Keelboat Courses

The Australian Sailing Keelboat Scheme is an exciting development for sailing in Australia and offers the perfect Adult Learn to Sail intorduction to the sport of Sailing. It provides a fun and accessible entry into sailing and gives participants the opportunity to improve and develop advanced skills and techniques. It is ideal for those wishing to learn to sail but are not interested in capsizing or going for a swim!

The Scheme is broken up into five courses that you can progress through to achieve your personal goals. Each unit involves 12 hours of tuition and covers both theory and practical, with the emphasis being on practical “Time on Water”.

The Royal Yacht Club of Victoria was the second club in Australia to be accredited by Australian Sailing (formerly Yachting Australia) to run this scheme and as such we are able to offer the courses below. We run these courses with a ratio of three students to one instructor, so everyone gets plenty of time to develop the three main skills of sailing; helming, main sheet and headsail trim.

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.

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

Duration:

Two full-day sessions, spread over two weeks.

Cost:

$310 for RYCV members | $340 for non-members

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 full-day sessions, spread over two weeks.

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.