Yachting Australia

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BASIC SKILLS 1

Overview	This course is designed to provide a safe and enjoyable introduction to small boat sailing for novices. The course includes an introduction to fundamental boat handling skills and essential knowledge that will allow participants the freedom of sailing small boats with guidance from the Instructor or Coach. It is recommended that this short introduction to sailing be consolidated by the completion of the Yacthting Australia Basic Skills 2 Course and they are often run together.
Outcomes	You will receive a Basic Skills 1 certificate and have a basic understanding of sailing
Pre-requisites	This is an introductory course, so there are no pre-requisites
Where can I take the course?	Please contact a Yachting Australia Training Centre or your nearest Sailing Club. Please ask them about our Yachting Australia Logbooks so that you can monitor your progress.
What to do afterwards?	Continue training in Small Boat Sailing to achieve your Better Sailing and Racing Skills awards, or try one of the other schemes.

SYLLABUS:

1. Prepare and Plan

• Select clothing and safety equipment suitable to the conditions
• Group and individual safety practices demonstrated
• Sailing Stretches

2. Rigging

• Correct positioning of the boat relative to wind direction
• Identify parts of the boat, rigging and sails
• Rig boat with assistance

3. Ropework

• Figure of eight
• Round turn and two half hitches

• Steering and crewing in light winds under supervision
• Sail a reaching course in light winds
• Primary boat controls and basic heave-to

• Capsize Recovery Drill
• Towing

• Leaving and returning to a beach / launching facility
• Demonstrate care of boats when launching

7. Sailing Theory and Background

• Observation of basic rules incl:
• Avoid Collisions
• Power and sail meeting
• Exceptions - commercial vessels

• Wind direction and relative strength
• Environmental wind indicators