Junior Tackers Sailing (7-12yrs)

“We are extremely pleased with the course which was conducted with great professionalism and good cheer.  Andrew and his young assistant instructors have a terrific connection with the kids who had an unforgettably fun experience.”

THE THINGS YOU WILL LEARN!

Boat Handling

• Steered with tiller extension under towing/paddling power
• The ability to tie a ‘figure 8′ knot and ’round twice & two half hitches’
• Learnt and practised how to perform the tacking ‘push turn’
• Learnt and demonstrated how to gybe ‘pull turn’
• Comfortably reached around a figure of 8 course using both tacking and gybing
• Sailing with the tiller extension using the ‘microphone technique’
• Learnt to sail upwind and downwind by following the support boat

Rules & Safety

• Swim 50meter in a PFD
• Participated in a capsize
• Participated in rescue drills
• Realised the most important rule ‘always avoid collisions’
• Understanding of port & starboard ‘right of way’

Sailing Theory & Background

• Identified the ‘no go zone’ and the effect it has on your sails
• A background in safety knowledge of tides and currents
• Basic wind awareness – wind direction and strength
• Demonstrated respect and care of boats and equipment

TACKERS 2

Have you completed Tackers 1?

Enrolment into Tackers 2 requires the skills & knowledge from Tackers 1

This course is designed to build on the experience gained in ‘Tackers 1’, with the children now moving on to sailing the boat by themselves.

New skills and knowledge are introduced that will enable the successful participant to safely and competently sail a dinghy in controlled conditions independently (one child per boat).

“Thank you to all for this program.  It was well run, fun, safe and a great way for my son to spend his holidays.  Will highly recommend to others as a great activity for kids.  My son absolutely loved it and is keen to progress.  My younger son who is 5 will also join when he is old enough.”

THE THINGS YOU WILL LEARN!

When I’m on the water I can . . .

• Sail by myself in most conditions
• Sit on the side of my boat and face my sail
• Sail without kneeling
• Steer and control my sail at the same time
• Tack my boat facing forward and changing hands behind my back
• Reach around a sausage course
• Know where to have my sail set for all points of sailing
• Steer using my tiller extension when Im paddling or being towed
• Get out of the ‘No Go Zone’

And when I’m on shore I can . . .

• Name the main ‘points’ of sailing
• Name all the parts of my boat
• Tie a ‘bowline’ and a ‘reef knot’
• Use aids to determine the wind direction and strength
• Rig and de-rig my boat with assistance
• Identify dangerous situations in and around the marina

THE THINGS YOU WILL LEARN!

When I’m on the water I can . . .

• Sail a windward/leeward course
• Perform a 360 degree turn
• Always use my tiller extension like a microphone when I’m sailing
• Sail a ‘close hauled’ course without assistance
• Sail standing up in a straight line
• Identify gusts on the water
• Gybe without tipping over!
• Come alongside a stationary object and stop

And when I’m on shore I can . . . 

• Rig and de-rig my own boat
• Take care of my boat

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN!

After you’ve mastered sailing in the OziOpti’s in Green Fleet, you can progress to sailing one of the Club’s O’Pen Skiffs to bring a whole new set of skills to learn . . . keep progressing your sailing!

UPCOMING COURSES

Our Tackers 1, 2 & 3 courses are delivered as either 4 or 5-day school holiday programs or over 8 weeks during Terms 1 and 4.

School holiday courses run:

• September/October
• January
• March/April
•  Daily from 9:00am to 2:00pm.

Our term-based courses run:

• Wednesday afternoons from 4:00pm to 6:30pm
• Saturday mornings from 9:00am to 11:30am.

We also offer half-day ‘Tackers Intro’ sessions prior to the school holidays for children who might like to ‘give it a try’ before committing to a course.  The Sessions runs from 9:00am to 12:00pm.

COURSE FEES

Tackers Intro – $50 per student for 1/2 day session

Tackers 1 – $315 per student

Tackers 2 – $340 per student

Tackers 3 – $340 per student

Course Fee includes:

• A minimum of 20 hours* of quality tuition by Australian Sailing qualified instructors
• Small Instructor to Boat ratio of only 1:6
• Use of Tackers dinghies, including sails & all equipment
• Use of a lifejacket
• Provision of on-water safety/coach boats
• Certificate on attainment of all competencies

GREEN FLEET

Green Fleet Coaching – $220 per participant for each of the Spring and Summer series.

Program Fee includes:

• A program of quality training with Australian Sailing qualified coaches
• Small Coach to Boat ratio of only 1:6
• Use of OziOpti dinghy, including sails & all equipment
• Use of a lifejacket
• Provision of on-water safety/coach boats
• End of series presentation

ACTIVE KIDS VOUCHERS

The NSW Government is helping kids get active with the new Active Kids program and Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club is an approved provider.

Parents, guardians and carers can apply for $50 vouchers for each school-enrolled child. Apply for your voucher online with Service NSW.

The 16-digit voucher number will need to be submitted at the time of registration.

You must also please use the discount code active50 when registering to deduct the $50 from your invoice total.

FAMILY DISCOUNT

Families with three (3) children participating in our Tackers and/or OutThere Sailing courses together, either in the school holidays or a term based program, receive a 5% discount on each course fee.  Families with four (4) children receive a 10% discount on each course fee.

For Example, Two children are doing Tackers 1 in week 1 of the school holidays, another sibling is doing Tackers 2 and the fourth sibling is doing OutThere Sailing in the second week of the school holiday – all four registration fees are discounted by 10%.

Please use the discount code – THREEKIDS or FOURKIDS in each child’s registration to apply the discount.

If you also wish to also use an Active Kids voucher, please contact us in the Sailing Office so we can assist in applying all discounts – [email protected]  /  4940 8188.

MEMBERS DISCOUNT

Current financial NCYC members are offered a discount on training courses for their children or grandchildren – 10% for General Members and 5% for Crew Members.  Please use the discount code GEN-MEMBER or CREW-MEMBER when making payment and we will confirm against your NCYC membership number.

COVID REFUND POLICY

Please consider our COVID Refund Policy to give you reassurance when booking in.

*20hrs applies to Tackers 1, 2 & 3.  Tackers Intro runs for 3 hours.

WHAT TO BRING

In most cases there’s no need to buy anything!  You’ll most likely have the items you need already at home.

Every time your children launch their boats they will be wading in the shallows.  For this we insist they wear firm fitting shoes that can be worn in the water. An old pair of sneakers will do the job or a pair of those wetsuit shoes from Big W or Kmart.  Crocs are not recommended as they tend to float away!

As we sail in the warmer months, kids usually wear swimmers and board shorts with a lycra rash shirt.  A broad brimmed hat and sun cream are a must for sun protection.

If it gets a little cooler, a lightweight rain or spray jacket will keep the wind chill factor down, or maybe even a wetsuit or wetsuit shorts.  The ideal one is called a ‘spring suit’, it has short arms and short legs.  These can be found at surf shops and even at Kmart!

The club will provide a well fitted lifejacket (Personal floatation device – PFD) which is worn on the outside of all clothing, at all times whilst on and around the water.

YOUR TACKERS CHECKLIST

Don’t forget, every time you go sailing with Tackers, to bring the following:

• Your sailing clothes; swimmers, boardies or wetsuit, rashie and spray jacket
• Shoes – enclosed, firm fitting that can be worn in the water
• Hat – broad brimmed hat to keep the sun off
• Sunscreen/zink – to reapply as needed
• Drink bottle, lunch & snacks
• A change of clothes
• Towel
• and loads of energy . . .

We are thankful to Whitworths Marine & Leisure who support our Tackers program through the provision of new sails.

INSTRUCTORS

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

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

• AS Dinghy Instructor certificate
• Tackers program Endorsement
• AS Instructor General Principles certificate
• Provide First Aid certificate
• Working with Children Check
• AS Powerboat Handling certificate
• Service NSW General Boat Licence

Out Instructors are committed to Australian Sailing’s ‘Instructor & Coach Code of Conduct’ and our Code of Conduct under the ‘NCYC Child Safety Strategy’.

JUNIOR PATHWAY

NCYC has developed a comprehensive Sailing Pathway to help guide sailors of all ages and abilities in the right direction and is one of only a few clubs in Australia that deliver all Australian Sailing pathway levels, from beginners right through to the advanced programs.

We are also able to offer a unique boat use and purchase option to NCYC Junior Members are their families.

Typical Weekly Sailing Schedule:

Tuesdays

• OutThere Sailing (4:00pm to 6:30pm)

Wednesdays

• Tackers 1 (4:00pm to 6:30pm)
• Tackers 2 (4:00pm to 6:30pm)
• Tackers 3 (4:00pm to 6:30pm)

Fridays

• Youth League racing in Elliott 6s
• Dinghy racing in Pacers
• Dinghy racing in Laser 4.7 / Radial (own boat)

Saturdays

• Tackers 1 (9:00am to 11:30am)
• Tackers 2 (9:00am to 11:30am)
• Tackers 3 (9:00am to 11:30am)

Sundays

• Tackers Green Fleet (9:00am to 12:30pm)
• O’Pen Skiff Green Fleet (9:00am to 12:30pm)
• Youth Keelboat Squad (May to August)

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 ([email protected]) 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 . . .

Major Sponsor of the NCYC Sailing Academy’s Tackers program

We are very grateful to have received grant and sponsorship support from our Newcastle Harbour community to update and upgrade some of our equipment used in our Tackers junior learn to sail program.