Always wanted to learn to sail? This is where it starts.

Our Start Sailing course is the ideal first step for complete beginners. You’ll learn aboard our fleet of J80 sportsyachts. They’re stable, dry and comfortable, so you can relax and enjoy the sailing while you learn. Because a J80 is sailed as a team, you’ll pick things up alongside your crewmates, swap roles and share the fun of getting the boat moving under sail.

With no more than 4 students per instructor, you’ll spend your time doing, not watching. By the end, you’ll be steering, trimming the sails and reading the wind, and you’ll leave with your RYA Start Sailing (Keelboat Level 1) certificate.

What you’ll learn
We follow the Royal Yachting Association syllabus, so the skills you learn here are recognised wherever you sail next.

• Take the helm: get to grips with the tiller and steer the boat yourself
• Read the wind: learn to tell where the wind is coming from, a skill you’ll use every time you sail
• Sail every direction: upwind, downwind and across the wind
• Set the sails: put the wind to work and feel the boat come alive
• Rig the boat: learn how a yacht is put together and prepared for sailing
• Tie the right knots: the essential ropework every sailor needs
• Know the weather: what makes a great sailing day, and when to stay ashore
• Dress for the water: what to wear afloat and why it matters

Everything’s provided
We supply waterproofs and lifejackets, so you just need to turn up and we’ll do the rest.

The boat: J80 keelboat
The J80 is a 26-foot keelboat that’s both stable and responsive. It’s reassuring for beginners and still lively enough to put a smile on your face. It can carry a crew of up to 6, but on our courses there are never more than 4 students on board with your instructor.

Where next?
Once you’ve caught the sailing bug, Keelboat Level 2 builds on everything you’ve learned, and it’s the next step on the road to Competent Crew and Day Skipper.