RYA Start Racing

RYA Start Racing is the first in set that include, Start Racing, Intermediate Racing and Advanced Racing. The prerequisites for this course are either an RYA Youth Stage 4 or an RYA Adult Level 3 Better Sailing or equivalent experience. The course is 2 days long or the equivalent in hours over shorter sessions.

The aim of the course is to give the participant confidence, skills and knowledge to take part in a local club race. The nearest clubs to Whiteadder Watersports Centre are to the south, Berwick Upon Tweed Sailing club and North Berwick Sailing club known as East Lothian Yacht Club. Both of these have dinghy clubs. Dunbar Sailing Club also close, has, at present, got an active rowing and yacht based club but no dinghy racing.

So, if you would like some training on how to start racing come and give this course a go. We will be teaching you the following. How to prepare a boat for racing, how to handle the boat on the race course, how to optimise your boat speed. We will cover teamwork, race strategy and tactics, racing rules (not all of them, just the basics to start with) and how to start the race.

The prerequisites for this course are either an RYA Youth Stage 4 or an RYA Adult Level 3 Better Sailing or equivalent experience.

This course will follow the RYA Start Racing Syllabus.

Boat Prep

How to tune a boat, find a tuning guide and use it.

Boat Handling

How to round marks optimally, Understand what a layline is, How to hike out of a boat.

Boat Speed

How to alter sail controls as you move around a race course. How to work as a good team - helm and crew (double-handed groups only)

Strategy and weather.

How to keep clean air, how to spot gusts and lulls.

Racing rules Working

Knowledge of right of way rules 10-13

Tactics

How to deal with boat on boat situations.

Starts

Understanding transits and how to get a good start

Local Club Racing

Types of racing, match, fleet and handicap. The course and start types.