Irish National Sailing School
Dinghy Level 1: Start Sailing
This Start Sailing Course introduces you to the basics of sailing. If you’re a fan of getting wet, then dinghies are for you! Want to stay dry – try our beginner keelboat course for adults.
This course runs on the syllabus of Royal Yachting Association Level 1 and comprises of 12 hours tuition, over two days. Running from 9.30am until 5.30pm with a break for lunch.
Put simply we start at the beginning – it is assumed that all participants have no previous dinghy sailing experience but are water confident and have a can-do attitude with regard to getting to grips with life aboard a small dinghy!
The course syllabus includes:
- Learning how to rig (Assembling your boat)
- Pre-launch safety checks.
- What clothing is the right clothing to wear?
- Weather – what conditions are safe for me?
- Turning the boat around – Tacking and Gybing.
- Setting the sails according to what angle you’re sailing at to the wind.
- Capsize recovery – Getting the boat back upright!
- Learning how to determine the direction the wind is coming from.
- Ropework!
The course leads to RYA Start Sailing Certification – Dinghy Level 2.
The Boat
Your training boat is the RS Zest – a versatile dinghy designed with sailing training in mind, complete with reefable sail and plenty of cockpit space for you to get comfortable in.
What to Bring
- Swimwear
- Shower gear
- Towel
- Spare pair of clothes
- Packed lunch
We provide
- Wetsuit
- Lifejacket / buoyancy Aid to
- Waterproof jackets
Our cancellation policy for this course can be viewed here.