghy
  • Rigging
  • Spars
  • Foils
  • Sail Controls
  • Parts of the sail
  • Launching / recovery
  • Use of trolley
  • Launching
  • Leaving the shore
  • Coming ashore
  • Sailing techniques and manoeuvres
  • Wind awareness
  • Reaching
  • Stopping (lying-to)
  • Tacking
  • Getting out of irons
  • Sailing upwind and downwind
  • Gybing
  • Sailing theory and background - Basic rules
  • Port/starboard
  • Windward boat
  • Overtaking boat
  • Capzize recovery
  • Theory - what to do if.......
  • Meteorology
  • On/Offshore winds
  • Sources of Weather Information
  • Ropework
  • Figure of eight
  • Round turn and two half hitches
  • Racing
  • Clubs and classes