The KYC Learn to Sail course provides an enjoyable and supportive introduction to sailing.

The course covers subjects such as:

• sailing
• water safety
• boat handling
• capsizing
• rigging
• knot making
• sailing rules upwind
• downwind and reaching sailing
• launching and retrieving.

Programme Overview

The Term 4 Summer Programme is scheduled for 8-9 learning days held on Sundays from October onwards.

Due to the variable nature of weather conditions there may be minor changes to the program with a make up day on a Saturday. Days which are too windy or rough are rescheduled as inside classroom days with maybe a fun trip out on the RHIB coaching boats. The sailors are allocated a boat which is kept at KYC for the duration of the course and they are expected to take care of it like it is their own.

A typical Learn to Sail Day looks like this:

10:00am – Briefing

The day begins with a briefing from the coaching team, including discussions about the weather conditions and sailing techniques.

Learning typically starts on shore and then sailors head out on the water to put in to practice what they are learning.

Everyone stops for a lunch break, and afternoon sailing is normally completed by 3:30pm.

Parental support crews should plan to be at the club from approximately 9:30am to 4:00pm to assist with rigging, launching, retrieval, and to enjoy a cup of tea, coffee, or a BBQ sausage after sailing.

Our Coaches

All our coaches are young women & men who are Yachting NZ LTS 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.

Sailor Requirements

• Ages 9-11
• Sailors should be reasonably confident in the water
• Sailors need to be able to swim at least 50 metres in full sailing gear including buoyancy aid (life jacket) in the sea. There is some swimming practice on the course
• As part of the course sailors will need to swim from beneath an up-turned yacht
• Life jacket, wetsuit, spray jacket (warm sailing gear)
• Helmets are available if required

Parental Requirements

• It is important that a parent is on site to give their child support when launching, boat retrieval and for emotional support when it has been a “hard day”
• Parents are expected to help their young sailors to rig their boats & look after the gear
• Parents play an integral role to help run the club; all parents are encouraged to participate
• KYC is a voluntary club and it is the fact that we all must muck in that makes it so much fun

The club is very family orientated and provides a fantastic opportunity for parents to be involved with their children. Mucking in and helping out makes it so rewarding for parents & the children have an enormous amount of fun on the course.

Being on the water develops their sailing ability and exposes them to new experiences. They most likely will be challenged at some point and this is a natural part of sailing teaching resilience & personal development.

Parents be prepared to get wet at some point!

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