Our 2024 Learn To Sail programme is almost full. Please contact Jo Kensington to find out if there are spaces left or to put your name on our waiting list: kensingtonjoanne@gmail.com 021 505 759

Kohimarama Yacht Club (KYC) offers Auckland’s most comprehensive and fun Learn to Sail (LTS) program for children aged 9 to 12 years old. We run two courses a season during term four and term one on Sundays from 9 to 3.30. Our Learn to Sail course follows the Yachting New Zealand program. After our ten-day course, your child will have earned YNZ level one and two certificates. They will then be ready to move on to our Learn to Race (LTR) course

We have a full fleet of twenty modern self-bailing Opti cubes. Your child will be allocated their own boat to look after over the duration of the course. We were the first club in the country to fully change our Learn to Sail fleet to using the Opti Cube as we realised the benefits of both safety and fun that they offered. More time sailing, not bailing.

No sailing experience is necessary, just an ability to swim 50m in a life jacket and some water confidence, but most importantly the desire to learn and have fun.

KYC’s Learn To Sail course is water-based with some classroom and onshore activities. The course covers

  • Water safety
  • Sailing
  • Boat handling
  • Capsizing
  • Rigging
  • Knot making
  • Sailing rules
  • Hiking
  • Upwind, downwind and reaching sailing
  • Launching and retrieving

All our coaches are YNZ qualified. We run one coach to a maximum of five children ratio to ensure that all children are looked after in a supportive and exciting environment.

KYC is a youth sailing family club. Our Learn to Sail program is not a drop and leave course – a family member is expected to be present throughout the day to help out with launching, retrieving, and supporting the children. There is plenty of time while your child is out on the water to relax and participate in the club’s activities and have a fulfilling day at the beach.

The current Learn to Sail pamphlet:

For any queries, please contact Jo Kensington 021 505 759 or complete the form below: