Adult Learn to Sail (18+yrs)

START HELMING

Develop your skills of helming . . .

This is the next step on the Australian Sailing accredited pathway to learning to sail a small inshore keelboat.

Course Description:
This course develops both your theory and practical skills to confidently take control on the helm.

You will learn preparation of the boat, helming & trimming on all points-of-sail, using telltales to helm effectively and affect the recovery of man-overboard whilst at the helm.

This further 12-hour course will also provide you with more of the valuable time-on-water that helps to develop your skills in differing wind and environmental conditions.

You will learn key concepts including how sails can control the steering of a boat not just the rudder, as well as luffing, heave-to and getting out of “irons”.

The course also introduces other essential areas including weather, ropework and general seamanship skills like anchoring and reefing sails.

This course is highly recommended for those who have completed the Start Crewing course or who have some prior sailing experience and it readies students for other courses we conduct such as Start Skippering and Spinnakers.

Course Info:
Course Length: 4 x 3.5-hour practical sessions
Minimum Age: 16 years
Maximum number of crew on a boat: Five (4 students + 1 Instructor)
Course cost: $345 per person (midweek), $375 per person (weekend)

Included in course fee:

• Minimum of 12 hours instruction by qualified instructors
• Use of a Force 24 inshore keelboat, sails and equipment
• Use of personal safety equipment including a life jacket
• NCYC Training Membership – valid for three months from course commencement date
• Upon successful completion, a nationally recognised Australian Sailing certificate.

START SKIPPERING

Learn the seamanship skills to skipper a boat . . .

The Start Skippering course is the next progressive step in the Australian Sailing accredited pathway and will now advance your seamanship skills and safety knowledge to enable you to skipper a boat, unsupervised, in sheltered waters.

Recommended for those who have completed Start Crewing and Start Helming courses or those who have established sailing skills.

Course Description:
This course begins to develop your broader ‘seamanship’ skills and covers navigation, interpreting weather & environmental conditions, basic boat maintenance, assessing risks on-board, and actions to be taken in an emergency.

Important boat handling skills & techniques to enable you to berth alongside a pontoon, pick up & leave a mooring, come-to & weigh anchor, heave-to, and sail backwards.

You are really starting to become an inshore mariner!

Course Info:
Course Length: 4 x 3.5-hour sessions
Minimum Age: 16 years
Maximum number of crew on a boat: Five (4 students + 1 instructor)
Course Cost: $345 per person (mid-week0, $375 per person (weekend)

Included in course fee:

• Minimum of 12 hours instruction by qualified instructors
• Use of personal safety equipment including life jacket
• Use of a Force 24 inshore keelboat, sails and equipment
• NCYC Training Membership – valid for three months from course commencement date
• Upon successful completion, a nationally recognised Australian Sailing certificate

SPINNAKERS

Learn the specialised skills of using spinnakers . . .

The Spinnakers course is a further step on the Australian Sailing accredited pathway to learning to sail a small inshore keelboat.

Using a third sail when sailing across or downwind ultimately helps you get to your destination sooner!

Knowing how to use spinnakers is a highly regarded crewing skill and one of the key elements of a Bow-person or Trimmers role on a boat.

This course is recommended for those who have completed the Start Crewing and Start Helming courses and have had further sailing experience/time-on-water.  Also suitable for those who have established sailing skills.

Course Description
This course covers all the skills required to hoist, trim and drop a symmetrical spinnaker.

Upon completion of the course, participants will understand how to hoist a spinnaker and set using either a spinnaker pole or by ‘floating’.

You will learn how to correctly trim the spinnaker to get maximum benefit from the extra sail area on various angles of wind including pole position & height.

Spinnaker trim when gybing, and how to gybe the pole will be covered and then you will learn how to drop the kite quickly and efficiently so it’s ready to go back up again without any tangles!

The course also covers asymmetrical spinnaker theory.

Course Info:
Course Length: 4 x 3.5-hour practical sessions
Minimum Age: 16 years
Maximum number of crew on a boat: 5 (4 students + 1 Instructor)
Cost: $375 per person (weekend)

Included in course fee:

• Minimum of 12 hours instruction by qualified instructors
• Use of personal safety equipment including a life jacket
• Use of specialised training equipment
• NCYC Training Membership – valid for three months from course commencement date
• Upon successful completion, a nationally recognised Australian Sailing certificate.

START RACING

The Start Racing course is a further specialised step on the Australian Sailing accredited pathway to learning to sail a small inshore keelboat.

Designed for sailors who have a good level of general sailing experience and now wish to develop their racing skills.

Course Description:
On one of our Force 24 inshore keelboats, you will learn about the racing rules of sailing, course racing flags & sound signals, skills & tactics of racing, as well as gain an understanding of what is expected of a racing crew on a small boat.

The course aims to teach you about sail and boat speed optimisation, as well as the tactical skills to get around the race course as fast as possible!

The course will cover basic racing equipment, understanding teamwork, basic rules of racing, and crew communications.

Course Info:
Course Length: 4 x 3.5-hour practical sessions
Minimum Age: 16 years
Maximum number of crew on a boat: 5 (4 students + 1 Instructor)
Cost: $375 per person.

Register your interest with
[email protected]

WOMEN’S SAILING

It’s Social . . . It’s Relaxing . . . It’s Fun!

Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or never been on a boat, these sessions aim to introduce more women to the wonderful world of sailing in a supportive environment.

Our 4-week course is aimed at all skill levels.  It offers a great social time out on the water and also an opportunity to relax and clear your mind!  Women of all ages 16 years and over are welcome.

We sail on Thursdays after work 5:15pm to 7:45pm during daylight savings time and on Friday mornings 9:00am to 11:30am all year ’round.

The cost is $210 per person  /  Discounted to $185 for return attendees.

Many sailors do several courses to increase their skills, knowledge and confidence . . . and just because it’s fun!

Please allow an extra half an hour or so on the final week of your course as we celebrate your achievements with our renowned ‘Bubbles & Nibbles’ presentation, beautiful sparkling wines and chef prepared finger foods in the NCYC Clubhouse.

“The course surpassed my expectations. I felt tentative as I had no idea what I was doing. A sailing experience in the Whitsundays left me terrified and aware that I need to know what to do to be useful on a boat and not just a terrified dumb passenger.”

“The instructors were wonderful. We had a different instructor each time we went out. I enjoyed the variety and the different approaches to teaching and learning. The styles were quite different which meant we could take away what we could based on our own style of learning. They were all wonderful indeed, they were patient and respectful. And they knew what they were doing which meant I felt safe.”

“I am thoroughly enjoying the course, time on the water, learning, the company of the other ladies and our instructors.  Sailing on Fridays is definitely a highlight of my week!”

“The courses (trainers!) have been great all the way, and our little crew are really starting to feel we know what we are doing.  It was especially exciting last Friday to start learning to manage the spinnaker.”

“The ladies had an absolute ball last night, they didn’t want to go home, stayed in the club after dinner until late telling ‘Sailing Stories!’ Thanks to your great instructors, everyone had fun and learned lots too.”

PRIVATE LESSONS

Are you interested in having one-on-one tuition with a qualified and highly experienced instructor?

Private lessons cater to all ages and experience levels, and are perfect for those wanting to learn, re-learn or further develop their sailing skills.

The lessons can be organised at times that suit you and are charged on a ‘per boat’ basis.  You can organise up to three friends or family to join you for the same price as one person!  We do require a minimum of two guests plus our instructor to sail the boats safely.  Minimum age is 7 years if accompanied by an adult.

We will provide one of our Sailing Academy small inshore keelboats and all of the required safety equipment, plus a lifejacket or PFD for each participant.

Prices differ from weekdays to Saturdays or Sundays, and are calculated based on the number of hours per session.

For more information, please contact our Sailing Academy staff – [email protected]

WHAT TO WEAR

All you need to wear are some comfortable, warm clothes that are suitable for outdoor activity and allow you freedom of movement, with a pair of enclosed shoes to protect your feet.

Active wear is suitable or shorts/trousers & t-shirt/polo shirt.  A wind/spray jacket is a good idea for cooler days.

Joggers/sandshoes or any non-marking rubber soled shoes that provide support would be suitable.

For sun protection we recommend a hat with a chin strap or one that is firm fitting so as not to blow off in the wind.  Don’t forget suncream!  Sunglasses should be secured with a flexible strap if possible.

We will supply you with a correctly fitting self inflating life-jacket or personal flotation device(PFD).

Your ‘sailing gear’ may get slightly wet from occasional splashes.

FORCE 24s

Our adult sailing courses are conducted on the Club’s fleet of ‘Force 24’ keelboats, which are 24 feet (7.31m) long and carry an Instructor and up to four course participants.

We will sail with a headsail or jib (small sail at the front) and a mainsail (large sail on the tall mast).  All sailing boats lean to the side with the wind but these boats were specifically designed for teaching beginning sailors and are very stable. They have a large lead keel for ballast that prevents the boat from tipping over.

As a course participant you will be actively involved in sailing the boats, pulling ropes, moving around the boat and most importantly ducking under the boom to swap sides as you tack or gybe to change directions.  Your instructor will lead you through all of these sailing terms and will explain (and support your through) each of these actions.

We will be sailing inshore on the mainly flat waters of Newcastle Harbour, we do not go out onto the ocean.

INSTRUCTORS

Our wonderful team of Instructors are all skilled and experienced sailors, many of whom actively sail themselves every weekend.

All hold specific keelboat qualifications with Australian Sailing (AS) as well as additional & complimentary certifications.

• AS Keelboat Instructor certificate
• Instructor General Principles
• First Aid certificate
• Working with Children Check
• Powerboat Handling certificate and General Boat Licence

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Details are being updated and will be posted soon!