RYA Sailing Courses

2026 Course Costs

These are our non-member prices and include membership of Ely Sailing Club for the remainder of the season following completition of your course (please therefore review our club rules before booking). RYA Stage/Level 1 courses include an RYA logbook - all courses include the appropriate RYA certificate.

Adult Courses (Level 1/2/Advanced): £185

Cadet Courses (Stages 1-4): £150

RYA Sailing Courses

Sailing is great fun, exciting and very safe. It's a fantastic sport that the whole family can enjoy in the beautiful setting of the Roswell Pits.

We offer a huge variety of training opportunities and we teach children and adults who need to learn the basics as well as those wanting some skills progression. Non-member bookings and fees include membership of Ely Sailing Club for the season and the fee will also cover the provision of a buoyancy aid which must be worn as directed throughout the course. Our facilities, equipment and procedures are annually inspected by the RYA.

Adult Sailing Courses

RYA Level 1 - Start Sailing

The aim of the RYA Level 1 dinghy sailing course is to provide a sound introduction to the sport of sailing. You will learn basic boat handling skills and essential background knowledge. Ideally suited to complete beginners or those that have only sailed a little.

Pre requisite: No experience required. Minimum Age: 16 years

RYA Level 2 - Basic Skills

On completion of the RYA Level 2 dinghy sailing course, the successful sailor will be safety conscious, have a basic knowledge of sailing and be capable of sailing without an instructor on board in light winds. Assessment is on a continual basis.

Pre requisite: Level 1 or other experience. Minimum Age: 16 years

We occassionally run RYA Seasmanship Skills courses for members wishing to develop their skills.

Young Sailors Scheme

The RYA Young Sailors Scheme has been developed to encourage young people to learn to sail in Stages within a sound framework of safety and tuition. The minimum age for any of our courses is 8 years. With each of the stages expressed in terms of competencies, it gives instructors the flexibility to sign off each part of the syllabus as competence in that skill is demonstrated. Nobody can fail - they may just need a little more time and experience. Certificates are not awarded simply for attending a course. Our aims are to ensure they will have had a lot of fun, learn a great deal and want to continue sailing in the future.

RYA Stage 1

By the end of this introductory RYA Stage 1 sailing course you will have had a great time! You should also be able to: launch a dinghy and get under way; steer and turn a dinghy when sailing; tie figure of eight knots; be confident in the water wearing personal buoyancy. Ideal for complete beginners

Pre requisite: No experience required. Minimum Age: 8 years

RYA Stage 2

Following on from Stage 1, confident sailors will be able to demonstrate a full range of skills in a small dinghy and will have the background knowledge to launch and recover their boat, sail around a shallow triangular course, attempt gybing (under the supervision of their instructor), understand the five essentials and experience a capsize drill. Sailors will also have the knowledge of rigging their own boat, will be able to identify the various parts of their boat and sail, get themselves dressed in the correct clothing for the weather conditions and have a basic understand of the rules of the road whilst out sailing.

Pre requisite: Stage 1 or other experience. Minimum Age: 8 years

RYA Stage 3

Following in from Stage 2 sailors will further develop their skills in rigging, launching and sailing in any direction, plus capsize recovery and sailing theory. They will be able to launch and sail a dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions. This RYA course is equivalent to Level 2 in the National Sailing Scheme.

Pre requisite: Stage 2 or other experience. Minimum Age: 8 years

RYA Stage 4

Following on from Stage 3 the sailors will be able helm or crew a double handed boat and solve a variety of problems afloat. Focus is given to rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques and manoeuvres in crewed boats, plus recovering a man overboard. By the end of the course sailors will have the knowledge to launch and return to a jetty and sail a crewed dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions.

Pre requisite: Stage 3 or other experience. Minimum Age: 8 years