SWSC Training Centre
Learning to sail a small dinghy is an exciting and rewarding experience, which can also provide a perfect foundation for those interested in moving on to larger sailing craft at a later date. Dinghy racing is also a popular recreational sport on many inland and coastal waters and is a healthy outdoor activity suited to all ages and abilities.
At Scammonden Water Sailing Club we have introduced many people to the joys of sailing and are proud to be certified as a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Recognised Training Centre.
The Team
Our training centre is operated by a team of seven qualified RYA Dinghy Instructors who are all club members. We are currently able to offer a range of RYA sailing courses and qualifications at both Junior and Adult level and all our training centre team are seasoned dinghy sailors with years of dinghy racing and cruising experience under their belts.
Beginners
For complete beginners we suggest attending one of our ‘Taster Days’ which will enable you to get a feel for what dinghy sailing is all about in the safe hands of one of our Instructors. We will usually take you out for a sail around the lake in one of our large and stable training dinghies and you will get plenty of opportunity to try your hand on the tiller before the end of the day. We run taster days about every eight weeks throughout the season and full details are available through the training centre Principal.
Adults
For those adults wanting to take their first serious steps in sailing, we can provide the RYA Level 1 certificate course which runs over two full days and covers all the basic sailing skills, including sailing a single handed dinghy. For the more advanced sailor we can offer the RYA Level 2 course (also run over two days) which includes an introduction to high performance dinghies and dinghy racing. Adult courses are run on two or three weekends each year and should be booked in advance through the club.
Juniors
We take special pride in our junior sailing program (which we call the Scammonden Race Academy) which has operated very successfully over several years and has produced some very competent junior and cadet racers. We run formal junior training courses (from RYA Junior Stage 1 to Stage 4) which we arrange in eight two hour sessions on successive Saturday afternoons. We also follow up our training with regular coaching sessions from our experienced race team.
Juniors can usually begin sailing at Scammonden from around the age of 10 years old, as children younger than this may struggle with the physical aspects of handling the boat and the prevailing wind conditions. We recommend that you call in at the club (or contact our Training Centre Principal) to discuss your particular needs, if you would like further advice about your child starting sailing.
Season
The sailing season for the training school begins in early April and continues each week throughout the summer until mid October. Our training school fleet includes the RS Tera and Topper dinghies, and the Wayfarer, which is a very stable and roomy boat ideal for beginners. You are welcome to come along and see what we do on any training day – we are usually available from 1.30pm most Saturday afternoons and normal club sailing takes place every Sunday afternoon throughout the year. Why not come along and see what we are all about?
Costs
Costs for training courses vary between £40 and £100 depending on content and we do offer an attractive discount on club membership for those interested in taking up a membership and training package.
Contact
Our Training Centre Principal is Mr Max Townend. You can contact him by phone on 07885 451774 (Mobile), or 01484 717373 (Home). His email address is George.townend@btinternet.com Please feel free to contact him in regard to any training enquiry, or if you simply want advice about sailing at Scammonden Water Sailing Club.
