RYA Level One - Start Sailing
This course provides a short introduction to sailing for novices. By the end of the course, participants will have had a basic understanding of boat handling techniques and background knowledge. It is recommended that all participants consolidate this short introduction with the Basic Skills Level 2 course.
For courses run in dinghies, the ratio of students to instructors should not exceed 6:1 when using single-handed dinghies or 3:1 in crewed dinghies.
SECTION A: PRACTICAL
Rigging:
- Has wind awareness and knowledge of spars & rigging, parts of the sail, sail controls and foils.
Ropework:
- Can tie figure of eight knot, round turn & two half hitches and secure a rope to a cleat.
Sailing techniques & manoeuvres:
- Has wind awareness.
- Practical understanding of the basic principles of the following manoeuvres:
- Reaching - sailing across the wind
- Stopping - lying-to
- Controlling speed
- Tacking - turning the front of the boat through the wind
- Getting out of irons
- Sailing upwind, sailing downwind
- Gybing - turning the back of the boat through the wind.
Launching & recovery:
- Can secure boat on trolley.
Understands the principles of:
- Wheeling a trolley clear of other boats & overhead cables
- Launching & leaving the shore
- Coming ashore & recovery of dinghy
- Wind awareness.
SECTION B: SAILING BACKGROUND
Sailing theory & background:
- Aware of other water users.
- Has basic knowledge of rules of the road - port/starboard, windward boat, overtaking boat, power/sail.
Meteorology:
- Awareness of onshore & offshore winds. Knows sources of weather information.
Clothing & equipment:
- Knows importance of appropriate clothing, footwear and personal buoyancy.
Capsize recovery:
- Theory - knows importance of staying with the boat.