Beginner sailing lessons

Beginner Lessons

Note: this lesson needs a minimum of 4 registrants to proceed. If there are fewer than 4 registrants 24 hours before this lesson begins, it will be cancelled. The amount already paid will be refunded to registrants as credit to their account with the club. To register for any other lesson, please email us so that we can manually register you in it and apply your credit towards its payment.

Overview
Prerequisites
Passing criteria
Scheduling
How to prepare

Overview

If you have never been on a boat before or you have, but are unsure of your skills, this is the place to start. The aim of this class is to give you access to our double-handed beginner boat, the RS Quest. The instructor will take you from basic theory to out on the water over the duration of this course. It is meant to be a fun and exciting journey.

Prerequisites:

• member in good standing with JSCA for the current season (April 1st to March 31st)
• registered as a UBC Sailing Club member for the current season
• able to swim
• wetsuit

Note: If this class is full, you are welcome to join the Signal waitlist group chat (member-only access after login). Additional lessons are added throughout the season based on demand from that group chat.

Passing criteria

• to pass, you must demonstrate your ability to
• take care of the equipment
• properly assess wind and sea conditions for your skill level
  
• not endanger yourself or others while on the ramp, the beach, or out on the water; this includes knowledge of right-of-way
• skills-wise, to pass you must display competency as skipper and as crew on the following while being mindful of conditions (weather, sea, crew experience and fitness):
• rigging, ramp handling, beach handling, launching
• sailing all points of sail with adequate balance and sail trim
• standard maneuvers including tack, gybe, and heave-to
• non-standard maneuvers such as capsize recovery and man overboard recovery
• landing, beach handling, ramp handling, de-rigging

Scheduling

This class takes about 24 hours over 4 days from 10am to 4pm. This scheduling offers the best likelihood of wind throughout the session. On days 2, 3, and 4, arrive at 9am to be changed and have your boat rigged by 10am. This increases your time on the water, and allow for an adequate lunch break.

Some lessons happen on Monday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday. Other lessons happen over two consecutive weekends.

Prepare for the course to maximize your chances of passing the class

• Get the right gear here. Stand in the water for a few minutes, then stand in the wind and shade for a half-hour; getting cold? You are not adequately dressed for the lesson.
• Get familiar with this one-page intro to sailing
• Get familiar with our RS Quest rigging guide
• Learning vocabulary and concepts before you get on the water will make it much faster for you to understand directions and acquire skills efficiently