KIDS LEARN TO SAIL
Welcome to the Alfreds
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
Kids Learn To Sail Programs
Welcome to the Alfreds Kids & Teens Sailing Programs!
Learning to sail is one of the most satisfying and fulfilling activities a child can do. Sailing is such an incredibly versatile sport, it can be enjoyed by young and old, at adrenalin pumping levels or an avenue to enjoy a fun Sunday afternoon on water. Best of all, it all starts here! In the Australian Sailing (AS) Start Sailing & Tackers programs by Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC).
The Alfred’s offers a simple training pathway for kids & teens wanting to get start sailing. Courses are delivered by Australian Sailing (AS) accredited instructors following a national syllabus. If you would like to discover sailing, we will provide a safe, fun, and affordable environment to build your skills.
'Tackers' Weekend Sailing Courses
Sailing courses throughout the school terms are focused on introducing new skills and progressing through the discover sailing pathway. The Australian Sailing national program ‘Tackers’ follows a three stage course program that caters for ages 7-12.
- Tackers 1 – ‘Having Fun’
- Tackers 2 – ‘Tricks & Techniques’
- Tackers 3 – ‘Sailing Fast’
Lessons are held on Sundays throughout the school term. Kids can expect to partake in fun sailing related games and activities, meet new friends, and learn more about sailing a dinghy in a safe environment.
Our 3 hour sessions commence with a safety briefing with instructors and other course participants. Once all of the sailors have a lifejacket fitted, and have their boats and equipment ready, they will leave the launching ramp and head out to a safe sailing area to begin activities. For the beginner groups, the boats will be towed to an area near Rowland Reserve or along the shores of Bayview.
Term 1: February – April 2025
02 Feb | 16 Feb | 23 Feb | 02 Mar | 09 Mar | 16 Mar | 06 Apr
Please note, there are no training sessions on 09 February, 23, 30 March due to Regattas & Championship events at the club.
- Tackers 1 and Tackers 2: 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Tackers 3: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Term 1 Tackers Courses – 2025
- Member course fee – $430*
- Visitor course fee – $480
*To be eligible for the member course fee, the participant is required to be a current financial youth member for the current membership year (through to end of April).
Whilst the summer weather conditions may feel warm, it can get cool on the water due to the feel of the wind, and following swimming activities. We recommend bringing additional clothing layers to all sessions.
We will provide you with a Personal Flotation Device (lifejacket) if you don’t have your own.
- Water bottle
- Hat* & sunscreen
- Shoes* (water shoes, wetsuit booties, old sneakers)
- Wetsuit, or shorts & warmer top.
- Towel
- Change of clothes
The Discover Sailing Centre at RPAYC will always provide a productive session, regardless of the current or forecasted weather. Parents are therefore requested to encourage participants to attend each scheduled session, as well as assist them to prepare the appropriate clothing and equipment required for the day’s weather outlook.
Our Instructor’s will make the best decision to ensure that the group is safe. If it’s just raining, the sessions will still go ahead as planned (we get wet when sailing anyway!). If we encounter thunderstorms or strong winds, then we will engage in some onshore activities where it is safe to do so.
School Holiday Combined Sailing Programs
Looking for a fun activity for your child to spend their time throughout the school holidays? Joining a holiday sailing program is the perfect way to spend time with new friends and exploring our sailing background!
Our program will include a variety of sailing activities that are focused on having fun and learning the basic sailing skills. The days activities are customised to the days weather conditions. Activities include sailing on small ‘Opti’ dinghies, ‘Hobie Wave’ catamarans, and other large dinghies and keelboats with an instructor onboard!
Each day will commence with a safety briefing with our team of experienced instructors. The day is broken up into a morning and afternoon session, with participants returning to the club for a lunch break.
On the final day of the program (weather dependent) the participants will go on an adventure sail to a destination on Pittwater! Instructors will take a water bottle refill station and cold storage for lunch boxes.
Register early! Our School Holiday Sailing Programs have limited places available to ensure that we have a suitable ratio of safety boats and qualified instructors to the number of kids participating.
December 2024 School Holidays
Tuesday 10 – Friday 13 December (4 days). 9 AM to 3:30 PM every day.
Tuesday 17 – Friday 20 December (4 days). 9 AM to 3:30 PM every day.
January 2025 School Holidays
Tuesday 07 – Friday 10 January (4 days). 9 AM to 3:30 PM every day.
Tuesday 14 – Friday 17 January (4 days). 9 AM to 3:30 PM every day.
Tuesday 21 – Friday 24 January (4 days). 9 AM to 3:30 PM every day.
October School Holiday Program 2024
- Member program fee* – $495.00
- Visitor program fee – $545.00
*To be eligible for the member course fee, the participant is required to be a current financial youth member for the current membership year (through to end of April).
Whilst the summer weather conditions may feel warm, it can get cool on the water due to the feel of the wind, and following swimming activities. We recommend bringing additional clothing layers to all sessions.
We will provide you with a Personal Flotation Device (lifejacket) if you don’t have your own.
- Packed Lunch (this is not provided)
- Water bottle
- Hat* & sunscreen
- Shoes* (water shoes, wetsuit booties, old sneakers)
- Wetsuit, or shorts & warmer top.
- Towel
- Change of clothes (warm jumper recommended for after sailing)
The Discover Sailing Centre at RPAYC will always provide a productive session, regardless of the current or forecasted weather. Parents are therefore requested to encourage participants to attend each scheduled session, as well as assist them to prepare the appropriate clothing and equipment required for the day’s weather outlook.
Our Instructor’s will make the best decision to ensure that the group is safe. If it’s just raining, the sessions will still go ahead as planned (we get wet when sailing anyway!). If we encounter thunderstorms or strong winds, then we will engage in some onshore activities where it is safe to do so.
Spaces for School Holiday programs are limited. Register early!
How to register for an Australian Sailing course at RPAYC...
To register for all sailing courses at RPAYC, you will need an Australian Sailing number. This is your unique identifier that recognises you as a member and/or course participant. If you already have an Australian Sailing number, you can look it up here. If you do not have one, then there is an option to begin registration for an Australian Sailing number when registering for a course or Discover Sailing experience for the first time (follow the links via course registration).
Once registered, you will receive a number, a username and an online profile. The benefits of this include being able to enrol in any national sailing courses, register for a ‘SailPass’, and to keep a record of your memberships, courses and qualifications.
Which program should I enroll in?
Sailing is all about having fun and developing skill and confidence at your own pace!
We recommend that kids begin their sailing journey by taking part in a Combined Holiday Program, and/or enrolling in Tackers 1 term-time program.
From here, speak to our Sail Training team to establish which course level is suitable for your child to complete next (Tackers 1, 2 or 3).
Joining a holiday camp is a great opportunity to discover sailing! Kids will engage in a mixture of sailing activities throughout the week, with a focus on having fun and learning the basic skills!
The Holiday Sailing program is a combined group, rather than seperated into Tackers levels, so it is the perfect opportunity for you to bring your friends along to the course regardless of age, experience and competency!
In Tackers 1: Having Fun kids sail in pairs in small boats. It’s a great way to meet new friends and kids have the chance to sail with others in their group. There is no experience necessary and no assumed knowledge, just come along to have fun and we’ll take care of the rest. Register Kids and invite your friends to participate for a great time out on Pittwater.
If kids are confident, they can sail a boat on their own in Tackers 2: Tricks & Techniques with lots of support, supervision and encouragement from the Instructor and Assistant Instructors.
The final level is Tackers 3: Sailing Fast! This is a chance for the kids to sail boats on their own, learning how to make the boat go faster and playing more games, all whilst still under the guidance and supervision of the Instructor and Assistant Instructors.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are enrolling your child for the first time in a Term Time ‘Tackers’ Course, then Tackers 1 is the starting point! After your child has completed their first course, speak with our instructors to establish which level is best suited for them to take part in next. Enrolment in a school holiday sailing camp does not necessarily mean your child is ready to move up to the next level of Tackers.
No, one of the great things about Kids Learn to Sail is you don’t have to be a member of the club to participate. In fact, kids receive an honorary club membership during their participation in the program from Australian Sailing.
RPAYC does offer a great Youth Membership opportunity for individuals and families and a wealth of benefits which includes DISCOUNTED courses.
Yes, ability to swim a minimum 25m unassisted. Lifejackets are provided to all participants and must be worn at all times. Parents/guardians are encouraged to talk to the Head Instructor or the Sail Training Co-Ordinator if they have any concerns.
The minimum age is seven (7) to join a sailing course at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Kids sailing courses are suitable for children up to age twelve (12).
From age 13 onwards, we recommend enrolling in one of our Out There Sailing programs!
Throughout the School Holiday Sailing Program, kids will try sailing on different types of sailing dinghies, and also experience sailing on a small keelboat with our accredited instructors at the helm!
Our Tackers program is only delivered in a boat called an ‘Opti’. This boat was specifically designed for the Tackers program and is an ideal introduction to dinghy sailing for young children. The built in buoyancy tanks provide extra safety and stability for up to two children to sail together throughout the Tackers 1 program. As they gain confidence, they can progress to sailing the boat on their own.
When kids start sailing in Tackers 1 they will be sailing in pairs. There are usually 6-10 boats in a group and there will be an Instructor and an Assistant Instructor in a safety boat supervising the group. The safety boat stays on the water all the time the kids are sailing.
Here is what you need to bring with every time you go sailing with:
- Clothes & Shoes – wear ones you don’t mind getting wet and will keep you warm on cold days.
- A change of clothes and shoes.
- Towel
- Drink bottle, lunch and snacks.
- Hat – to keep you warm and protect you from the sun.
- Sunscreen
- …and loads of energy!
On completion of all three Tackers programs, kids can choose to progress into the RPAYC ‘Green Fleet’. The ‘Green Fleet’ program introduces to kids to new skills including better boat handling, rules of sailing, and a brief introduction to racing!
Active Kids Vouchers
The NSW Government is helping kids get active with the Active Kids program and Australian Sailing is an approved provider. Parents, guardians and carers can apply for a voucher for each school-enrolled child.
Required at time of Registration. Apply for your voucher online here.
