RYA Youth Sailing Courses
The attached graphics show the RYA courses and progression structure for Youth (up to 18 years) and children of 8 years onwards. The RTC offers the following dinghy sailing courses (subject to demand and instructor availability):
- Stage 1 - Beginner Sailor
- Stage 2 - 'Basic Skills'
- Stage 3 - 'Better Sailing'
- Stage 4 - 'Progression'
- Start Racing*
- Seamanship Skills*
- Sailing with Spinnakers*
- Performance Sailing*
The asterisk (*) denotes an advanced level course which will not be suitable for beginners or those with only limited sailing experience. Please note the RYA course progression as implied by the flowchart's dotted lines. Experienced sailors may apply directly to enrol on an advanced course subject to pre-assessment and/ or submission of their sailing experience logbook.
The RYA define a minimum timeframe of 16 hours/ 2 days for a beginner sailor to progress through Stage 1 to Stage 4. Our experience running the courses over many years shows that the optimal training route is to combine Stage 1 and Stage 2 over a single weekend of 16 hours tuition. Consolidating the skills acquired over an intervening period then prepares the students to return for a second weekend which combines Stage 3 and Stage 4.
Stages 1-3 are typically run with the students sailing Topper or Laser Pico dinghies. For Stage 4 we rig some of the Picos with a jib so that the students sail them double-handed as a helm-crew pair, alternating their roles as directed by the instructor.
Please note that we do not offer sailing courses in keelboats or multihulls due to the size limitations of our lake.
Downloads
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RYA Stage 3 outline plan_2026 150526.pdf
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RYA Stage 4 outline plan 2026_150526.pdf
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RYA Stage 2 outline plan_2021.pdf
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RYA Stage 1 outline plan_2021.pdf
Last updated 18:00 on 15 May 2026