Dinghy start
Our RYA accredited Dinghy Start course is designed for complete beginners and is ideal for children (8-15 years old).
About the Course
By the end of the course you will have learnt all about the essentials of sail handling, wind awareness, steering, ropework and safety at sea. This course then leads perfectly on to the next level course – Dinghy Improver.
For this course, you’ll need:
- To be between 8 and 15 years old
- No previous experience needed as our instructors will help you every step of the way.
The syllabus is taught with a ratio of (6:1) students to instructor and covers the following:
RYA Youth Stage 1
- A basic understanding of how a boat sails, with some experience of steering and handling the boat
RYA Youth Stage 2
- A range of sailing skills and knowledge to help in becoming a confident sailor
During this course participants will be working towards the course syllabus and RYA stages as advertised, however sign off and completion of the participants logbook will be dependent on their ability.
It is also important to note that while we have a fantastic instructor team and will do everything in our powers to ensure that outlined levels are completed, there may be external factors, such as weather, the level of the group or individuals, that may prevent this from happening.
Children are supervised at all times by our experienced and safeguard trained watersports instructor team throughout the day. Those on residential courses have access to their own dedicated kid’s area and evening activities programme run by our expert evening entertainments teams.
We offer a discounted rate for permanent island residents please contact us for more information.
DofE Gold Residential
A Gold DofE Residential requires you to spend five days and four nights away from home, taking part in a shared activity with people you’ve never met before. It’s about stepping outside your comfort zone, building new relationships, and developing independence in a completely new environment. The Maritime Futures programme meets the requirements for this award.
Upcoming dates for RYA Dinghy Start
| Start date → End date | Course only price | Residential price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Aug 2026 → 04 Sep 2026 | £375 | £495 | Add to Basket Book now |
| 19 Oct 2026 → 23 Oct 2026Final places | £375 | N/A | Add to Basket Book now |
| 26 Oct 2026 → 30 Oct 2026 | £375 | N/A | Add to Basket Book now |
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Why Train with UKSA
UKSA has been successfully training and launching careers for over 35 years. As an industry leader, we pride ourselves on the winning combination of high standards and top-level industry experience delivered to our students.
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All-inclusive FacilitiesAll of our courses are available with all-inclusive accommodation and meals, allowing you to focus on your studies.
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RYA ApprovedAs the world’s largest RYA training centre, UKSA deliver a range of courses training individuals to enter the industry in a variety of roles.
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Expert TrainingOur instructor team consists of highly skilled industry experts who bring their expertise and experience to enhance your learning.
Related Courses
As one of the world’s largest RYA training centres, we deliver a range of courses training individuals to enter the industry in a variety of roles. Whatever yachting skills you want to learn and however far you want to progress your qualification, you’ll find the ideal course at UKSA.
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