Learn To Sail

If you already know what course you would like to book, please click here. If not, read on below for the different courses we offer and some information about them. We look forward to having you with us!

We offer a range of exciting training activities, making it easy for people of all ages and abilities to get into sailing. We are an Australian Sailing accredited training centre. Our courses follow Australian Sailing syllabuses and are conducted to Australian Sailing standards.

Australian Sailing courses are offered at three levels:

Start Sailing 1 – An introduction to basic sailing techniques

Start Sailing 2 – Builds on Start Sailing 1 to complete your introduction to basic dinghy sailing techniques. Graduates of this course are ready to skipper a dinghy.

Better Sailing – Further develops your dinghy handling skills and introduces you to spinnaker handling and trapezing.

Our primary course is a combined Start Sailing 1/Start Sailing 2 course. You can come to us with no previous sailing experience and if you successfully complete the course, you will be ready to skipper a dinghy in light to medium winds.

Our courses are suitable for all ages, from 8 upwards (if you are chronologically advantaged and you can still kneel and have good balance you can still learn to sail).

Course Cancellations

Please note courses may be cancelled if the minimum number of students required is not reached. If we have to cancel a course, we will contact you the week before to rebook you or arrange a refund.

Sailing Courses

School Holiday Programs (Level 1 and 2)

Holiday programs are five-day courses for children run from 9am to 5pm during ACT school holidays. Please complete the enquiry form below to find out about Sea Scout and Group discounts for these programs.

Adult Sailing Courses (Level 1 and 2)

Our adult courses are offered on weekends. Saturday courses are accelerated courses, with less time on the water and are best suited to people who are fit and adept at learning new physical skills. The Sunday course is slower paced and has more time for on-water practice.

Family Sailing (Level 1 and 2)

These courses are designed to enable parents and children (aged 8 and above) to learn to sail together. Open to adults and children with and without sailing experience. If you have a large family, please complete the enquiry form below to find out about discounts. The course runs over four Sundays, from 9 am to 5 pm.

Better Sailing (Level 3)

Level 3 courses allow sailors who have completed a Level 2 certificate and sailed consistently for at least half a season to improve their skills. The course introduces sailors to spinnakers and trapezes, navigation buoys, wind on the lake, sea breezes and other more advanced sailing techniques. The course is open to adults and juniors and runs over two weekends. For safety reasons candidates for this course must have reached suitable minimum skill levels and the YMCA Canberra Sailing Club reserves the right to refuse admission to the course.

Power Boat Handling/Safety Boat Operator

These courses assist the club to maintain a core of qualified drivers for the Club’s power boats which are required as safety boats during club races, regattas and training courses. Successful completion of a Power Boat Handling course is recognised as meeting the full requirements for a New South Wales General Boat License. Non-members are welcome to enrol, however preference will go to club members if the course is full. We also welcome enrolments from participants in other aquatic recreation sports who need to drive safety boats. If available, signup link will be here. 

Course Prerequisites

Participants enrolling in any of the courses must be able to swim at least 50 meters. Enrolments for Family Learn to Sail Courses must comprise at least 1 adult and 1 child. Better Sailing and Safety Boat Operator courses have pre-requisite skill levels for enrolment. Please see the Course Calendar section for further details. Participants minimum age is 8 years old.

Our instructors –

All our instructors are fully qualified Australian Sailing Dinghy Instructors or Dinghy Assistant Instructors. A Dinghy Instructor must have:

·        an Australian Sailing Dinghy Instructor qualification;

·        an Australian Sailing Powerboat Handling qualification;

·        a state powerboat licence;

·        a Senior First Aid Certificate

·        a Working with Vulnerable People card; and

·        completed a Better Sailing (Level 3) course.

Duke of Edinburgh International Award

We recognise that some of our course participants are completing the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and may be using sailing and/or club membership to complete one or more sections of The Award. Visit the Sailing Resources website to find out how sailing courses can contribute to your Award.