At the clubRYA Dinghy Level 1 (Start Sailing)
Two days, 09:00 to 17:00, weekend
£195 members, £225 non-members
- Before you start
- None. No experience required.
The RYA Level 1 Start Sailing course is designed for complete beginners with no prior sailing experience. Over two days you'll learn fundamental sailing theory and practical skills in a small dinghy or keelboat: basic boat parts, rigging, essential knots, helming and crewing techniques, points of sailing and basic safety procedures. You'll practise launching, sailing on different points of sail, tacking and gybing. Instruction is on a Beneteau keelboat or a Laser Stratos; buoyancy aids are provided.
Booking: Events site (log in with your members' portal account).
At the clubRYA Dinghy Level 2 (Basic Skills)
Two days, 09:00 to 17:00, weekend
£195 members, £225 non-members
- Before you start
- You must have completed Level 1 in tidal conditions and had a season crewing and helming under supervision.
This weekend course develops your confidence helming in stronger and gusty winds (hopefully).
Booking: Events site.
At the clubRYA Advanced Seamanship (dinghies)
Two days, 09:00 to 17:00, weekend
£195
- Before you start
- You need to be a dinghy helm of Level 3 standard.
Over two days you'll focus on seamanship manoeuvres such as anchoring, picking up a mooring, sailing backwards and recovering a man overboard. You'll also gain experience launching and recovering in varied conditions, and learn to adapt sail and boat trim to suit the situation. The course will help you manage your dinghy in all difficult circumstances and solve problems afloat.
Booking: Events site.
At the clubRYA Powerboat Level 1 for 8 to 16 year olds
One day, 09:00 to 16:30
£30
- Ages
- 8 to 16
- Before you start
- No previous experience required. Parents need to sign a consent form.
A one day course that will give you confidence to drive a powerboat safely under supervision: leaving the pontoon, coming alongside, picking up buoys and a man overboard, and manoeuvring forwards and backwards around a short course. In the afternoon you helm at up to 12 knots (the speed limit) to Greenwich and back.
Booking: Events site.
At the clubRYA Keelboat Stage 1 for 8 to 16 year olds
Two days, 09:00 to 17:00, weekend
£130
- Ages
- 8 to 16
An exciting weekend giving youngsters the opportunity to sail keelboats, covering helming and crewing.
Booking: Events site.
With Nomad SailingRYA Day Skipper Theory
Eight Tuesday evenings, 18:30 to 21:30, plus a weekend 10:00 to 16:00 (about 40 hours)
£365 club price
- Before you start
- No previous experience is required, though basic sailing knowledge helps.
A comprehensive classroom-based course covering the navigation and seamanship knowledge needed for coastal cruising: chartwork, position fixing, pilotage, tides and tidal streams, meteorology, collision regulations, safety procedures and passage planning, with practical exercises on real charts. Completing the theory is a prerequisite for the practical Day Skipper qualification. The club price includes a plotter and dividers.
Booking: Nomad Sailing: info@nomadsailing.co.uk, 07931 940277 or 02392 528019.
With Thames ActiveVHF/SRC revision
Two-hour evening session
Free
- Before you start
- For members who hold the VHF/SRC licence, or a separate session for members who do not yet.
A revision session on procedures and operation for members with the VHF/SRC licence, run by Tony Mason of Thames Active. A separate session covers the rules for members without a licence who use VHF sets on the safety boats (restricted to channel M) or on a cruiser with the owner's permission. Maximum eight places.
Booking: Events site (free ticket).
With Thames ActiveFirst Aid revision
Two-hour evening session, 18:30 to 20:30
Free
Free, non-certificated training organised with Thames Active, ideal for those who already have a certificate but wish to refresh their memory. It covers first aid relevant to sailors, rowers, motorboat crew, powerboat helms and instructors, including drowning, cold shock, hypothermia, heat exhaustion and stroke. If you have a first aid certificate from work, the session converts it to the RYA standard. 12 places.
Booking: Events site (free ticket).
At the clubTaster afternoon: dinghy or keelboat
Three hours, 13:30 to 17:00
Free
- Before you start
- For non-members who would like to experience sailing. Shoes may get wet.
A three hour event for non-members who would like to experience sailing in a dinghy or keelboat.
Booking: Events site (free ticket).
The club's published fees table lists a dinghy taster at £10 for members and £15 for non-members; the 2026 taster afternoon on the events site was free. See fees and charges.
