Sailing
We offer introductory Discover sessions as well as RYA courses and we also run a sailing club to help you develop your skills.
Discover Sailing
Discover Sailing is a 90-minute dinghy sailing session for beginners, suitable for adults and children aged over 8 years old. For any participants under the age of 18 a parent or legal guardian must stay onsite within sight of the activity area for the duration.
Under the guidance and supervision of our qualified instructors you’ll be introduced to one of our dinghies. You’ll start with a demonstration of the boat controls and the skills you will need to be able to sail successfully, before you’re able to take control of your own boat.
Sessions cost just £32.50 per person with all the necessary equipment included. After completing a Discover Sailing session we offer RYA accredited courses to continue your sailing career.
This two-day RYA Level 1 course will teach participants how to have the boat under their full control and how to carry out certain manoeuvres. Participants must be aged 16 and older. The course content includes how to sail in all directions and awareness of launching and recovering the boat.
On successful completion, participants will receive a qualification from the RYA, the UK’s national sailing body. They will also be able to practice in our Sailing Club sessions.
No previous experience is required. The course takes place on weekends from 9.30am – 4.30pm on both days and costs £199 per person.
For younger aspiring sailors, check out our RYA Youth Sailing Weeks.
This RYA Level 2 course is designed to teach participants aged 16 years and older how to sail a boat independently. This two-day course will teach participants the basics of handling a dinghy. Participants must have completed RYA Start Sailing (Level 1) prior to attending. The course content includes:
- Rigging the boat
- Launching and recovery
- Sailing in all directions
- Capsize recovery
- Essential safety knowledge
These skills will enable participants to hire out dinghies to practice their skills. On successful completion, participants will receive a qualification from the RYA, the UK’s national sailing body.
The course takes place on weekends from 9.30am – 4.30pm on both days and costs £199 per person. If none of the sessions available suit you, please contact us and we can try to find an alternative date.
Progress your passion for sailing with advanced RYA qualifications. Available on request, we also offer the below two-day courses.
RYA Better Sailing (Level 3)
Course content: Consolidate Level 1 and Level 2 to fine tune skills and build your confidence to sail alone or take others out.
Ability afterwards: More confident in sailing skills and techniques, and ready to progress onto the advanced modules.
Participants be aged 16+ and have successfully completed RYA Basic Skills (Level 2).
RYA Seamanship Skills
Course content: Launch and recover in different circumstances. Stopping, reducing sail, recovering man overboard, picking up a mooring and anchoring.
Ability afterwards: All the control techniques to have the ability to sail in adverse conditions, also the benchmark for future aspiring Dinghy Instructors.
Participants must have successfully completed RYA Basic Skills (Level 2) or RYA Youth Sailing Stage 4.
RYA Sailing With Spinnakers
Course content: How to rig, hoist, Gybe and recover a type of spinnaker.
Ability afterwards: Knowledge using all sails and understanding the best ways to sail downwind.
Participants must have successfully completed RYA Basic Skills (Level 2) or RYA Youth Sailing Stage 4.
Practice your sailing skills during our Sailing Club sessions. It’s the perfect opportunity to refine your skills before the next step in your sailing adventure.
Our Sailing Club is suitable for adults and children aged 8+. Participants must have completed the RYA Stage 1 & 2 Youth Sailing Week or RYA Level 1 Start Sailing.
This is a supervised session meaning a member of staff will be present to oversee the session and offer guidance, but it is not instructor-led.
Sessions last two hours and cost £16 per adult and £14 per child (under 16).
Attended 2 day sailing course. The instructor was great and covered the theory and practical really well. Continuous feedback and tips throughout and we were on the water quickly sailing away. Highly recommend if you want to start learning to sail as this course takes you from knowing nothing (like me) to being able to control a small sail boat all within a weekend. Felt confident after the course.
TripAdvisor, June 2024Learn how to paddleboard, kayak and sail on Willen Lake with our range of watersports sessions.
