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RYA Dinghy Sailing Courses

Westminster Boating Base is a Royal Yachting Association approved centre. Initially you will learn in a crewed dinghy with an Instructor and will progress through the RYA dinghy coaching scheme to become proficient to sail a boat without an instructor and, if you wish, sail single-handed dinghies.

Season
Start: 2nd April 2012
End: 30th September 2012

Sailing continues through the winter on Sundays (winter clothing regulations apply).

Beginners' Dinghy Sailing Courses
(RYA Levels 1 and 2)

Young People (10-23 yrs inc.): Sessions are on a Monday evening 5.45-9pm, Tuesday evening 4.45-8pm and Wednesday evenings 4.45-8pm.

These are the ideal sessions for absolute beginners to learn the basics and progress to a stage where you can sail dinghies without an Instructor on board. The course follows the syllabus of the Royal Yachting Association Level 1 & 2 certificates.

Please note: Due to restrictions of pupil to staff ratios, there are limited places on these sailing evenings. We operate on a first come, first served basis so can parents please ensure that we have space for their children, when they drop them off, before disappearing.

Once you have achieved a degree of competence you can attend further, improver sessions on other days.

You will need to bring:
• A completed Youth Membership form, signed by a parent if you are under 18 years of age.
• A full change of clothes (appropriate for the weather) including soft-soled shoes and a towel.
• Nobody will be allowed on the water without these.

Adults (24yrs+): As someone with little or no experience in a sailing dinghy, the RYA Level 1 and 2 course is the ideal place to start..

The Royal Yachting Association Level 1 & 2 dinghy sailing course introduces you to sailing and teaches the basic skills required to be able to handle a dinghy by yourself in all but extreme weather conditions.This is a four day course over two weekends and due to the tidal nature of the River Thames, your certificate will include the Coastal Endorsement (ie. the course is run on tidal water and will include tuition to cover this aspect).

RYA Level 1 & 2 Adult Dinghy Sailing Courses 2012

May 5, 6, 12, 13
June 23, 24, 30, July 1

Further dates tbc

Price: £320 per 4-day course (2 free session vouchers included for after-course sailing)

How to book:
• Complete a Course Application form and send it with payment to: Westminster Boating Base, 136 Grosvenor Road, London, SW1V 3JY. Note: No booking is confirmed until full payment is received. Please make cheques payable to "Westminster Boating Base".

Once this has been received you will be sent a course pack detailing the syllabus and some pre-course reading material.

Improvers & Experienced Sailors
Courses and Sessions

Young people & Adults: As an experienced sailor you will be proficient at sailing a dinghy without an Instructor onboard.

If you have not sailed with us before, due to the demanding conditions of the River Thames, you will need to undergo a period of familiarisation with another of our experienced sailors in a crewed dinghy before you can sail alone.

Session times: Please refer to session schedule and calendar

Thursday evenings are reserved for specific coaching, ie. singlehander training and Overbury Trophy racing. Please refer to our calendar for details of other courses, trips and events.

You will need to bring:
• A full change of clothes (appropriate for the weather) including soft-soled shoes and a towel.
• If 23 years of age or less, a completed Youth Membership form (signed by a parent if you are under 18 years of age) and including one passport style photograph.
• Nobody will be allowed on the water without these.

2012 Improver Courses:

Dates tbc

£150 to non-members, £75 to season ticket holders and £25 to youth members.

How to book:
• Complete a Course Application form and send it with payment to: Westminster Boating Base, 136 Grosvenor Road, London, SW1V 3JY. Note: No booking is confirmed until full payment is received. Please make cheques payable to "Westminster Boating Base".

Overbury Trophy Racing

A series of races held throughout the season, on selected Thursday evenings..

These races are informal events - a perfect introduction to racing for newcomers - but can be taken seriously if you are that way inclined!

Any class of boat is permitted so you can race with a crew or singlehandedly.

Race training is held on non-race Thursdays.

See calendar for dates.

Results: See downloads