
Keelboat Courses
The courses are generally run over two 6 hour sessions and can be over one weekend, successive weekends or during the week. However, we have the ability to tailor these times to suit you, so if you have a group of two or three people who would like to learn, or advance their sailing skills, then please contact us to tailor a program that suits you.
Contact our Sail Training & Development Manager, Ian Fox at on (03) 9397 1277 or at training@rycv.asn.au for dates, further information and to enroll in any of the courses below. If you are confident that you know which course is right for you, online enrollment is available by clicking on the date of the course that you are interested in attending.

Discover Sailing Experience
A Discover Sailing Experience is ideal for people who are new to sailing and want to try it out in a fun and safe environment. In the three-hour session you will receive a briefing on safety and sailing before we head out on the water. You can expect a thrilling and enjoyable sail in a fun and safe environment. Our fully qualified Australian Sailing (formerly Yachting Australia) instructors will be on hand at all times.
Upon returning to the shore you will be invited back to our club rooms for a complimentary drink. We can then debrief from the days sailing and discuss further sailing opportunities. The Discover Sailing Experience is a great team building activity and is the perfect day out for partners, friends, families and work colleagues.
The cost for this experience $120 per person for a 3-hour session, with all safety gear included.
Bookings can be made as a group, or individually if you would like to meet others who are new to sailing.
Sessions scheduled on demand
Start Crewing
The Start Crewing course is the first of the Australian Sailing Keelboat Courses and is best place to start if you haven’t tried sailing before, or if you’re looking to refresh your crewing skills after a break from the sport.
What you’ll learn:
At the end of this course you will have a basic understanding of:
- safety equipment and practices (including man overboard as crew)
- sailing terminology and parts of a boat
- how to rig a boat
- basic knots
- wind and weather
- how to tack and gybe (turn) a boat
- how to trim (adjust) sails
- basic rules of the road
Two 6hr sessions.
Cost:
$310 for RYCV members | $340 for non-members
Dates:
28th Nov and 5th Dec 2020 12:30pm-6:30pm (Saturdays)
6th and 13th Dec 2020 12:30pm-6:30pm (Sundays)
19th and 20th Dec 2020 12:30pm-6:30pm (Sat and Sunday)
10th and 17th Jan 2021 9am-3pm (Sundays)
23rd and 30th Jan 2020 9am – 3pm (Saturdays)
24th and 31st Jan 2021 9am – 3pm (Sundays)
7th and 14th Feb 2021 9am – 3pm (Sundays)
Start Helming
The Start Helming is the second of the Australian Sailing Keelboat Training courses and builds on all the skills learnt in Start Crewing. Taking these skills to a higher level as well as introducing some more advanced techniques and gives the participant the skills needed to confidently take control of the helm.
What you’ll learn:
At the end of this course you will have a basic understanding of:
- Rigging the boat unaided
- Helming the boat around a triangle course
- anchoring
- general and racing rules of the road
- how heel and sail trim effect helming
- recover person overboard while helming
- weather forecasts
- reduce sail while underway
Duration:
Two 6hr sessions.
Cost:
$310 for RYCV members | $340 for non-members
Keelboat Spinnaker
Once you have a good understanding of the roles on a keelboat (i.e. crewing and helming) you can start to fine tune your skills and learn how to use a spinnaker effectively.
What you’ll learn:
At the end of this course you will know how to:
- hoist and drop a spinnaker
- trim a spinnaker effectively
- Gybe a spinnaker
- pack spinnakers
The course includes instruction on both symmetrical and asymmetrical spinnakers.
Duration:
Two full-day sessions, spread over two weeks.
Cost:
$310 for RYCV members | $340 for non-members
Dates:
Please contact the office for upcoming dates.
Start Racing
The Start Racing course is perfect for individuals who have a reasonable understanding of sailing and would like learn or fine tune their racing skills.
What you’ll learn:
At the end of this course you will have an understanding of:
- race structure
- racing rules
- advanced sail trim
- boat equipment
- balance
Duration:
Two full-day sessions, spread over two weeks.
Cost:
$310 for RYCV members | $340 for non-members
Dates:
Please contact the office for upcoming dates.
Keelboat Seamanship
This course aims to equip participants with advanced sailing and boat handling techniques which will enable them to skipper a small yacht in sheltered waters and light conditions.
What you’ll learn:
At the end of this course you will have an understanding of:
- assessing risks on board and how to avoid them
- handling a boat in confined areas under sail
- coming alongside a jetty under sail
- interpreting charts
- sailing backwards
- sailing without a tiller
- basic maintenance
- different properties and care of synthetic ropes
Duration:
Two full-day sessions, spread over two weeks.
Cost:
$310 for RYCV members | $340 for non-members
Dates:
Please contact the office for upcoming dates.