After a few years of absence due to Clubhouse renovations, Learn to Sail courses are back on at St George Sailing Club.
Beginning in October 2024, we plan to run several courses per sailing season including during school and summer holidays, as well as weekly instruction on Saturdays.
LTS 1
Limited to 12 participants
Time: 8:30 – 11:30am
February 1, 8, 15, 22
March 1, 8
Cost: $100
Registration opening soon
LTS 2
Must have completed an LTS 1 course
Limited to 12 participants
Time: 8:30 – 11:30am
March 15, 22, 29
April 5, 12
Cost: $100
Registration opening soon
About Learn to Sail
Learn to Sail courses are taught by Australian Sailing Certified Instructors who provide a fun, safe and enjoyable introduction to small boat sailing for children ages 7-12. This program will teach them new skills and build their confidence and water awareness.
We aim to provide 6 hours of on-land activities/instruction coupled with 12 hours of on-water experience per LTS Session, with the aim of developing skills to the point that our little sailors are ready to progress to our Learn to Race program.
Please reference the list of skills and appropriate clothing you will need:
- Able to swim 25m unassisted
- Comfortable in water for a reasonable amount of time
Recommended Clothing:
- Hat & sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Wetsuit or other water-specific warm clothing
- Rain or ‘spray’ jacket
- Neoprene boots or similar water-specific footwear
- Change of clothes
Buoyancy vests or life jackets are provided, although if you have your own you are welcome to bring it.
Our Equipment
St George uses modified Manly Juniors allowing a comfortable and fun sailing experience.
Manly Juniors are traditionally a 3-sailed boat for young sailors from 6-12 years old. We have modified the boats allowing for 2 sailors to enjoy the experience together with a single sail. The self-bailing boat ensures the boat does not fill up with water and the sailors are as comfortable as they can be.
As the sailors progress we can then introduce secondary sails including jibs & spinnakers, allowing us to tailor the development of each sailor/team to prepare them for the next step.
What happens after LTS is finished?
We’re in the process of rebuilding our Junior Sailing and our plan is to organise Manly Junior and Flying 11 racing on Saturdays from 9.00am. Sailors are invited to join our racing fleet and grow their skills with qualified coaching support.
St George Sailing Club has a number of generous offers in place to get kids into our pathway at a low cost. The Club currently has a fleet of Manly Juniors which are a perfect transition from LTS. If your child is a little older or bigger, we also have a small number of Flying 11s available to sail.
After time is spent in Flying 11s, our sailors typically graduate to the Skiffs. The 13ft Skiff is the first stop which introduces a trapeze and high speeds. After a few seasons in 13s its time to transition to the 16ft Skiff. The benefits in stepping into the Skiffs are available prizemoney to subsidise the cost of sailing and increased support including travel and social events.
Need more information?
Please email sail@stgeorgesailingclub.com.au
Sail with St George
Our selected pathways from Learn to Sail to Skiffs