Galway Bay Sailing Club

Course Outline

Introduce participants to sailboat racing and develop their skills and knowledge to comfortably race at club and inter-club levels in Ireland

Prerequisites:

• Completion of the Improving Skills course or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 20 hours of logged sailing experience.

Assessment:
Continuous throughout the course, with potential formal practical assessments and a short written or oral evaluation

Duration

5 days from the indicated start date, 9:30 to 4:30

Objective

By the end of this course the participant should have learnt:

Preparation & Equipment

• Accessing race information and sailing instructions.
• Preparing a boat for racing, including necessary tools and spares.
• Understanding personal preparation: diet, hydration, sleep, and exercise.

Rules & Tactics

• Overview of Racing Rules (Part 1 and Part 2: rules 10–14 & 18).
• Starting tactics: line bias, positioning, speed control, and managing dirty air.
• Strategic considerations for various legs of the course and mark approaches.

Techniques & Maneuvers

• Effective mark rounding.
• Racing tacks and understanding upwind laylines.
• Overtaking strategies on reaching legs.

Race Management

• Familiarity with common race courses.
• Understanding flags and sound signals used in start sequences.

Environmental Factors

• Interpreting weather forecasts and local weather effects on racing.
• Identifying areas of stronger and weaker currents and their daily changes.

Additional Knowledge

• Overview of boat classes sailed in Ireland.
• Understanding the club and class racing structure in Ireland.
• Guidance on continuing sailing and further skill development.

Location

Galway Bay Sailing Club, Renville, Oranmore, H91 W678

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.