Our Learn to Sail programme aims to:

offer a new sailing experience to as many people as possible in a safe, professional and friendly environment;
recruit new members to the club by providing an enjoyable sailing experience for all;
and provide ongoing coaching and support to promote the transition into full club membership.

The club offers the following opportunities for those wishing to try out sailing, learn to sail, or continue with sailing development.

courses

Select the links below for more information on each course.

Junior learn to sail
Adult learn to sail
Sailing development
Have a Go Day
Eastern Suburbs Sports Trust Schools Introduction to Sailing

The Club prides itself on being a family oriented club. Sailing is a lifelong sport, catering for all ages and abilities and sailing is about having fun with friends, enjoying Wellington 's beautiful harbour and taking on the challenge of harnessing the wind and the water.

If you have limited or no sailing experience, then one of the above Learn to sail courses is the place to start. Select one of the links above for more information about each of the courses.

After finishing a course, we will encourage you to join in on Saturdays, our club day. Children and young people sail in the mornings and adults in the afternoon (the very keen sail all day!). The great thing is that your course fees entitle you to use the club Optimists, Sunbursts and fully join in the Club sailing and après sailing activities for the remainder of the season.

After learning to sail, we encourage and offer a mix of coaching and practice, and free access to the club facilities for the remainder of the season. See Sailing Development.

The Club (through its annual Hebtro Trophy fundraising) provides junior and youth coaching every Saturday morning where sailors gain greater boat handling confidence, learn more skills, learn about rules and techniques, play games in their boats on the water and are introduced to racing.

Adult sailors, after learning to sail, are encouraged and supported to join afternoon sailing. For Sunbursts, the 1pm race has a staggered start where the less experienced crews start earlier than the more experienced crews who then have to sail harder to catch them up before the finish. Additional coaching, as well as a buddy system, will support your continued learning.

Members who have learnt sail at our club have gone on to use their sailing skills in many different ways. From cruising in the Sounds to sailing at Club Med, from canal boating in Europe to crewing on multi-million dollars yachts in the Mediterranean, from participating in the America's Cup to continuous sailing at Worser Bay (and seeing your children and grandchildren follow in your footsteps).

Sailing is a sport where people of all ages build confidence and self esteem, and learn to love and respect the sea. A number of families have three generations involved in the activities at the Club on a Saturday!