The RDYC Junior Sailing Week is a fun and action packed time for all ability levels and this year runs the last week of July, 2026 dates TBC
What to expect
Up to 50 children congregate at the Club for a week of relaxed training, racing and the famous Dittisham Picnic Expedition.
The group is split into three according to ability to sail the Club’s Quests (Beginners), Toppers and Teras (Intermediate) and Fevas (Advanced). Five consecutive days on the water lead to big advances in technique for all participants, consolidating existing skills and in all cases, building confidence on the water.
Training culminates on the Thursday with a expedition up river to Dittisham for lunch and a few games before sailing back to the Club.
Friday starts with some practise racing before a fun race to secure The River Dart Cup. The week is rounded off by a family bbq on the terrace.
The cost for the 5 days in 2025 was £285 for members (2nd child gets a 50% reduction). 2026 costs still to be confirmed.Please note that places are limited and that completing the application form does not guarantee the availability of a place.
Information on applying will be added here in early May 2026.
Read what one of the young sailors and her parent had to say about JSW 2025
Two years ago, I did the sailing week at the RDYC in Quests. It was my first time ever on a sailing boat, and I loved it. This year, I did Fevas and my cousins were in Terras and Toppers. My instructors were Dan and Xav. It was pretty light winds until Friday, so we spent most of the week doing races and spinnakers. On Wednesday there was the duck race. I was in team Chickens. We came second. There was lots of sabotage and penalties, so it was really fun. On Thursday, we were supposed to have a day sail up to Dittisham, but the forecast wasn’t looking good, so it was cancelled and we sailed closer to the club instead.. . On Friday, it was a lot windier, and we were racing. Ollie and I came second, first and first across three races and capsized lots in between. The whole week was really great.
Romilly C, 14 years old
RDYC junior sailing week is a really wonderful family and community effort, led and run by a fantastically well-organised and really nurturing team built by Suzanne. My sister-in-law, husband, dad and I were all able to help out a bit one way or another on shore or in safety boats. I was lucky enough to be very kindly shown the ropes by Sarah P, one of the regular volunteers, who very patiently taught me how to use the radio and explained exactly what we needed to do as “shore admin”. I had been quite worried that as a non-sailor I would be a complete passenger and possibly even in the way, but it turned out that I can make a hot chocolate to warm up a sodden sailor as well as the next person, and it was lovely to get to help in even a very small way with the practical side of this absolutely amazing week.
Jess C, mum/aunt of junior sailing week participants, 51 years old
