Galway Bay Sailing Club

Improving Skills is an Irish Sailing approved introductory sailing course designed for junior sailors between the ages of 11 and 17 years of age.

Participants will be expected to be able to demonstrate the skills and knowledge included in the Irish Sailing Basic Skills.

The course will run from 0930 to 1700 Monday to Friday with supervised lunch break between 1300 and 1400. Sailors should bring their own lunch.

Objective

By the end of the course you will be able to Identify and demonstrate / describe the use of the following in order to optimise the boat / rig for a particular set of conditions:

• Sail telltales
• Jib sheeting angles
• Halyard tension
• Outhaul
• Cunningham / downhaul
• Kicker or vang
• Main sheet traveller / hawse
• Rig the sailing boats used.
• De-rig, secure and care for hull & equipment
• Tack effectively in all wind conditions.
• Perform a basic roll tack in light winds.
• Gybe effectively in all wind conditions.
• Demonstrate all of the skills covered in the “Sailing Manoeuvres” section of the Basic Skills course” in windier conditions.
• Describe the principles of sailing without a rudder and sail a beam reach without a rudder.
• Sail backwards for short distances.
• Be constantly aware of and apply the “5 Essentials”
• Weather
• Coastal Knowledge

Full course outline

Previous knowledge or experience

Participants should have completed the Irish Sailing Basic Sailing course to a standard to allow them to progress based on an Instructors assessment.

If you have not been regularly practicing these skills you will need to do have at lease 10 hours on the helm at least prior to this commencing this course .

Assessment

Assessment is continuous throughout the course. However, your instructor may also choose to use a formal practical assessment of boat handling skills and a short written paper or oral interview in assessing your level of background knowledge

Progress will be documented through 1:1 updates with the Instructor and will be recorded in the Checklick  online system"

Checklick

The Irish Sailing provided Checklick system is used to capture the progress of participants.

If you wish for you our your child's progress to be recorded and evaluated then you must create a Checklick (Passport) account.

Click here to create a Checklick account

Medical Conditions

You must inform in advance if the participant has any know medical conditions, special needs and or behavior considerations that we should be aware of and or that would impact there ability to participate safely in all the activities.

Terms and Conditions

Please click her to see and read our terms and conditions

Equipment

Buoyancy aids are provided by GBSC. Wetsuits are available however if sailors have their own wetsuits and boots, that is preferable for their own comfort.

Footwear

Sandals, Flip Flops, Crocs or other similar open shoes are NOT recommended.

We recommend Runners, Aqua Shoes or Wetsuit Boots.

On the Day

Please bring:

• Your own wetsuit (if you have one) booties or old runners
• Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses.
• Towel, change of socks / underwear.
• Warm dry clothing for when you come out of the water.
• A notebook and pen/pencil (for coursework).
• Lunch each day (if your course runs for the full day), water, hot drink.