First Class Sailing offer a variety of sailing weekends, ideal for learning specific skills, building experience and confidence or for a dose of vitamin sea!
Every mariner was once a novice, and it’s the practical application that really cements your sailing knowledge and confidence. The RYA Day Skipper is an excellent solid grounding in sailing, but don’t forget that there’s still plenty of learning after Day Skipper.
Taking that leap into new situations can be daunting. This is one of the reasons the weekend sailing skills courses are so useful. There’s a Spinnaker weekend, heavy weather training, boat handling, Solent sailing, celestial sailing, and night sailing that allow you to practice specific skills.
There are also lots more general weekend sailing expeditions. You could join our crew on the Round the Island Race, exhilarating for those new to sailing and to experienced sailors. Fully booked for 2022, these go quickly, so watch out for 2023. First Class Sailing also have regular channel hops, or weekends to Weymouth, that are great for experience, building confidence or dusting off the cobwebs. For accruing those important sea miles, or simply as a great weekend escape.
Boat Handling Weekends.
These weekends cover training in boat handling under sail and under power. With only 4 students, there are lots of opportunities to practice berthing and unberthing techniques, handling a yacht under power, and sailing on and off pontoons in a variety of marinas. Time will also be dedicated to boat handling under sail so you will practice picking up buoys, and man overboard. This weekend is great for brushing up your skills ready for a practical course, your next charter or flotilla holiday, or just hands-on practising your boat handling skills. INFO and DATES
Heavy Weather Sailing Weekend
Our 3 day Heavy Weather Sailing weekends are a great confidence builder for inshore sailors looking to venture offshore. Having an experienced skipper and instructor with you whilst you learn heavy weather techniques is a great chance to practice skills such as heaving-to, lying the hull, motoring and motor sailing, running barepoled, steaming warps or drogues, and sea anchors. In the words of Roosevelt, “Smooth Sea never made a skilled sailor’ .
The weekend will be conducted on a 72ft yacht built to sail the wrong way around the world – so very solid and great in heavy weather. It’s not often you’ll set off hoping for foul weather, but if the weather doesn’t oblige there is plenty that can be covered and we would seek out rougher water such as the race of Portland Bill. The knowledge and skills learnt here will serve you well on any sized boat. INFO and DATES
Night Sailing Weekend
This course is for people with sailing experience, but little or no night sailing sea miles. Ideal for recently qualified Day Skippers or, for boat owners looking to gain the confidence in sailing at night. The Solent provides lots of navigational marks and buoys, areas of light pollution and moving vessels to hone those night sailing skills. The Night Sailing courses usually run between October and April because the longer nights mean that there is ample time to practice these skills and still get a good night’s sleep. INFO and DATES
Gaff Sailing Weekends
If you haven’t yet sailed Golden Vanity, our historic, restored gaff rigger, you are in for a treat. On deck, as she was when she was built in 1908, but below deck, she has all the mod cons associated with a modern yacht. You get the best of both worlds!
Experienced gaff rig sailors are what to expand their knowledge, brush up their skills or just enjoy time on this beautiful Mumble Bee. Novices are welcome too, and the weekend is tailored to the crew’s experience and needs. If you’re used to a more modern vessel, you can bring your sailing know-how and pick up some new skills.
With no winches, we’ll be using traditional methods to raise and lower the red sails. With 5 that can be flown at any one time. Unlike modern yachts there is no colour coded ropes (not even any labels) It’s great fun and our experienced instructor/skipper and their mate will help you learn the ropes in no time.
Golden Vanity is also available for Day Skipper courses or whole boat charters for an amazing family or group holiday. INFO and DATES
Learn to use a sextant.
Used by sailors for centuries to navigate the globe, celestial navigation or nautical astronomy – using the sun, moon, planets and the stars. Celestial Navigation is not just a fascinating historical art, it remains an important tool in the sailor’s arsenal. When you are crossing oceans, you don’t want to rely solely on electronics, so celestial navigation remains an important skill for the modern sailor.
You may be interested to discover how to use a sextant and have completed your Yachtmaster or Ocean Theory course. These sailing weekends are a great opportunity to learn or refresh your knowledge. Our expert instructor leads the small group, so there’s plenty of one to one. Sailing the southside of the Isle of Wight and back through the Needles, there’s sure to be plenty of enjoyable sailing too. INFO and BOOK
As you can see, much can be accomplished at a weekend. Be sure to check out our website, for new courses and dates added. A lovely opportunity to get on the water without the pressure of achieving a qualification, but rich with learning opportunities, whatever your skill level. If you have any questions get in touch, for more information and guidance about our Weekend Sailing Courses.
