Junior Sailing

Group Information

The full programme runs from April to September each year. Juniors are given the opportunity to develop from beginners in RYA Stage 1 through to competent sailors in Stage 4 and can then progress further onto our own Stage 5 when the older students are put into sports boats and trained to develop their sailing skills often in the larger sailing area of Start Bay. From this group participants can go on to qualify as Assistant Instructors and Dinghy Instructors if they want to.

During the Summer school holidays the JS team puts on a mini racing points series on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. RDYC Junior Sailing Week takes place at the beginning of August - a fun and action-packed time for all ability levels. Junior dinghy racing as part of the Dartmouth Royal Regatta takes place over 4 days just before the main yacht racing at the end of August. The season finale is the Falling Leaves mini regatta in September.

The Royal Dart Youth Sailing Trust was formed in 2016 to enable children to who would not otherwise have the opportunity to get on the water to do so. Last year over 60 local children experienced a day on the water. These days are led by members of the RDYC JS team and the funding for them has been made possible only through the generosity of many Club Members and local businesses.

For all events, safety is paramount. The RDYC is an RYA Recognised Training Centre (RTC) for various dinghy, keelboat and powerboat courses.

As an RTC, we are part of the RYA and can fully utilise all available RYA services and advice from employment law to planning and child protection. RYA recognition means that our customers know that the centre has passed the high standards of the annual inspection, including safety checks.

Our Operating Procedures Manual (OPM) is designed as a reference source for our Junior Sailing Events. It focuses on organisation, risk management, safety and emergency procedures and explains how the risks are to be managed. The OPM and the associated documents can be downloaded here.

All instructors hold RYA Instructor Certificates and those manning the Club Safety Launches hold valid RYA Powerboat and Safety Boat qualifications. Both Instructors and helpers involved in running RYA Training Activities at the Club must read and sign that they have read the Manual each season.