WHICH IS THE RIGHT BEGINNER SAILING COURSE FOR ME?

If it is your first time sailing, then we would recommend signing up to an RYA Dinghy Level 1 course. This will give you a good introduction to the sport – how to cast off, basic wind direction knowledge, steering and coming ashore again. This is a two-day course which can be easily completed inland, you don’t have to be near the sea.

Many centres run four-day beginner courses which combine the RYA Dinghy Level 1 award with the Level 2 award. Level 2 enables you rig a boat, launch it, sail in all directions as well as know how to capsize and right a boat. This is usually the minimum requirement for hiring a dinghy at a centre.

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For kids, there is a youth learn to sail scheme which is very similar to the adult scheme but breaks the stages down into smaller steps (Stage 1 to 4).

Once you’ve completed your Level 1 and 2, there is an intermediate course you can sign up for which is the RYA Dinghy Level 3. This will build on everything you learnt in your course – and focus on more advanced techniques like picking up a man overboard and basic racing knowledge.

The RYA have a great guide to the qualification pathways you can follow here.

SOUTH LONDON
Croydon Sailing Club
South Norwood Lake, London SE25
Price for RYA Level 1: £180
Website: croydonsailingclub.co.uk

Croydon Sailing Club is one of the few centres in south London with an emphasis on friendly competitive races. It’s been running for over 55 years. They only have a handful of dates for RYA Level 1 courses per summer, so make sure you book on well in advance.

As part of the course fee, you’ll also get six month membership to come back and practice your skills in the club boats.

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EAST LONDON
King George Sailing Club
Lea Valley Road, Chingford, London, E4 7PX
Price for RYA Level 1: £154 (or £308 if booked with Level 2 course)
Website: kgsc.org.uk

King George V Reservoir is the biggest boating lake in north-east London. Raised 20m above the ground, it has good consistent winds for beginners learning to sail right up to enthusiastic racers.

They run four day courses combining RYA Level 1 and 2 (as well as individual courses) from May until October. You will learn in a double-handed Wayfarer with up to three students per boat. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can learn to sail in a single-handed Pico.

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WEST LONDON
Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre
Dews Lane, Harvil Road, Harefield, Middlesex, UB9 6JN
Price for RYA Level 1 and 2: £230
Website: hoac.net

Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre is a friendly community hub in west London near Uxbridge with a wide range of courses for adults and children. They run three different types of Learn To Sail courses. The first two options are a single-handed course or double-handed course (both running on Saturdays for four weeks).

Alternatively you can go for a mid-week course on a Wednesday night from 6pm to 8.30pm where you can reach your Level 1 and/or Level 2 over the course of the summer. Minimum four sessions required to gain your qualification – and it costs £100 for four sessions.

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