Junior Sailing Programme
Our complete Junior Sailing Programme is detailed below. If you have any queries or questions please do not hesitate to contact us. We would enjoy the opportunity to discuss the programme with you.
To book a place in any of our sailing courses simply download and complete and forward an Enrolement Form to the club either by email or in the post. Also, we would advise giving us a call to confirm there are places available in your preferred course - they fill up fast.
BYRA can accept online credit card payments via a secure link provided by the Commonwealth Bank. Alternatively you can pay by cheque. See our payments page for details.
BYRA is a community-based club run entirely by volunteers, only our instructors and coaches are paid, parents and members are expected to help getting the boats in and out and help crew the safety boats on a roster system a couple of times per season.
Access to Boats
Junior members are given free access to BYRA's large fleet of Optimists for use in the sailing school and Sunday afternoon racing. By their second or third season, children typically progress from Optis to Pittwater Juniors and Manly Juniors and, although the Club has a number of PJs and MJs available for lease, it is expected that students will be considering the purchase of their own boat at that stage. The second-hand market for boats is large and good examples can be obtained for $1,000 to $1,500.
Membership
Children learning to sail are expected to join the club once they progress beyond Blue 1 Group, or start racing.
FREE TRY SAILING DAYS
Before enrolling in our Junior Sailing Programme you might like to come and simply try a morning sailing. Our Try Sailing Days are free and are designed to introduce students to the joy of dinghy sailing.
Try Sailing Days will be held on the following dates:
- 9 Oct 2011
- 6 Nov 2011 (in conjunction with the Boating Industry Association)
- 4 Mar 2012
Places are limited and you will have to book. Contact the club and we can book you in for the first available day.
WHITE GROUP: Introduction To Sailing
This is our starting junior course designed to provide a safe and enjoyable introduction to dinghy sailing. This course is aimed at 8-14 year old novices and cycles over a 4 week period.
The course will introduce students to the fundamentals of boat handling, tacking and gybing, setting sails and capsize recovery. We aim to form the essential boat handling skills that will allow students the freedom and confidence to start sailing small boats in a controlled and supervised environment.
The course runs on 4 consecutive Sunday mornings from 08.15am to 10.30am.
Starting Dates:
- 16 Oct 2011
- 27 Nov 2011
- 5 Feb 2012
- 11 Mar 2012
Cost:
- Club Members: $70.00 (Family Discount: $65 each for 2 or more siblings)
- Non-Members: $100.00 (Family Discount: $90 each for 2 or more siblings)
Places for all our courses are limited and you will have to book, contact us for availability and download an application form.
BLUE GROUP: Start sailing more independently
This course is designed to consolidate the experiences and knowledge gained in Blue 1. The course cycles over a 5 week period and most students can expect stay in this group for half the season (10 weeks). Students will be in our International Optimists or start to crew in our Manly Juniors (MJ).
The course introduces skills and knowledge that will enable the successful participants to safely and competently sail a small boat in controlled conditions (light winds in enclosed waters) without guidance. Students will gain the confidence and experience to crew and helm for a triangle course.
The course cycles on 5 consecutive Sunday mornings from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Starting Dates:
- 16 Oct 2011
- 20 Nov 2011
- 29 Jan 2012
- 4 Mar 2012
Cost:
- Club Members: $90.00 (Family Discount: $85 each for 2 or more siblings)
- Non-Members: $120.00 (Family Discount: $110 each for 2 or more siblings)
RED GROUP: Intermediate Boat Handling Skills
This course is designed for students that have successfully competed BLUE 2. This course cycles over a 10 week period and most students can expect stay in this group for at least half the season. Students will still be in our International Optimists or crewing and sometimes skippering one of our Manly Juniors (MJ). At this stage some students might want to consider bringing their own boats.
The course introduces skills and knowledge that will enable the successful participants to competently sail in stronger winds and more difficult sailing conditions without guidance. We'll be covering enhanced crewing and helming: roll tacking and roll gibing, spinnaker handling; lifts and knocks and their effect on the windward passage and a greater level of sailing theory is taught.
The course cycles on 10 consecutive Sunday mornings from 09.00 to 11.30.
Starting Dates:
- 9 Oct 2011
- 22 Jan 2012
Cost:
- Club Members: $180.00 (Family Discount: $170 each for 2 or more siblings)
- Non-Members: $240.00 (Family Discount: $230 each for 2 or more siblings)
SILVER GROUP: Learn to Race
Now we're moving into dinghy racing. This course is designed for students that have successfully completed our Red programme. Students can stay in our International Optimists or Manly Juniors (MJ) however a significant number of students are now starting to sail in their own boats.
The aim of this course is to introduce sailors to competitive sailing. The course focuses on refining enhanced boat handling skills, including skills to maintain or enhance speed and balance in gusty (moderate to fresh) conditions when sailing upwind and downwind and introducing participants to basic racing tactics and strategies. These include performing starts, identifying line bias, windward and leeward mark roundings, etc.
The course cycles on 10 consecutive Sunday mornings from 09.00 to 11.30. Students are now also encouraged to enter the afternoon racing programmes.
Starting Dates:
- 9 Oct 2011
- 22 Jan 2012
Cost:
- Club Members: $220.00 (Family Discount: $140 each for 2 or more siblings)
- Non-Members: $280.00 (Family Discount: $170 each for 2 or more siblings)
*Note that it's not essential to become a member at this stage however non-members are limited to 3 races a season without being both a club member and a member of Yachting Australia.
GOLD GROUP: Advanced Racing Skills
The Gold programme is intended for students competitively racing in the afternoon. Our goals here are to prepare crews for winning Local and State Championships.
At this stage sailors have their own boats (rather than use club boats) and often sail Manly Juniors or Spirals, sometimes Flying 11s or Lasers.