Brunel Sailing Club is proud to have a number of RYA qualified instructors in the club. Throughout the year we run RYA National Sailing Scheme level 1 and 2 courses for complete beginners and amateurs alike. Once you have passed the level 2 assessment you will be a more than capable sailor and can progress onto the Fleet or Team Racing teams, or just have fun sailing the club’s faster boats like the RS800.

We try and keep our course prices as low as possible, we are students after all. Doing RYA Level 1 and 2 through Brunel Sailing Club is the cheapest way to learn as our own members are qualified RYA dinghy instructors; you only pay for your log book, and kit and boat rental fees.

The courses we offer are as follows:

RYA Level 1

Level 1 is an introduction to sailing and the first in a series of courses designed to make you a competent sailor. After completing this course you can crew for a helm on the race team or go on to level 2.

RYA Level 2

Level 2 is considered a “driving licence” for dinghy sailing, once completed you are able to helm most of Brunel’s boats in order to gain experience and then work up to more demanding boats like the 800. With this qualification you can move to the Brunel race team and continue training with them to enable you to race.

RYA Level 3

Level 3 is again further developing sailing skills. Once completed you will be able to complete some more complex manoeuvres and be competent in helming a boat in a race.

RYA Seamanship Skills

This course is built around learning more complex manoeuvres including rudderless sailing, sailing backwards and picking up buoys. This is advised if you want to go on to become an instructor as the manoeuvres covered in this will form part of the pre-assessment.

RYA Dingy Instructor

This qualification enables the candidate to teach level 1, 2, and 3, along with seamanship skills and has the potential to allow candidates to teach more advanced courses like sailing with spinnakers. The course requires you to already have a first aid certificate and a level 2 power boating certificate. The course lasts 6 days of which one of those days will be a pre assessment which tests your ability to sail a boat to safety. Upon completing the course you will then be able to look for employment opportunities.

Power Boat Courses

RYA Level 2 Power Boating

This covers powerboat handling, launching, recovering and mooring. It is again considered to be a “driving licence” for powerboats and will enable the candidate to drive a powerboat and operate as a safety boat under supervision of a safety boat qualified driver. There is always a high demand for powerboat courses and priority will be given to those who regularly sail with the club.

RYA Safety Boat

(Applicable to those with a level 2 power boating certificate) This course is designed to give candidates the skills needed to perform rescue manoeuvres for water users. On completion of the course the candidate will be able to use the powerboats for safety boat duties. Instructors are advised to gain this qualification. To get on this course the candidate has to show a good sailing ability and have experience in power boat handling.

Shore Based Courses

RYA First Aid

A first aid course lasts for one day and is recognised by most employers and organisations. The certificate lasts 3 years before needing renewing and is run at Datchet. It is advisable for all members to take part in this course, and is essential if members want to become an instructor or help out with safety boat duties.

RYA Short Range Certificate (VHF)

Technically, if you want to operate a VHF radio then you need to have completed this course. At Datchet this isn’t as essential, but for those interested in yachting and sailing on the sea it is essential that you take part in this course. It lasts one day and at the end will provide you with a radio licence. This course is run externally.

RYA Sea Survival

This course covers when needs to happen if you ever have to abandon ship. It is only really essential for those who wish to do yachting, however although tiring it is apparently a great day out which involves time in a dive pool using life rafts and lifejackets learning some basic survival techniques. This course only lasts one day.

Yachting Courses

RYA Competent Crew

An in depth introduction to yacht sailing; once completed it will enable the candidate to sail as a crew member on a yacht. The course last 5 days and can be completed over weekends at some centres. This is perfect for those who want to start yachting.

RYA Day Skipper Theory

This is an entirely theoretical course aimed at bringing the candidate up to speed with navigation techniques which can then be used for the day skipper practical course. The course covers Navigation, seamanship, tides and meteorology to a basic level. This is a 5 day course and has to be completed before moving on to the second part of the qualification (day skipper practical).

RYA Day Skipper Practical

This is the second part to the day skipper course, and requires candidates to have some yachting experience. The course is designed to give people the skills needed to helm a yacht and instruct crew as to what needs doing. Once the course is completed you will have the day skipper qualification in whole and be able to charter yachts from companies like sunsail etc.

Yachting Page

For more information about any of the training, contact our Training Officer, Simon McNamee [email protected].