Level 1

Syllabus

Practical

Has a practical understanding of:

Rigging

  • Basic rigging, parts of the sail, sail controls and foils

  • Has wind awareness ashore

Sailing Techniques and Manoeuvres

  • Wind awareness afloat

  • Reaching - sailing across the wind

  • Stopping - Lying to

  • Controlling speed

  • Getting out of irons

  • Tacking - Turning the front of the boat through the wind

  • Sailing upwind

  • The Five Essentials

  • Sailing downwind

  • Gybing - turning the back of the boat through the wind, from a training run

  • The importance of good communication when manoeuvring (double handed boats)

  • Can perform a basic capsize recovery and understands the importance of staying with the boat (Optional)

Launching and Recovery

Can:

  • Secure a boat on the trolley

Understands the principles of:

  • Wheeling a boat clear of other boats and overhead cables

  • Launching and leaving the shore

  • Coming ashore and recovery of a boat

Ropework

Can tie:

  • Figure of eight

  • Round turn and two half hitches

  • Secure a rope to a cleat

Theory

Has a theoretical understanding of:

Clothing and Equipment

  • Knows the importance of personal safety, clothing, and buoyancy

Sailing Background

  • An awareness of other water users

  • Basic rules of the road:

    • Avoiding collisions at all costs

    • Power/Sail

    • Port/Starboard

    • Overtaking boat

    • Windward boat

  • Visual methods of attracting attention

Meteorology

  • Has an awareness ashore of onshore and offshore winds

  • Sources of weather information and the relevance of:

    • The effects on sailing location

    • The Beaufort Scale

    • Conditions appropriate to ability and sailing location

Helpful Resources

Tacking

Tacking is the process of turning the bow (the front) of the boat through the wind. It's the first type of turn learnt on the course and is a slow, controlled way to turn the boat around. This video goes through the key elements to complete the tack safely and efficiently.

Boat Manoeuvres.pptx

Boat Manoeuvres

A look at how to control the speed of the boat and how to get yourself out of irons when the boat is stuck head to wind. This presentation also looks at how to tell where the wind is coming from when ashore.

Gybing

Gybing is the process of turning the stern (the rear) of the boat through the wind. The safest and most efficient way to do this is from a training run to ensure that there isn't too much power running through the sail as you gybe. The sail remains powered up all the time in this turn so helm and crew need to be aware of their surroundings to complete the tack safely. This video walks through the gybe.

The Five Essentials

Click here to find out about the five essentials and how to use them to make your sailing better.

Preparing the Boat.pptx

Sails, Rigging and Basic Equipment

Learn more about different parts of the sail, basic rigging concepts and the equipment you'll need on you and your boat to go sailing by reading this presentation.

Rules of the Road.pptx

Rules of the Road

There are some basic rules which help to stop boats from colliding when on the water. These come from the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (IRPCS, often referred to as COLREGs) and the Racing Rules of Sailing. Take a look at this presentation on the different rules of the road.

Meteorology.pptx

Meteorology

A look at some basic concepts of meteorology and how to learn enough about the weather so that you can go sailing safely. Take a look at this presentation for all the information.