SKIFF TRAINING CENTRE

Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club is giving more kids the opportunity to learn to sail and improve their existing sailing ability. To support growth in sailing participation, our Club has invested in coaching and infrastructure to ensure our members and students have even greater access to the brightest minds in sailing education through our newly created 'Skiff Training Centre'. Our aim is for this centre to become one of the largest pathway sail training centres in Australia. We're excited about your future as much as we are about ours!

Paramount to its success, is the progression and development of our sailors and the Sail Training Principal, Craig Ferris has been appointed to ensure all the different levels of sailing skill are catered for in a structured program to improve ability and knowledge.

Craig Ferris has extensive sail training experience at a high level and been involved in many Olympic, World Championship, National and State Campaigns across a broad range of classes, including the 470, 420, 505, Flying Dutchman, 16 & 18ft Skiffs and Lasers. He has a passion for youth development and has trained the Flying Eleven, Manly Junior, Sabot and Optimist Classes. He is committed to provide a professional level of tuition for the benefit of our sailors.

Pathways for the sail development includes, Winter Divisional Training (Novice, Intermediate & Advanced) for our racing Classses, School Holiday Courses, 10 week Sail Training Programs, State/National Championships Preparation and sailing theory.

YOUTH

We teach dinghy sailing to children aged between 7-15yrs of age. No prior experience is necessary - just the love of the water!

Fun group activities that teach the basic skills and then provide on-going training through school holiday courses, 10 week programs, private tuition and school sport groups. All participants should be competent swimmers and be able to swim 25m unassisted.

Over the history of the club we have produced children and teenagers into champion sailors. We focus on providing a solid grounding in the basic skills of dinghy sailing in a fun and safe environment. Our aim is to make learning to sail easily accessible for everyone who wants to give it a try, particularly for families with no previous connection to the sport.

These programs can be used as a single session or a school holiday experience, or as an ongoing activity to get involved in sailing at club race level. For those students who become hooked on sailing we offer a junior division that competitively races on Sundays from September to April (positions are dependant on crew availablility within the division).

At the end of each Learn to Sail session we issue a certificate listing all skill levels that have been achieved since entering our program. Our Instructor will then be more than happy to guide you to the next step.

What Do I Need To Bring?

As our students will spend most of their time outside, we recommend each child brings the following:

• Hat and sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Skin Protection: such as a wetsuit/rash vest
• Buoyancy Vest
• Bottle of water
• Spray Jacket
• Suitable footwear: such as joggers or wetsuit boots
• Change of clothes

The main goal of our Learn to Sail program is to ensure each participant enjoys their sailing and wants to continue in the sport. If you require further information please contact our Sailing Manager, Jackie Damiani.

ADULTS

As our skiffs are privately owned we do not operate Learn to Sail programs on these boats, however in partnership with local sailing schools such as Manly Sailing or Northside Sailing School we encourage adults to get out on the water.

We do offer a variety of courses for adults to further their sailing knowledge which include First Aid, Radio Operator License, Racing Rules, YA Club Race Officer, YA Club Judge, Power Boat Handling Certificate and can arrange private tuition upon application. For further information please contact our Sailing Manager, Jackie Damiani.

 
UPCOMING COURSES