RYA Junior Sailing Training

At Fowey Gallants Sailing Club we offer junior dinghy tuition for children aged 7 upward, for all abilities. Whether your child hasn't sailed before or has good sailing experience, we can offer a course to suit. Our professional team of Instructors are all RYA qualified and courses are taught through a variety of on water sessions, shoreside exercises, and can be varied depending on the group and weather conditions.

Please note we teach juniors or mixed abilities in the same group in a maximum group size of 12. In some instances it may be necessary to have two children in a boat at the same time - this does not detract in any way from the learning process as sailing with crew is an important part of development.

Sailing RYA Stage 1

Learn to sail, improve skills and confidence on the water. A course for juniors who have no previous sailing experience. The course follows the RYA Youth Sailing Syllabus Stage 1. They will learn how to rig, launch & land, how to steer & basic boat handling, ropework, capsize drills and understand the basic principles of sailing. Teaching takes place on the water, on land and in the classroom depending on the group and weather conditions.

The Youth Sailing Scheme logbook is included in the course price as is the certificate however this is not guaranteed unless the course is successfully completed. Boat, wetsuit, & buoyancy aid hire is also included.

Duration: 5 half days.
Time: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00
Pre-course requirements: No prior experience required, age 7 upwards.
Price: £195 members, £220 non-members.

Check availability and book

Sailing RYA Stage 2

A course for juniors who have completed RYA Stage 1. The course follows the RYA Youth Sailing Syllabus Stage 2. They will learn basic sailing, rope work and collision avoidance, be able to tack, control boats speed and understand basic principles. Teaching takes place on the water, on land and in the classroom depending on the group and weather conditions.

The Youth Sailing Scheme logbook is included in the course price as is the certificate however this is not guaranteed unless the course is successfully completed. Boat, wetsuit, & buoyancy aid hire is also included.

Duration: 5 half days.
Time: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00
Pre-course requirements: RYA Stage 1 or equivalent experience, age 7 upwards.
Price: £195 members, £220 non-members.

Check availability and book

Sailing RYA Stage 3

A course for juniors who have completed RYA Stage 2. They will learn rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques, capsize recovery, sailing theory be able to launch & sail a dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions. The course follows the RYA Youth Sailing Syllabus Stage 3. Teaching takes place on the water, on land and in the classroom depending on the group and weather conditions.

The Youth Sailing Scheme logbook is included in the course price as is the certificate however this is not guaranteed unless the course is successfully completed. Boat, wetsuit, & buoyancy aid hire is also included.

Duration: 5 half days.
Time: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00
Pre-course requirements: RYA Stage 2 or equivalent experience, age 7 upwards.
Price: £195 members, £220 non-members.

Check availability and book

Sailing RYA Stage 4

A course for juniors who have completed RYA Stage 3. They will learn launching and returning to a beach, jetty or mooring, and sailing a crewed dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions. The course follows the RYA Youth Sailing Syllabus Stage 3. Teaching takes place on the water, on land and in the classroom depending on the group and weather conditions.

The Youth Sailing Scheme logbook is included in the course price as is the certificate however this is not guaranteed unless the course is successfully completed. Boat, wetsuit, & buoyancy aid hire is also included.

Duration: 5 half days.
Time: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00
Pre-course requirements: RYA Stage 3 or equivalent experience, age 7 upwards.
Price: £195 members, £220 non-members.

Check availability and book

Half Day Sailing Sessions

For those who have completed RYA Stage 2 we will be running our half day sessions in the afternoons for those who do not wish to book a full 5 session course. This allows the instructors to properly resource the tuition and provide continuity through the week for students and instructors alike. The afternoon sessions will be for those who would like to enjoy a bit more variety by way of trips to the beaches, exploring the estuary, racing or many other activities. If you are very keen to have sessions in the mornings these may be provided if there is space available and on the understanding that children will be joining courses that others are taking over the whole week and this must be respected.

Duration: half days.
Time: Monday to Friday from 14:00 to 17:00
Pre-course requirements: Completion of RYA Stage 2, age 7 upwards.
Price: £50 members, £60 non-members.

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After Stage 4?

Upon completion of stage 4 there are further advanced courses available in the RYA syllabus, these can be found on the RYA website. There is also an opportunity to become an assistant instructor and volunteer with sessions.

If you are interested in any of these please let us know by emailing

Last updated 19:16 on 24 February 2024