FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How old does my child need to be to participate? 
The Course is open for children between the recommended ages of 7 to 12 years of age. We do accept 6 year olds if parents feel their child is good at listening to and following instructions, working well in a team/group environment and is confident with new activities.
Do you have to be a member of the NCYC to participate in Tackers?
No, one of the great things about Tackers is you don’t have to be a member of our club to participate.
In fact at NCYC, kids receive an honorary club junior membership during their participation in the program.
Do you offer family discounts?
Yes, we do!
Families with three children participating in our Tackers and/or OutThere Sailing courses together receive a 5% discount on each course fee and families with four children receive a 10% discount on each course fee. Please click through to our Course Fees & Discounts page for full details.
Do kids need to be able to swim to participate in Tackers?
A competent standard of swimming ability is desirable, however the children will be wearing lifejackets at all times.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to talk to our Sailing Academy Manager (sailingacademy@ncyc.net.au) or the Tackers Instructor if you have any concerns.
What type of boats will the kids be sailing?
The Tackers program is only delivered in a boat called an ‘Ozi Opti’. This boat was specifically designed for the program, and is an ideal introduction to dinghy sailing.
The boats allow two kids to sail together, and they can also be sailed ‘single-handed’. There is plenty of buoyancy providing a stable platform for participants with a simple layout of ropes and fittings.
Are the kids out sailing on their own?
When kids start sailing in Tackers 1 they will be sailing in pairs. When they progress to Tackers 2 and Tackers 3, they will progress to sailing the boat ‘single-handed’.
There are usually 6-10 boats in a group and there will be an Instructor and an Assistant Instructor in a safety boat supervising the group. The safety boat stays on the water all the time the kids are sailing.
Can my child sail on the same boat with their friends during the course?
Yes they can however, if needed the instructors may re-allocate the children into different teams for reasons associated with confidence, behaviour &/or safety.
What if my child is a little nervous about sailing?
Our Instructors have years of experience in teaching juniors how to sail. Our primary aim is to provide a fun, exciting and safe boating experience.
Please don’t hesitate to discuss your concerns prior to the lesson with the Tackers Leader.
What safety precautions are there for participants?
We take safety very seriously. When on the water all participants must wear PFD1’s (Australian Standards Approved) which we supply. The theme of water safety runs throughout the course.
The NCYC Sailing Academy and its instructors adhere to policies and procedures set by our governing body; Australian Sailing.
Are the instructors qualified?
Yes, the instructors and assistants are qualified with Australian Sailing Dinghy Instructor and Assistant Instructor Certificates and are trained specifically for the Tackers courses.
Our Instructors are also trained in Powerboat Handling and hold First Aid Certificates. All of the coaches are experienced dinghy sailors themselves.
Do the kids need any special clothing to participate in Tackers?
We recommend kids wear clothes and shoes that they don’t mind getting wet – swimmers, boardshorts, rash shirts, maybe a wetsuit if you have one and a pair of old sandshoes or slip on wet-shoes. Always remember to bring a hat for sun protection.
The kids can bring a towel and a change of clothes as we have change room facilities in the main clubhouse, including showers.
Where do we go for the sailing activities?
Our Tackers sailing program is run from NCYC’s Sailing Centre which is across the Harbour at Carrington.
Please click through to see a map of the location.
You can walk there from the Clubhouse, however it is easier to drive over the bridge (Cowper Street), turn first right and park near the Carrington Police Station. From there you can walk through the gates.
Do I need to provide snacks & lunch?
Our weekly Tackers sessions run for 2.5hours so we generally don’t stop for snacks – we’re too busy having fun! Our Tackers Instructors can take food with them should a child require something within this period.
During our school holiday courses where we run for longer periods, we do encourage the kids to bring lunch & snacks with them in an easily transportable bag/pouch. These will be taken on the safety boat. It is very important that the kids bring a waterbottle with them. Please ensure your child’s name is clearly written on all items.
Where will the children be sailing?
As part of their course, the children need to learn to be towed behind a safety boat, so each lesson we tow the kids up river, under the bridge and we coordinate the lessons from the beach at Carrington. It is a calm area of water with very little other aquatic traffic.
How long will it take to complete the Tackers program?
We do not limit the number of times a child completes a course level, in fact we encourage children to spend as much time as they need at each level rather than just the minimum hours prescribed.
We recognise that children all vary in the time it can take to gain confidence or to learn certain skills. We very happily work to accommodate individual development. It may take several sailing seasons to complete all three levels of Tackers confidently.
What can kids do when they finish Tackers?
There are three levels to the Tackers program which kids can progress through.
When they finish Tackers 3 – Sailing Fast! they can progress to a program called Green Fleet. This is a program that introduces kids to the fun racing. Boats are still supplied by the club and a coach is with the kids each week to continue their skill and knowledge development. We conduct our Green Fleet on Sunday mornings during Spring and Summer.
What can the kids do when they are too old for Tackers?
We have a great keelboat program available for the kids that are too old or are too tall for Tackers. Our OutThere Sailing Program is suitable for kids 11 to 17 years and is conducted at NCYC in Newcastle on our fleet of six inshore keelboats called Force 24s. The program runs on Wednesday afternoon and during school holidays. This program can also lead to involvement in the Youth Keelboat Squad which further extends the kids opportunities, skills and knowledge in keelboat sailing. Follow this LINK to find out more . . .
Are you keen to give sailing a try?
Have you completed Tackers 1?
The NSW Government is helping kids get active with the new Active Kids program and Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club is an approved provider.
The boats have built-in buoyancy which means they provide extra stability and perform well even with the weight of an adult sized instructor aboard, should then need to help participants.
