Level 1 Start Sailing

Level 1 – Start Sailing

This course provides a short introduction to sailing for novices. By the end of the course you will have a basic understanding of dinghy-handling techniques and background knowledge. It is recommended that all participants consolidate this short introduction with the Basic Skills and Better Sailing courses.
Duration: Approximately 16 hours (either spread over a series of sessions or two full days).

Practical

Has a practical understanding of:

RIGGING

  • Basic rigging, parts of the sail, sail controls and foils
  • Has wind awareness ashore

SAILING TECHNIQUES AND MANOEUVRES

  • Wind awareness afloat
  • Reaching-sailing across the wind
  • Stopping-lying-to
  • Controlling speed
  • Getting out of irons
  • Tacking-turning the front of the boat through the wind
  • Sailing upwind
  • The Five Essentials
  • Sailing downwind
  • Gybing – turning the back of the boat through the wind, from a training run
  • The importance of good communication when manoeuvring (double-handers)
  • Can perform a basic capsize recovery, and understands the importance of staying with the boat (Optional)

LAUNCHING AND RECOVERY

Can:

  • Secure a boat on the trolley (where location allows)

Understands the principles of:

  • Wheeling a trolley clear ot other boats and overhead cables (where location allows)
  • Launching and leaving the shore
  • Corning ashore and recovery of a boat

ROPEWORK

  • Can tie a figure of eight knot, round turn and two half hitches, and secure a rope to a cleat.

Sailing Theory

Has theoretical understanding of:

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT

  • knows the importance of personal safety, clothing and buoyancy

SAILING BACKGROUND

Understands the 7 Common Senses such as the following areas:

  • An awareness of other water users
  • Basic rules of the road — avoid a collision at all costs, power/sail, part/starboard, overtaking boat, windward boat
  • Visual methods of attracting attention

METEOROLOGY

  • Has an awareness of onshore and offshore winds

Sources of weather information and their relevance:

  • Effects on sailing location
  • Beaufort Scale
  • Conditions appropriate to ability and sailing location
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