Our Courses 2024/2025
We run a mixture of RYA-accredited theory and practical courses throughout the year and work in partnership with other sailing schools to provide fully accessible BSL interpreted sailing courses where we can.
Sailing School - Please check out further dinghy course here
Where:
Andrew Simpson Centre, Hangar Road, Theale, Reading, RG7 4 AP
This group is suitable for novices or those who have sailed but would like to gain the RYA Level 1 start sailing qualification.
Duration of the course: Approximately 16 hours (either spread over a series of sessions or 2 full days.
You will learn the taster information of the followings in this course:
- Rigging
- Sailing Techniques and Manoeuvres
- Launching and Recovery
- Rope work
- Sailing Theory including Clothing and equipment, Sailing background and Meteorology
Wetsuits and helmets are available to loan at the centre.
Where:
Andrew Simpson Centre, Hangar Road, Theale, Reading, RG7 4 AP
This group is for those who have completed Level 1 -Start Sailing, this level will help you to gain more experience of team work, capsize recovery, racing techniques and further sailing manoeuvres.
Duration of the course: Approximately 16 hours (either spread over a series of sessions or 2 full days.
This is a refresher course of the last Level 1 - Start Sailing course and a taster of the next Level 2 - Basic Skills course. You will cover the following:
- Rigging
- Sailing Techniques and Manoeuvres
- Launching and Recovery
- Ropework
- Capsize Recovery
- Racing techniques
and so on.
Wetsuits and Helmets are available on loan from the centre.
Where:
Andrew Simpson Centre, Hangar Road, Theale, Reading, RG7 4 AP
This is an improver course to bridge the gap between Start Sailing, Basic Skills and some of level 3 advanced modules.
Duration of the course: Approximately 16 hours (either spread over a series of sessions or 2 full days.
This course is an additional skills course that will allow you to develop your core skills, seamanship skills, race skills, day sailing skills and sailing background skills.
Wetsuits and helmets can be loaned from the centre.
Our Theory Courses
Saturday 13th January 2024 10am until 5 pm
Boatfolk’ Deacons marina
Swanwick Bridge Road
SO31 8AZ
TBC - please contact for details
Classroom based course. Focus on Marine First Aid including:
-
CPR and recovery position in confined spaces
-
Drowning and near drowning protocol
-
Cold water shock and hypothermia
-
Seasickness and dehydration
-
Helicopter rescue
You must have an in-date RYA First Aid Certificate for certain other RYA qualifications i.e. RYA Yachtmaste, MCA endorsements and RYA Instructor qualifications.
The course is recommended by the MCA and HSE for professional skippers of small craft working within 60 miles of a safe haven, including Boatmaster.
Saturday 11th November 2023 10am until 5 pm
Boatfolk’ Deacons Marina
Swanwick Bridge Road
SO31 8AZ.
Every sailor (power or sail) should attend this one-day course. It is not only EDUCATIONAL but also GREAT FUN and will raise your awareness of the value of being prepared in the event that the unthinkable happens. It is a well-proven fact that, in the event of an emergency at sea, people with training are more likely to survive.
This course is based partly in the classroom and partly in a swimming pool. We will provide communication support in BSL.
At the end of this course, you will receive a RYA certificate and RYA Sea Survival handbook.
Sunday 12th November 2023 10am until 5 pm
Boatfolk’ Deacons Marina
Swanwick Bridge Road
SO31 8AZ.
The aim of this one is to provide skippers and crews of yachts taking part in offshore races with the necessary skills to deal with an emergency.
This is a necessary course to take along with or after your Sea Survival Course to gain a certificate to follow the World Sailing special regulations to allow you to join in Category 0, 1 and some 2 offshore races. If you already have Sea Survival and it must be less than 5 years since you last attended - otherwise it is highly recommended that you re-take your Sea Survival Course to refresh your skills and learn about all the new, updated procedures/techniques.
What will you learn?
Care Maintenance of Safety Equipment, Storm Sails, Damage Control, Man Overboard, Prevention and Recovery, Giving assistance to other craft, Search and Rescue organisation and methods, Fire Precautions and Fire fighting, and Distress alerting.
Our Practical Courses
March 2024 - To be confirmed.
Two full day course.
Highly recommended course that will provide all the skills and background knowledge that you need to go afloat safely. On completion, it can lead to International Certificate of Competence – ICC, for vessels up to 10 metres.
To be confirmed.
The RYA Intermediate Powerboat course is the next step up from Level 2 and aim at going further out in sea and along coastal routes - this course runs over 2 days -this Intermediate Powerboat course is fun as well as being challenging and also focuses on the role of a skipper on a powerboat.
To do this course - you must hold or have a thorough knowledge of navigation and chart work to the level of RYA seamanship and navigation shore based certificate and it is strongly recommended to hold a 1st aid certificate and a VHF operators licence.
To be confirmed.
A VHF radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures.
The Short Range Certificate is the qualification required, by law, if you operate a VHF radio fitted with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) on any British vessel voluntarily fitted with a radio.
There will be an arrangement on how Deaf people can use it correctly without the need of having to listen to reply/message and alternative methods of communicating coastguard/harbour master will be taught.
If you see a course that interests you and you would like to book your place, please fill in form and get in touch or e-mail: contact@dsuk.org.uk
DSUK (Deaf Sailing uk) Registered Charity number: 1204942