The Training Centre core mission is to introduce adults and juniors of all backgrounds to the sport of sailing and encourage participation in competitive racing at all levels by means of an affordable, diverse and a progressive range of courses with an aim in gaining long term participation in the sport and Beaver Sailing club.

The RYA Recognised Training Centre at Beaver Sailing Club is a friendly, safe environment to learn how to sail.  The training centre is open most Saturdays during the sailing season between March and December. Training starts at 10:00am each Saturday and runs to 2:00pm with a 30 min break from lunch. Level 1 & 2 and stages 1,2 & 3, Start Racing, Spinnaker and Performance course will run between the hours of 9:30 am and 4:00 pm. All training is delivered via fully qualified instructors in a carefully selected range of boats.

In addition to the Saturday training sessions, two 4-day courses are also run during May Spring Bank and August Bank Holidays.

Our RYA certificated courses are extremely competitively priced and the four hour sessions are great value at just £10.00 for adults and £7.50 for juniors. All comers are welcome from complete beginners right through to those who want to hone their skills and maybe experience new elements (e.g. high performance sailing, spinnakers or race coaching). Taster sessions are available throughout the year. We normally can accommodate anyone who turns up on the day, however the Training Centre is growing in popularity and it is best to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Note that training does not take place when open days, Regattas and other special events are running - see noticeboard for details  

Boats we sail 

Our training fleet makeup is quite extensive with over 30 boats available and caters for young and old alike and even the more adventurous amongst us who enjoy a sense of speed. For the youth sailors we a have a plentiful supply of Optimists and Toppers. Other boats we have which may appeal to the younger members are the Picos. Two Wayfarers and a Wanderer are the main workhorses for running our taster sessions and seamanship courses and we also have two Enterprises as two-man boats. For the thrill seekers and spinnaker enthusiast we have an RS Feva which is a high performance asymmetric spinnaker boat. Never heard of any of these boat names or know what they look like?  Don't worry - we have an eager bunch of Instructors qualified to teach all disciplines waiting to take you from beginner to accomplished sailor in no time at all with a varied programme of courses on offer.

Equipment  

We will provide buoyancy aids, you will need to bring a change of clothing and footwear dependant on conditions. The centre will give advice on what is most appropriate, however in the main an old pair of trainers and waterproof/windproof jacket will suffice.

COURSE PROFILE  

Adult Courses

LEARN TO SAIL RYA - Start Sailing and RYA Basic Skills, otherwise known as Level 1 & 2, a 4 day course suitable for beginners.  This will take you through the basics of sailing and also deal with aspects of safety.  On completion of this course, the successful sailor will be competent to sail a boat unsupervised in moderate conditions and eligible to use one of the Club's training fleet boats and sail under supervision.  Passing this course is the natural entry point for the advanced courses in the RYA National Sailing Scheme.

Adult Start Sailing and Basic Skills (Level 1 & 2)

Youth Course Start Sailing

RYA Stage 1  This is an introductory course giving a basic understanding of how a boat sails and some experience of steering and handling the boat.  Stages 2 and 3 will complete the introduction to the sport in easy stages.

RYA Stage 2  By the end of this course the young sailor will have a range of sailing skills and background knowledge, and be well on the way to being a confident small boat sailor.

*Some children may achieve a Stage 3 certificate during this course

RYA Stage 3  Having completed Stage 3, the young sailor will be able to sail in any direction and rig and launch their boat.  The young sailor will now possess the skills and knowledge to regard themselves as a sailor and not a beginner.  Stage 3 sailors are eligible to use one of the Club's training fleet boats and sail under supervision.

RYA Stage 4  Successful completion of this course gives the sailor the skills to sail a double-handed boat as crew or helm, and solve a variety of problems afloat.  Passing this course is the natural entry point for the advanced courses in the RYA National Sailing Scheme.

Advanced Courses

RYA Sailing with Spinnakers  This 2 day course teaches the sailor how to handle a boat rigged with either an asymetric spinnaker (a large sail used for sailing downwind), learning how to hoist, drop, gybe and trim the sail and how to sail the best course downwind.  The sailor should have already mastered the skills required for Basic Skills Level 2 or Youth Stage 4 before taking this course.  This course is run on demand over two full Saturdays and the fee is £75.00.  Minimum number is two candidates.

RYA Start Racing  This 2 day course is designed to introduce you to racing and includes sessions on how racing is organised, starting, getting around the course and basic rules.  Like all other sports there are some simple tactics and strategies, and during the course we'll also develop your boat handling skills and get you sailing your boat faster around the course.

Junior Start Racing

Adult Start Racing

RYA Performance Sailing  A 2 day course aimed at the Basic Skills Level 2/Stage 4 sailor who has consolidated their skills.  On completion of this course, the successful candidate will understand how to sail performance dinghies in a variety of wind conditions, sailing the boat to best advantage at all times.  The course will be run in two-person spinnaker boats.  The course is run on demand and the fee is £75.00.  Minimum number is two candidates.

RYA Seamanship Skills  This 2 day course progresses the boat handling skills learned on the Basic Skills to a higher level, enabling the successful sailor to manoeuvre the dinghy in a seamanlike manner and make seamanlike decisions in moderate conditions.  Skills taught on this course include heaving to, reefing afloat, sailing backwards, recovering a person overboard, anchoring and sailing without a rudder/centreboard.  The course is run on demand over two full Saturdays and the fee is £40.  Minimum number is two candidates.

Improver Sessions  These sessions are aimed at candidates who have completed either a Level 2 or a Stage 3 course to reinforce and develop the basic skills and make the transition into some of the more advanced courses.  They are run over a 6 week period throughout the year and are available to both adults and juniors.  Sessions run between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.  Entry onto the course is permitted at any stage of the course.  Fees are £7.50 for juniors and £10.00 for adults.

Race Coaching  Race Coaching is available throughout the year via our own race coaches who are very experienced at all levels of competition including international.  Courses are available for both juniors and adults from beginners through to master classes run by experienced coaches.  Novices are advised to complete the 2 day Start Racing course prior to undertaking coaching.  Class specific coaching is also available at various times during the year, watch the website and club notice board for the latest information.

Sessions run between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm.  Entry onto the course is permitted at any stage of the course and the fee is £7.50 for juniors and £10.00 for adults.  These are not RYA certificated courses.  Training is undertaken by RYA qualified Club Racing Coaches or external trainer.

Class Coaching  Class specific coaching is available throughout the year using our own and visiting coaches run through class associations.

*£7.50 juniors, £10.00 adults.  Please see the noticeboard and updates to the website for the programme.

Powerboat Courses

Powerboat courses are all run on demand in both planing and displacement craft.

Level 1  Provides a practical introduction to boat handling skills.  Fee £75.00 (£40 for members*)

Level 2  Provides the skills and background knowledge needed by the competent power boat driver and is the basis of the International Certificate of Competence.  Power boat Level 2 can lead to an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) for use abroad and can also be extended to the European canals upon successful completion of the CEVNI Test - European Code for Inland Waterways, Code European des Voies de la Navigation Interieure.  Fee £150.00 (£40.00 for members*)

Safety Boat Course  Provides the skills required when acting as an escort craft, safety boat or coach boat for a fleet of dinghies, windsurfers or canoes, for racing or training activities.  Fee £75.00 (£40.00 for members*)

(*rate not available to corporate members). 

Thinking about going abroad?

International Certificate of Competence (ICC)  An ICC is a certificate issued by the RYA on the authority of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).  It enables owners of British registered yachts and vessels to use them in those European waters where it is required, and proves to local authorities that the skipper has the required UK qualifications for skippering a vessel in European and Mediterranean waters.  Beaver Sail Training is a registered assessment centre for the ICC for power vessels up to 10 meters.  The course duration should take less than a day and are run on a demand basis.  The candidate is expected to have good power boat handling skills and a full knowledge of the collision regulations.  Fee £75.00 (£40 for members*)

(*rate not available to corporate members)

CEVNI  Code Europeen des Voies de la Navigation Interieure is the European Code for Inland Waterways.   To skipper a vessel on inland European waterways you are required to have a CEVNI endorsement on your International Certificate of Competence (ICC).  This endorsement can be achieved at our centre by undertaking a multiple choice test which consistes of 14 questions relating to European buoyage, lights and sound signals.  The tests are run on a demand basis, and the CEVNI examination fee is £40.00.

How to Contact us - For general enquiries relating to training activities contact the Principal, Mike Robertshaw at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it