Last updated:
24th April 2024
Dinghy Sailing
We offer dinghy sailing courses for complete beginners, all the way up to Instructors.
Our beginner courses will get you into a boat and confident in light winds.
The intermediate courses build your sailing knowledge, skills and confidence, setting you up to enjoy a life on the water.
With different aspects of the sailing world now accessible our advanced courses take you through the more intricate disciplines of spinnaker sailing, seamanship skills and racing.
Our courses are split into Juniors (8-13yrs), Teen (13+ ) and Adult (16+) with tuition specific to each group. The Juniors work along the Royal Yachting Association Youth Scheme comprising of 4 stages, moving onto the advanced courses, while the Teens and Adults follow the Royal Yachting Association National Scheme.
Junior Courses
Junior Sailing Weeks
Ages 8-12 | 9:30-4:30 | 4-day or 5-day course | School Holidays
We are running our full RYA Junior Sailing Program from Stages 1 to 4, every school holiday. Progress through the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Youth Sailing Scheme. Over these weeks you can progress through the syllabus to work up from a beginner level to more advanced techniques and bigger faster boats. Each time you finish a stage there is a certificate and sticker for you to keep in your syllabus log book, and on your wall chart, to track your progress.
Book junior sailing - Stage 1 Book junior sailing - Stage 2 Book junior sailing - Stage 3 Book Junior sailing - Stage 4
Completed them all? Then head to the advanced courses to really dig down into the specifics of different areas of dinghy sailing.
Teen Courses
These are week long courses run during the summer holidays. A great way to pick up a new skill, be active and enjoy the outdoors.
Teen Level 1 - Introduction to Dinghy Sailing
Age 13+ | 10am-5pm | Monday - Friday
Following the Royal Yachting Association Level 1 syllabus, this course introduces you to the wonderful world of dinghy sailing and will enable you to hire one of our single handed dinghies.
If we are currently running courses you will be able to find them by clicking the blue button above, otherwise you can book Bespoke session for individual tuition.
Teen Level 2 - Improvers Dinghy Sailing
Age 13+ | 10am-5pm | Monday - Friday
Build on your sailing knowledge, skills and confidence following the Royal Yachting Association Level 2 syllabus. On completion, you will be able to hire our double-handed dinghies.
Teen Level 3 - Better Dinghy Sailing
Age 13+ | 10am-5pm | Monday - Friday
Refine your sailing knowledge and skills by following the Royal Yachting Association Level 3 syllabus.
If we are currently running courses you will be able to find them by clicking the buttons above, otherwise you can book Bespoke session for individual tuition.
What to expect
Our Teen sailing scheme courses can be taught in a mixture of boats including:
- Topper Topaz
- RS Neo
- Topper Argo
- Topper Xenon
We will be teaching in small groups of six students to one instructor, and indoor time kept to a minimum.
Wetsuits, helmets and buoyancy aids will be issued where needed at the start of the course and will be in your care for the duration of the course. We will take these items back and disinfect the equipment at the end of the course.
Example of a day from the week long teen programme:
Our teen sailing scheme courses are usually run over 5 days as follows:
10:00 Signing in and meet your instructor
10:30 Issue equipment and getting changed
11:00 Land drills, before quickly heading afloat
12:30 Lunch
13:00 Back afloat
15:30 De-rigging packing away and getting changed
16:00 Debrief and Certificates
16:30 Signing out
Adult Courses
These are weekend long courses spread-out through the summer months. An easy and safe introduction into the world of sailing
Adult level 1 - Introduction to Dinghy Sailing
Age 16+ | 9:30am-5pm | Saturday - Sunday
Following the Royal Yachting Association Level 1 syllabus, this course introduces you to the wonderful world of dinghy sailing and will enable you to hire one of our single handed dinghies.
If we are currently running courses you will be able to find them by clicking the blue button above, otherwise you can book Bespoke session for individual tuition.
Adult level 2 - Improvers Dinghy Sailing
Age 16+ | 9:30am-5pm | Saturday - Sunday
Build on your sailing knowledge, skills and confidence following the Royal Yachting Association Level 2 syllabus. On completion, you will be able to hire our double-handed dinghies.
Wetsuits, helmets and buoyancy aids will be issued where needed at the start of the course and will be in your care for the duration of the course. We will take these items back and disinfect the equipment at the end of the course.
If we are currently running courses you will be able to find them by clicking the blue button above, otherwise you can book Bespoke session for individual tuition.
What to expect
Our adult sailing scheme courses can be taught in a mixture of boats including:
- Topper Topaz
- RS Neo
- Topper Argo
- Topper Xenon
We will be teaching in small groups of six students to one instructor, and indoor time kept to a minimum.
Wetsuits, helmets and buoyancy aids will be issued where needed at the start of the course and will be in your care for the duration of the course. We will take these items back and disinfect the equipment at the end of the course.
Example day from the adult weekend programme:
Our adult sailing scheme courses are usually run over 2 days as follows:
09:30 Signing in and meet your instructor
10:00 Issue equipment and getting changed
10:30 Land drills, before quickly heading afloat
12:30 Lunch
13:00 Back afloat
16:00 De-rigging packing away and getting changed
16:30 Debrief and Certificates
17:00 Signing out
Advanced Dinghy Sailing courses
Adults - TBC
Age 16+ | 9:30am-5pm | Saturday - Sunday
Teen/Junior
Age 13+ | 10:00am-5pm | Monday - Friday
Book Junior Stage 5 Advanced Week Book Teen Level 4 Advanced Week
This course is designed to give you a start into the world of seamanship skills and spinnaker sailing. Guiding you through everything from anchoring to rigging a spinnaker and how to use it out on the water. Ideal for those looking to get some extra speed and power out of their boat. Age 13+. Prerequisites: RYA Stage4 / Level 3 or equivalent experience.
What to expect
Our advanced courses can be taught in a mixture of boats including:
- Topper Argo
- Topper Xenon
The Advanced course can be taught with a max of 9 students split between 6 boats per instructor.
All timings are subject to change. If you have and questions message us at dintonactivitycentre@wokingham.gov.uk
Check out our Before You Visit page for our what to bring guides for further information.