YACHTING TRANSITION (Start Racing)
Now it’s time to transfer your skills to a larger yacht . . .
Join us for an exciting step in your sailing journey, by taking all your skills & knowledge gained through our courses on inshore keelboats and applying them to sailing on the 40ft yacht, Aurora.
Our specifically qualified instructors will lead your transition onto a larger boat and guide your understanding of how to now operate in a different on-water environment.
We’ll introduce the use of winches & winch handles, backstays & runners, clutches & cleats, you will practise flaking sails, and we’ll highlight the different crew positions onboard and the important role each of them plays.
We will also work through the syllabus of the Start Racing course of Australian Sailing’s National Keelboat Program in preparation for participating in the starts of our Club’s Wednesday Twilight Racing. Learn about course flags, the starting sequence, basic racing rules as well as race tactics and sail trim.
Course Info:
- Wednesday afternoons for Spring & Summer
- Sunday mornings during Winter
- Six (6) x 3-hour training sessions (theory & practical)
- Maximum of 6 students
- Age Guide – 16 years+
- Course cost – $450 per person
- Successful completion – Australian Sailing Start Racing certificate
Additional Opportunity:
- Club Twilight or Winter Series Racing: multiple 3-hour sailing races depending upon Club racing program
- Nominated Club Crew Mentor onboard to provide support
Pre-requisites:
- Completed a Start Crewing and Start Helming course; or
- Completed four Women’s Sailing 4-week courses; or
- Completed the Youth Development Squad program
- Sailors with an equal level of existing skills
All sailing will be conducted on the inshore waters of Newcastle Harbour, we will not be sailing offshore during the training program.
We will however coordinate the additional opportunity for you to sail onboard one of our member’s yachts and actively participate in the twilight racing, sailing offshore with the support of a nominated crew mentor and really becoming part of the crew!
WINTER 2025 PROGRAM:
Aurora Training – 4 weeks (18th May to 15th June [not 8th June]) 10:00am to 1:00pm
Aurora Racing Starts – 2 weeks (22nd & 29th June) 10:00am to 1:00pm
Winter Pointscore Racing – 1 week (6th July) 10:00am to 2:00pm – additional opportunity
SPRING 2025 PROGRAM:
Aurora Training – 4 weeks (15th Oct to 5th Nov) 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Aurora Racing Starts – 2 weeks (12th & 19th Nov) 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Twilight Racing – 2 weeks (26th Nov & 3rd Dec) 4:00pm to 7:00pm – additional opportunity
SUMMER 2026 PROGRAM:
Aurora Training – 4 weeks (28th Jan to 18th Feb) 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Aurora Racing Starts – 2 weeks (25th Feb & 4th Mar) 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Twilight Racing – 2 weeks (11th & 18th Mar) 4:00pm to 7:00pm – additional opportunity