Sailing Courses
Our adult sailing courses are generally taken over two days, typically 10.00-15.00 with a break for lunch. For children, a three day course (with fewer hours each day) is generally better. However, we are flexible and can arrange the course to suit you as long as we have two or more people to do the course. Regular weekly sessions, such as Sunday afternoons are also available.
For adults
Level 1 Start Sailing
This course introduces you to the sport of sailing. It covers all you need to know to get afloat under supervision. You will learn how to sail in all directions, including an awareness of launching and recovering. After the course you will be able to sail in light winds under supervision. Before the course, we will discuss your preferences and decide whether to use a Wayfarer (a gentler, drier way to start) or a Pico (a smaller, wetter, more exhilarating boat) for the course – or both.
Level 2 Basic Skills
This course sets out the foundations of sailing for you. By the end of it you'll be a competent sailor in light winds. You will learn how to rig the boat, launch, land and develop your ability to sail in all directions. Capsize recovery and essential safety knowledge is covered.
Completion of a Level 2 course is often the point at which people consider buying a boat or joining a sailing club. At the end of the course, we can discuss the options to reduce the potential confusion.
Level 1 and Level 2 may be combined into a 4 or 5 day course.
Seamanship Skills
As its name suggests, the Seamanship Skills course is all about developing your sailing skill so that you can sail confidently in a wide range of conditions and deal with situations and problems that arise. Before taking the course, you need to have sailing skills to the standard of the Level 2 course and have some additional experience, perhaps as crew for a regular club sailor.
The course is challenging and fun. On completion of the course you will know how to launch and recover the boat in different circumstances, how to stop, reduce sail, recover a man overboard and pick up a mooring. You’ll also have a good understanding of a range of topics that have an impact on sailing, such as tides and weather.
For Children
The junior scheme is generally intended for under-16s but this is just a guide.
Stage 1 is an ideal introduction, teaching you the basics of getting on the water. You will learn how to steer, about parts of the boat and basic sailing skills. At Polkerris Beach, we do not ‘throw children in at the deep end' – we recognise that boats can initially be scary for children so we keep it fun.
Stage 2 builds on the basic skills and confidence acquired at Stage 1, skills perhaps picked up in school sessions or at a local lake. After course you will be able to turn the boat around and control its speed, and understand basic principles. You will also know how to avoid collisions and tie some useful knots.
Stage 3 will turn you into a proper dinghy sailor. You will learn how to rig the boat, launch and recover the boat, and about sailing techniques, capsize recovery and sailing theory. You will learn how to sail around a triangle and handle your boat confidently in moderate conditions. To be signed off at Stage 3, you need to demonstrate that you are a competent sailor, capable of sailing around and completing a session without direct assistance.
Stage 4 extends your ability to make your own decisions in your boat and learn how to sail a 2-person boat. After the course you will know how to control your boat with more precision and in a range of different conditions, wind strengths and directions. You will also have a good understanding of safety, weather and tides. Stage 4 is largely about experience, so we rarely sign sailors off over a few days.
Course Availability
We run all courses by arrangement with you. Let us know which course you would like to do and when you would like to do it and we will work out a plan for you. We often run family courses with mixed ages. We also run programmes for local schools – see our Schools and Groups page.
Equipment
We supply wet suits, buoyancy aids, waterproofs - and boats. You are welcome to use your own wetsuit if you have one. You will need to bring some footwear which you don't mind getting wet such as old trainers or wetsuit boots. Wetsuit boots and aquashoes are available in our shop. A swimming costume should be worn underneath the wetsuit.
Prices
See our current price list.
