The school offers a wide range of courses following the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) modules for each level of ability. These courses can be tailor made to suit your own individual needs. Our Instructor/student ratio is 1:4, which ensures a fun and safe learning environment. Your time with us will be enjoyable as well as constructive. Our courses follow the same syllabus as for dinghy sailing, and provide an excellent platform for those who prefer the relative comfort, stability and versatility that you get with our 18’6ft Traditional Mevagissey Tosher Keelboats. You will cover sail and motor techniques, with the basic principles being similar to dinghy sailing, but the experience being more small yacht.
Get started – a fun 2 day introduction to the world of sailing. Some of the best yachtsman started off in Keelboats. This 12 hour course covers all you need to know to get afloat under supervision, in light wind conditions. Most of your time will be spent on the water, but aspects of theory are included to give you an all round understanding.
During this course you will learn about:
- Rigging a Keelboat
- Sailing techniques such as tacking
- Parts of the sail and sail control
- Reaching, tacking and gybing
- Basic rope work i.e. knots
- How to use an inboard engine on the boat
You will also be taught how to launch and recover your boat.
As well as being aware of other water users, an important part of sailing is a basic knowledge of the rules when out on the water. This will be incorporated into the theoretical part of this course.
Pre course ability required: none.
This course is run on a Monday – Tuesday, Saturday – Sunday
Now that you have the taste for sailing this fantastic course will give you the understanding of the basic skills needed, and will prepare you to sail a boat on your own. During this course you will further your knowledge of:
- Rigging
- Sailing manoeuvres
- Ropework
- Capsize and recovery.
In addition, you will learn about tide tables, wind direction and tidal flow. This course will also cover basic equipment, clothing and buoyancy for your personal safety. You have the choice of two courses, a two day or a three day course.
The Two Day Course
For those of you who are only available to do the course at the weekend, the two day course is the one for you.
The Three Day Course
For those of you that feel you would benefit from having the extra day, try the three day course.
Pre course ability required: knowledge to Level 1 standard
The two days course are run on a Saturday – Sunday
The three day course are run on a Wednesday – Friday
This fantastic course gets you started – a fun 5 day fast track route to the world of sailing. This course is for those of you who can take a week off work and wish to gain a basic understanding and experience of the life of sailing.
Pre course ability required: none
This course is run on a Monday – Friday
These lessons can be booked for dinghy sailing and can be structured however you wish. Perhaps you have not sailed for quite some time and would like to get back into sailing? Have you just bought a boat and want someone to help you rig and take it out for the first time? Do you fancy a session in a modern performance boat or just want to brush up on specific skills? The possibilities are endless.
Pre course ability required: none
A two day course run every Monday – Tuesday, Thursday – Friday, and Saturday – Sunday
Now that you have completed the basics of sailing, and you have got the sailing bug, there is only one remedy – carry on! There’s a choice of five different courses to increase your skills and knowledge of sailing.
We recommend the Seamanship course before going for Day Sailing, but if you fancy getting into our modern asymmetric and letting rip, then go for the Spinnakers course. If you would like to learn about racing basics, then check out our racing course, or if you fancy your hand at trapezing then try our performance sailing course.
You have got the sailing bug! There is only one remedy – carry on. Now add the skills to cope with all eventualities.
During this course you will learn:
- How to deal with strong winds and waves.
- Heave to, reef afloat, recover man overboard.
- Sailing without a rudder, sailing backwards, anchor.
Pre course ability required: must have the skills and background to at least RYA Level 2.
Are you a sailor who would like to be able to explore the Cornish creeks and coastline? This two day course has been designed to give you the skills to create passage planning and make the passage around the beautiful water and creeks of Cornwall’s Fal estuary. To prepare you and to give you the knowledge, to make small passages and to go cruising. During this course you will learn:
- Rigging – preparing a boat for cruising.
- Sailing techniques – pilotage/navigation, collision avoidance.
- Self rescue – in adverse conditions.
Pre course ability required: must have the skills and background to at least RYA Level 2 Coastal
This course is for those of you who have always wanted to sail, but have never found the time. A fantastic opportunity is available for you to experience 3 hours of sailing, just to see if you enjoy it.
Pre course ability required: none.
These sessions are booked as half days from 09.30-12.30 morning session, 13.30-16.30 afternoon session
The Instructor Endorsement course consists of 2 days of intensive but enjoyable training. It teaches you the RYA method of teaching in keelboats, the structure of the RYA, and how to teach in keelboat sailing. The course is run by an RYA Coach Assessor. The course will be the full 2 days to ensure that everyone has time to complete all the necessary training. You should note that this course will not run with less than 2 candidates.
Pre course ability required: you must be at least 16 years, and have passed your Dinghy instructors, you are advised to have your First Aid at Sea and Powerboat Level 2 before coming on the course.