Training at FYC

One of the aims of Fisherrow Yacht Club is to serve as a pathway to the sport of sailing and introduce members, local residents and families to its joys in a safe and supportive environment. To help achieve this, in 2017 Fisherrow Yacht Club became a RYA Recognised Training Centre (RTC) allowing the Club to train its members in a range of water sport activities. The Club has a range of RYA qualified instructors and the courses all apply the Club's approved Protecting Vulnerable Group (PVG) policies.

Our club training facilities are set up to train our club members, therefore if you are interested in our courses you will have to join as a member. Details of how much this will cost and how to do this are on the Club tag under Club > Join.

Sailing Training

We teach the following RYA adult sailing courses at FYC, courses for young people are detailed below, this link to the RYA website goes into further depth on each course..

If you are new to sailing, our Level 1 and 2 course covering the two RYA introductory modules is the ideal place to start, we like to combine these into one double length course:

  • Level 1: Start Sailing - Covers the minimum knowledge required to get afloat under supervision.
  • Level 2: Basic Skills - Develops your skills to enable you to sail a dinghy on your own in fair conditions.
  • Level 3 and Seamanship - further improving your sailing skills.
  • Start Racing - racing is great fun and a great way to continue improving your sailing skills. Start racing introduces you to the concepts, the rules and starts you on your journey.
  • Club Racing -  further developing and honing your boat handling skills and techniques to make you a more competitive racer.

Powerboat training

Similarly, the Powerboat Level 1 and 2 course offers the ideal introduction to powerboating, teaching launching/recovery, mooring and anchoring and all the other boat handling skills required to achieve a basic level of competence.

  • Level 1: Start Powerboating – Provides practical introduction to powerboat handling.
  • Level 2: Powerboat Handling – Provides the skills and background knowledge needed by the competent powerboat driver and is the basis of the International Certificate of Competence
  • Direct Assessment – This is for people who have extensive boat handling experience but do not have the required PB2 certificate. This will take a full afternoon/evening of around four to 6 hours.
  • Safety Boat - An advanced course on dealing with capsized dinghies, canoes, windsurfers, towing and rescues.

Other courses

To support members doing their activities, the Club may also be offering shore based courses as demand dictates.

  • RYA Marine Radio Short Range Certificate Course – A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures, this one day course provides this knowledge and after passing an exam a radio license to use a Short Range Radio.
  • RYA First Aid Course - In a medical emergency a little first aid knowledge and immediate action can save lives, especially in remote locations. This one-day course is designed to provide a working knowledge of first aid for people using small craft and to support skippers

Training young people

We teach the RYA level 1-4 courses for juniors, taking them from total beginner to sailing solo or with friends. The minimum age to start learning very much depends on the young person, their swimming ability and confidence around water. If all this is in place, students as young as 8 are welcome.

We also teach the beginner powerboat qualifications to young people over the age of 12.

Juniors are encouraged onto the water during every club event, conditions permitting, practice makes perfect! 

When they have some experience under their belt we can teach the start racing course to young people, they are welcome on the race course any time!

 

Taster sessions

Discover sailing / Rediscover sailing

This is an RYA led initiative whereby clubs all across the UK open their doors to those interested in the sport or wanting to return to sailing. We tend to run taster sessions in a large dinghy suitable for 3 adults with an experienced sailor onboard to guide the experience. This is often followed by a taster sessions in the club’s powerboats, a clubhouse tour and a hot drink.

We run Discover sailing on the 14th May 2026 alongside the Fisherrow Harbour Festival which has stalls, demonstrations, music and is a very popular event.

Prebooking your time slot is recommended, contact

Course vacancies

Details of all courses being run are communicated to our members via email and other club channels. If there are places left unfilled details may be posted on the Training Course Vacancies page.