The scheme is comprised of a series of two-day courses enabling you to progress quickly from beginner to experts in a controlled, safe and enjoyable environment. Each course can be taken in a dinghy. To book yourself onto any of these courses, you need to visit our Booking Form page
Introducing you sailing with all you need to know to get afloat under supervision.
How to sail in all directions, including an awareness of launching and recovering.
Setting out the foundations of sailing for you.
Rigging, launching, sailing in all directions. Capsize recovery and essential safety knowledge.
Consolidating skills and trying new ones.
Coaching of level 1 and 2 skills and taster sessions from the advanced modules.
Provides the skills and background knowledge needed by the competent powerboat driver and is the basis of the International Certificate of Competence. It aims to teach boat handling and seamanship in powerboats. It focuses on low speed close quarters handling, man overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at planing speed, and collision regulations, and a lot more.
This two-day course provides the skills required when acting as an escort craft, safety boat or coach boat for a fleet of dinghies, windsurfers or canoes, or for racing or training activities. It includes rescue techniques and elements of race management and mark laying. It is strongly recommended that a member of the rescue crew should hold a first aid certificate
The Youth Scheme is usually completed in small dinghies suitable for your size. To make the most of our courses, ensure you are confident with the skills of one course before moving on to the next course. Most courses are a minimum of two days long. Sailing is a sport which gets better with practice, and you should try to sail between courses whenever you can. To book yourself onto any of these courses, you need to visit our Booking Form page.
A basic understanding of how a boat sailing, with some experience of steering and handling the boat.
Launching and recovery, steering, parts of the boat, basic sailing.
A range of sailing skills and knowledge to help in becoming a confident sailor.
Basic sailing skills, ropework, collision avoidance.
Rigging, launching and sailing in any direction. Equivalent to Level 2 in the National Sailing Scheme
Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques, capsize recovery, sailing theory
Sail a double handed boat as crew or helm, and solve a variety of problems afloat.
(optional if Stage 3 was taken in a double hander.
Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques and manoeuvres in crewed boats, recovering a man overboard.
Provides a practical introduction to boat handling and safety in powerboats. It covers boating techniques for launching and recovering a boat from a road trailer, everyday boat handling and the use of safety equipment. The course may be conducted in a variety of boat types, both planing and displacement, and the certificate issued will be endorsed to show the type of boat in which the training took place. A one day introduction to Powerboating with no previous experience required.
If a family group or a number of people from the same family wish to attend any of these RYA courses. We recommend that you get in contact with us either via email or popping down to the club on a Saturday or a Sunday, and we will be happy to discuss the cost of any of these courses that you wish to attend with you.
Further information can be found on the RYA website https://rya.org.uk
The minimum age for Sailing and Powerboating is eight years old. To find out more, please contact us on the link above and we will be happy to discuss this with you, either by email or a phone call.
Any outstanding course fee balanced will need to be made in full prior to the start of the course. However, please be aware no tuition will be delivered until the full balance is paid.
Please arrive at the club by 0900 on both days. We aim to finish at around 1700 on both days
Although every effort will be taken to keep you as dry as possible throughout the course, there is a chance you may get wet as this is a water sport after all. A wetsuit or drysuit must be worn for courses run between 1st October and 31st March. Please dress for the weather conditions with additional warm and windproof clothing as appropriate including a hat and gloves (sailing gloves recommended). Please bring a change of clothes and a towel as you may get wet during the session.
With regard to footwear - old trainers, pumps or similar are ideal for sailing. Bare Feet, deck shoes, flip flops, crocs, walking boots and wellies are not suitable for dinghy sailing. A sports retainer strap is recommended if you wear glasses.
SVSC will provide all course candidates with Buoyancy Aids which must be worn during all activities afloat. Those candidates with their own Buoyancy Aids are welcome to wear their own assuming the floatation device meets RYA requirements.
You should also bring your lunch and any refreshments that you require for the day. Tea & coffee will be available free of charge during breaks.
If you are arriving by car, please use the public car park at Swan Pool. Council parking charges apply. Parking adjacent to the Sailing Club is reserved for Training Centre Staff and Club Members on the Saturday. Further directions are included below.
Please note that Sandwell Valley Sailing Club do not accept responsibility for personal valuables brought onto the premises or taken afloat. We would advise that these are left at home or locked in your car. If you wish to take photographs on the day then please bear in mind the needs of others and seek their consent accordingly