HYC Learn to Sail for 2012-2013

Hamilton Yacht Club Learn to Sail is based on the Yachting New Zealand National Sailing Scheme. We follow the YNZ syllabus, as contained in National Sailing Scheme Logbooks. 

What do Sailors Learn?

Level One (Start Sailing)

  • ·      Safety and Wind Awareness
  • ·      Parts of the boat and knots
  • ·      Capsize
  • ·      Sailing and Boat Handling
  • ·      Rigging
  • ·      Capsize Recovery and Getting out of Irons
  • ·      Upwind and Downwind
  • ·      Rules

Level Two (Basic Skills)

  • ·      Rigging Advanced
  • ·      Safety
  • ·      Weather and Tides
  • ·      The Five Essentials
  • ·      Launching and Retrieving
  • ·      Sailing
  • ·      Rules and Hiking
  • ·      Optional Extra: Rowing

The best age for learning to sail is around 9-10yrs, in Optimist sailing dinghies, but it varies with the maturity and water confidence of the child. The club has some boats, and www.trademe.co.nz is a good source of others.

Learn to Sail Programme

Wed 24th Oct 2012

1600-1730

Registration and Muster

Wed 31st Oct 2012

1600-1730

Session 1, Hamilton Lake

Fri 9th Nov 2012

1900-2000

Capsize Session, Te Rapa Pools (to be confirmed)

Wed 14th Nov 2012

1600-1730

Session 2, Hamilton Lake

Wed 21st Nov 2012

1600-1730

Session 3, Hamilton Lake

Wed 28th Nov 2012

1600-1730

Session 4, Hamilton Lake

Wed 5th Dec 2012

1600-1730

Session 5, Hamilton Lake

Wed 12th Dec 2012

1600-1730

Session 6, Hamilton Lake

Wed 19th Dec 2012

1600-1730

Session 7, Hamilton Lake

Costs: The course is free to club members. If you elect to join the club after the course, we will credit your course fee. Fees for non members are $20 per person per session ($140) and $15 for additional siblings. The cost of entry to Waterworld is additional for the Capsize Session.

When sailors have completed level one and are working towards level two, they can apply to come to Optisail, a live in 4 day Junior Training Camp held on Hamilton Lake every January.

OPTISAIL 2013

A live in camp over four days at Hamilton Yacht Club

Tuesday 15th-18th  Jan 2013

Dave Smith, 07 838 0564, dave_and_jus@xtra.co.nz

Lake Rotoroa is a peat lake that experiences periodic algal blooms as a consequence of increased water nutrients.  Toxins produced by the algae as they break down can affect human health, principally skin irritation on contact and stomach upset if infected water is ingested. HYC has published a risk management plan to deal with any contingencies.