The Redhouse Yacht Club Sailing School is the best way for both junior and senior prospective sailors to learn and be introduced to the sport of sailing and has formed the foundation of several national as well as two international sailing champions to date.
Our sailing school is open to all people with the only requirements being that the student is able to swim and has a genuine desire to learn to sail.
The emphasis of the sailing school is on practical sailing and students are expected to acquaint themselves with the theoretical aspects of the sport in their own time.
You do not need to own your sailing dinghy as use of a club optimist training boat for juniors is included in the sailing school fee of R30 per session. Seniors may have use of one the mirrors class yachts owned by the club if they do not partner as crew with an experienced club member who is assigned to them as a mentor.
Sailing School begins at 10.00am sharp every Sunday during school term. Students are expected to arrive early and have their assigned boats rigged and ready to sail prior to the 10.00am starting time.
Every alternate Sunday the sailing school fleet has a shortened training session and participates in Club races that start at 11h00.
For more information on our sailing school please contact Rhona Clark on Tel: (041) 463 1611 or our sailing instructor Andrew Butler on Tel: (084) 564 3128.
Sailing is one of the world’s most popular sports enjoyed by young and old. If you want to find out more about how to get involved with sailing, then read on. Gael Pawson from Yachts and Yachting magazine explains more:-
There are plenty of ways to spend your leisure time, so what makes sailing so special? The answer lies in the variety it has to offer.
There is one thing sailing isn’t short of, and that’s stereotypes. For many people who have never had contact with the sport their first thought is of luxury yachts, millionaires and lots of glamour. The reality is very different. The types of sailing you can get involved in are many and varied, and so are its participants. They can range from eight to 80 years old (and younger, or older), from the very fit athlete, to those slightly less fit who sail for fun, or the disabled sailor, from beginner to expert, keen racer to laid back cruiser and every shade in between. At Redhouse Yacht Club we have two dinghy sailors over 70yrs who sail, and quite often win, nearly every club race.
It is this variety which means for many sailing becomes a sport for life, as during different stages in your life you may dip in and out of different areas depending on your circumstances.
Sailing is also one of the few sports that can truly be enjoyed by the whole family, from youngest child to grandparents, and it’s a great sport for parents to enjoy with children, whether it be sailing together in a doublehanded dinghy, in singlehanded dinghies, or as a larger group on a yacht.
Sailing on a Budget
One of the sport’s biggest myths is its expense. Yes, you can spend lots on a luxury yacht, but a second-hand dinghy and local sailing club membership can be very inexpensive indeed. While some specific items of clothing will add to your comfort and enjoyment, the list of essentials is pretty small and there are a host of budget kit manufacturers as well as the big brand names.
Meet New People
The social side of the sport is another one of its strengths. By joining a sailing club such as Redhouse Yacht Club you can meet a range of people from all walks of life.
Most clubs, as does Redhouse Yacht Club, have youth sections and there are a lot of events for young sailors, making it a great way to meet new friends. And you don’t have to be close to the sea, a huge number of people sail each weekend on small reservoirs and lakes across the country. Smaller clubs are generally cheaper, and depending where you live there are often plenty to choose from allowing you to pick one that suits your pocket and your personal taste.
Learning Sailing
The basics of sailing can be learnt easily in a week or over a number of sessions, it doesn’t take long for you to be able to sail around a triangular course on your own. To begin with it’s about getting to grips with sitting in the right place, steering, changing direction and trimming the sails. As you progress you will learn to do these more quickly and efficiently to get the most out of the boat. From there, however, there is a lifetime of learning and progression, which will always provide you with new challenges if you choose to take them.
Racing
Having learnt the basics, most people progress into racing. Organised by clubs and classes across your country, racing round a course is a great way to improve your skills and have a lot of fun along the way. For most people racing is not about going to the Olympics, although there are plenty of opportunities for talented youngsters to progress through to top-level competition. Racing at a local sailing club usually involves a variety of classes of boat and a huge range of abilities and experience across a wide age range.
As you gain in confidence you may choose to travel to open meetings at other clubs, or to regional or national championships. There are also many regattas during the summer which welcome families to some lovely holiday destinations where a week on a sandy beach can be combined with sailing during the day, and barbeques, parties and even firework displays in the evenings.
So, how do you start?
The best way to start is to contact your local sailing club. You don’t have to live by the sea either as many clubs are on rivers,lakes or reservoirs. If you contact the ISAF Member National Authority (MNA) for your country (just go to www.sailing.org/mna to find out how to contact them), they’ll be able to give you a list of clubs in your area.
If you live in the Eastern Cape nearby Port Elizabeth the best dinghy sailing club to join is Redhouse Yacht Club which caters for sailors of all ages and experience.
Once you contact a sailing club, see if they can organise a “try sailing” day for you on some borrowed equipment and if you like it, they should be able to arrange some lessons or advise where you can go to have lessons. Your club will also have many contacts for you to purchase equipment or clothing or they may even be able to rent it to you for a small charge.
However you get into sailing, the first thing to remember is to have fun and be safe. Sailing is a wonderful sport and can be truly enjoyed for life.
For more information on our sailing school please contact Rhona Clark on Tel: (041) 463 1611 or our sailing instructor Andrew Butler on Tel: (084) 564 3128.
