Irish National Sailing School
Booterstown National School Afterschool Sailing
Overview
Booterstown National School Afterschool Sailing
The course runs for 5 Fridays in May; 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th.
Cost for 5 sessions: €150
This five week programme provides an enjoyable and progressive way for children to learn to sail. We start at the beginning – rig the boats, learn the ropes and then get onboard. Over the five weeks children will have lots of fun learning sail techniques, rules of the road, capsize recovery and meteorology. Sailing also teaches them life skills including – Confidence, Communication, Creativity, Determination, Independence and Teamwork.
Children can progress on our Saturday Junior Club which takes place every Saturday morning or afternoon throughout the school term.
What to Bring
Students will be provided with a wetsuit, or they are welcome to use their own
Footwear: Old Trainers / Wetsuit Booties / Crocs (flip flops are not suitable for the activity)
Raincoat/waterproof jacket to wear over wetsuit
Swimming Togs (to be worn under wetsuit) and Towel
Wetsuit. Please note wetsuits must be long sleeved and long legged. Shortie wetsuits are not suitable for the Irish weather!
PLEASE ENSURE ALL ITEMS ARE CLEARLY NAMED
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Rockpooling & kayaking - We did once off rock pooling and kayaking and it was great fun. The kids had great fun and they allowed me to go ith them too. In the end the kids jumped off the pontoon and it was just pure giggles and laughs 
Shyamis
05/08/2018 - Really lovely staff, super friendly. Would highly recommend the kayak and paddle board rentals! Great with a small group or big group. megancV1820DD
25/06/2020 - Great atmosphere - Very friendly staff and great atmosphere. Would definitely recommend for a day out or lessons. Paddle board and kayak rentals are lots of fun. Seandow103
24/06/2020 - Competent Crew Course - Excellent Instructor - Having done a few courses with the INSS over the summer of 2023, and some sailing on the Mediterranean, doing the Competent Crew course with others who were doing the Day Skipper course at the same time was the highlight of my time learning how to sail. The reason it was the highlight was largely due to the course instructor Shona O'Dowd (I made certain to get her full name before leaving to give her the credit she deserved). Huge knowledge and experience mixed with a great attitude, with friendliness, patience and approachability making Shona stand out and make each day of the course something to look forward to regardless of weather or experience level. Shona guided practical use of all facets of sailing knowledge excellently and never micromanaged or tried to exert too much control, thereby never limiting the learning that can take place for students.
This teaching style is difficult to find, having seen a variety of instructors and their styles, in different countries and even within the INSS, and so you will be very lucky if you get Shona on your boat when it comes your turn to learn the ropes (literally). All in all, the Competent Crew course was very enjoyable, and I just wanted to give credit where it was due. Maps57686967283
20/08/2023 - Excellent experience all round. Best of all was how real every dimension was approached, from sailing as a theoretical and practical activity, with complexity and simplicity in balance, to great food, great feedback, honesty and integrity. bobsS9026OX
21/01/2024 - Advanced Power Boat Course - I would recommend anyone looking to improve their skills to attend this course. Excellent facilities, boats and really good instruction. Good craic with the group too. Will definitely do this again even though I got the cert. kierann
05/12/2022
