Youth Training
Introduction
Sutton Bingham Sailing Club is a great place to learn to sail – or sail better. We are an RYA Recognised Training Centre and for many years we have been running a popular programme of Youth sailing courses for young people aged 8-15 at all ability levels from complete beginners to potential Olympic stars who want to get into Racing. We have a large fleet of single and double-handed dinghies and our experienced Instructors make the courses safe and fun. The courses are held over three days – Wednesday to Friday – throughout the school holidays and are open to members of the Club and non members. All courses are open to members and non members of the Sailing Club.
Courses 2026
We run RYA youth sailing courses for RYA stages 1,2,3 and 4, Start racing and Sailing with Spinnakers for ages 8-16. We can also offer Intermediate Racing.
We use Optimists, RS Tera’s, RS Feva’s, Laser Pico’s and Lasers for our training.
Dates – While the course you are interested in might not available, please get in touch as we run a waiting list and we also sometimes have some flexibility
DATES 2026
Course Costs 2026
Course fee is £235
The course cost includes buoyancy aid use.
Lunches can be provided at an additional cost of £15 for the duration of the course (£5 per day).
Booking
Please use the form at the bottom of the page to make an enquiry for booking course places. All enquiries will be dealt with as soon as possible, however, the bookings role is not a full time post, so please be patient – we will get back to you!
You will receive confirmation from the booking manager if you are successful in your request along with details of how to make payment for the courses selected. Note – please check your spam box just in case!
Courses we offer
We run the following youth courses. Once you have passed one stage participants can advance on to working towards the following stage. The prior course needs to have been passed before signing up onto the next stage. If no courses have been previously taken then please make an enquiry for a suitable course.
If you have any queries then please feel free to email the Training team.
Beginner courses
RYA Stage 1
Age: 8- 11 (please enquire if older as we can run courses for older participants)
Dinghy: Optimist
Course content: Launching and recovery, steering, parts of the boat, basic sailing.
Ability after the course: Able to steer and understand basic principles.
RYA Stage 2
Age: 8-16
Dinghy: RS Tera
Course content: Basic sailing skills, ropework, collision avoidance
Ability after the course: Able to tack and control boat speed, and understand basic principles.
Intermediate Courses
RYA Stage 3
Age: 9-16
Dinghy: RS Tera/ Laser Pico
Course content: Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques, capsize recovery, sailing theory
Ability after the course: Able to launch and sail a dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions.
RYA Stage 4
Age: 11-16
Dinghy: RS Feva
Course content: Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques and manoeuvres in crewed boats, recovering a man overboard.
Ability after the course: Can launch and return to a beach, jetty or mooring, and sail a crewed dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions.
Advanced Courses (On Request)
RYA Start racing
Age: 10-16
Dinghy: RS Tera/ RS Feva/ Laser Pico
Course content: A course for new racers. Build your confidence and general racing knowledge by learning the skills needed to enter and compete in a race.
Ability after course: Able to take part in a club race in gentle conditions.
Age: 10-16
Dinghy: RS Tera/ RS Feva/ Laser Pico
Course content: Perfect for racing at club level, building on the Start Racing Course, improving boat handling, speed and developing strategic plans based on the conditions.
Ability after course: Be able to compete in local club races.
RYA Sailing with Spinnakers
Age: 11-16
Dinghy: RS Feva
Course content: How to rig the boat, gybe and recover one type of spinnaker, either conventional or asymmetric. How to sail the best possible course downwind.
Ability after course: Able to use one type of spinnaker, conventional or asymmetric.
EXTRA INFORMATION
Timings
9:30am Arrival and Sign in (First day – 10am on days 2 & 3)
4pm Sign out and Departure
What’s included
Buoyancy aid
What you need:
Towel
Closed toe shoes that can get wet (No Sliders or Flip Flops)
Suncream and hat
Wet weather clothes in case of inclement weather
Wetsuit or old clothes that can get wet (no jeans)
Change of clothes
We look forward to meeting you on one of our courses.