NSC Sailing School
The training scheme at Northbridge Sailing Club Sailing School is accredited through Yachting Australia and provides sailing dinghy training from beginner to racing.
As a voluntary organisation we offer only a limited program designed primarily for families interested in sailing as a lifetime sport.
Parents enrolling their children need to be aware a boat will become necessary sooner rather than later. It doesn't need to cost a lot and it is a really worthwhile Christmas present. Have a look at our Classes page for boats sailed at NSC.
Our main program starts after the September school holidays each year and is in 3 stages:
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Learn to Sail course run over 5 Sunday mornings from 17 October 2010. This course is run using club boats. Participants need to supply their own sailing gear including lifejacket.
More advanced participants will start sailing independantly by the second or third session. Teenagers tend to grasp the concepts and practical skills more quickly than 8 year olds.
This is followed immediately by: -
New Sailor Transition - 5 Sunday Mornings from 21November. Transition to independent sailing. This course uses a combination of club boats and boats purchased for young sailors by parents who are confident their child will be keen to continue.
Kids typically share an NJ or Optimist with one other and the group undertakes confidence building exercises on the water near the club.
More advanced participants will be encouraged to leave this program, to join the regular morning racing group, before the end of five weeks.
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Our legendary annual Live-In Camp - 5 Days in January with a structured program of sailing training for all levels of sailor from novice to racing.
Learn to Sail
There are two courses, both run before Christmas each year.
The main course (Oct-Nov) is intended for children aged about 8 - 16. This course tends to be over subscribed and places are generally allocated by age, and to those who indicate they will be available for all three components of the program.
There is a second smaller course (Nov-Dec) intended primarily for younger kids, 8 - 9 years old. These children proceed straight to the January Live-In camp where they will graduate towards independent sailing.
If you are particularly keen to ensure your child is able to take part in a course please apply early.
Applications open after the club Open Day which is held in the last weekend in August each year.
Click here for the 2010 information package and enrolment form.
Enrolments Open 29th August 2010
Coaching
Fleet coaching is conducted every Sunday morning. The primary objective is to lift the standard of the new sailors at the back end of the fleet.
Advanced coaching is organised ad-hoc on a class by class basis. It includes bringing in professional coaches to provide additional insight into the various classes being sailed at the club.
Adult Learn to Sail
The club normally runs one adult course each year. In 2009 it commenced on 22 November and ran for 5 weeks.
The course is conducted in Tasars and we use experienced club skippers to provide novice adults a useful "starter pack" of knowledge and skills. The course uses the YA Small Boat Sailing syllabus.
All Sailing School Enquires
The Legendary Live-in Camp
The 2011 Live-in will be Mon 24th to Fri 28th January. This is unusually late but it has been forced on us by an unusual calendar for National Championships for Optimists and Flying Elevens, which themselves follow NS14's and Skiffs. This will be the last week of school holidays.
The Live-In started in the early 1970's. We're not sure exactly when because it was probably a fairly modest affair.
It now caters for 70 participants between the ages of 8 and 17. Training is conducted by about 25 volunteer instructors, nearly all of them former camp participants.
Participants are grouped according to age, skill level and boat type. There are typically 8 groups ranging from near novices to high level racing groups where the kids will be doing advanced racing exercises with high performance expectations.
Kids are on the water much of the day for 5 days and this provides invaluable confidence and experience.
Each group also undertakes theory sessions and sessions on the club's sailing simulator all set at levels suitable for their age and experience.
The camp is entirely volunteer run. Parents are rostered to provide catering and boat lifting labour.
The volunteer roster system is highly evolved. There is a total of 120 positions, most are providing labour for a session of about 4 hours. All meal preparation is managed from a detailed menu and shopping list which passes from year to year.
It works pretty well and most parents enjoy their few hours "on deck" with other parents and seeing their kids. (Most kids are too busy to be interested in their parents.)
Many kids return, year after year. Instructors have experienced up to about 12 camps by the time they retire, typically in their early to mid twenties.
Download the 2009-10 pdf forms here
Zhik - Official Live-in Sponsor
2010 Live-in Instructors at play