Junior Sailing Courses: RYA Stage 1-4, Advanced Week and Assistant Instructors
The Junior Sailing Courses provide RYA dinghy sail training for children aged 8-15 years at Mill Point, Stoke Gabriel. They are organised for SGBA members, usually in the late May school half term holidays and during the summer holidays.
Booking opens 1st April at 1200 for members only.
Non members please join here.
Courses are designed to be fun. Children are encouraged to work towards their RYA Stage 1-4 dinghy sailing certificates, which are awarded at the end of the course to successful participants.
Age
8 years old to 15 years old. Ages outside this range may be considered. Please contact the SGBA Principal Adam Smith first principal@sgba.org.uk
Stage 1
Experience required: None
An introduction to the parts of the boat and the basic principles of how to get a boat sailing. Launching and recovery, sailing across the wind, turning around, steering and basic parts of the boat.
Stage 2
Experience required: Stage 1
Develop the skills needed to sail around a course and understand the basic principles needed to become a confident sailor. Improved sailing skills on all points of sail. Tacking, gybing, ropework and collision avoidance.
Stage 3
Experience required: Stage 2
Build your confidence and develop the skills needed to sail in different directions in moderate conditions. Improved rigging, sailing theory, launching and recovery. Building confidence in a range of sailing techniques on all points of sail and capsize recovery.
Stage 4
Experience required: Stage 3
Learn how to sail a double-handed boat as crew or helm and solve a variety of problems afloat.
Transferring pre-learnt skills, techniques and manoeuvres to sail crewed boats, enhance rigging, launching, recovery and practical skills to recover a man overboard.
Advanced Week
Experience required: Stage 4
A fun packed week of sailing at an advanced level. This week is designed to consolidate what you already now whilst adding a few new skills to your sailing repertoire. During this week we will primarily be looking at racing as we prepare juniors for the RS Tera nationals in Paignton but all welcome.
AIs & AIs in Training
Experience required: Must be an AI or be registered on the AI in Training Program
This is only open to AIs and those enrolled in the "AI in Training Program". The AI in Training Program is for those who have achieved an RYA Advanced Module or Advanced Week. Email principal@sgba.org.uk
SGBA instructors are RYA trained and accredited Dinghy Instructors supported by Assistant Instructors.
It is a requirement for parents of participants to volunteer to help make their child's course a success, as either Assistant Instructors, safety boat crew or shore based helpers. This enables us to keep the cost of the courses well below usual commercial rates.
Last updated 13:02 on 4 June 2025