Discover Sailing - Junior and Youth Sail Training Program

Discover Sailing - Port Cygnet Junior and Youth Sailing

Do you wish you could get out there on the water?

At Port Cygnet Sailing Club everyone can have a go. We run courses for beginners, and sailing sessions for children and young people, and adults. Learn to sail faster or just have fun. 

Come for a day, sign up for a term. Bring yourself, bring your friend, bring your family.

Click here for Term 1 2024 Junior & Youth Sailing Calendar

Why go sailing?

It gets you out there and active. Sailing gives you self confidence and teaches life skills in problem solving, concentration and communication.

Sailing is a different type of sport. It's attractive to all personalities including children who don't find it easy to engage in other sports. Learning to sail at a young age creates life-long opportunities for participation.

We teach our sailors to be safe on and near the water and to be aware of the weather and the sea.

Above all sailing is such great fun!, and we have some of the best waterways on the planet, just out there.

Sailing is also about the past and the future; we use the planet's energy to propel our boats, using the power of the wind, no fossil fuels, no carbon generation, and non polluting. We welcome the coming age of sail.

What's your skill level?

We encourage everyone to get in touch before joining up, so please email junior.sailing@cygnetsailing.org.au

Port Cygnet Sailing Club is an Australian Sailing accredited Discover Sailing Centre and we can run a number of programs to suit different age groups and skill levels. These include:

Start Sailing 1 - for beginners and those who would like to go over the basics
Start Sailing 2 - for sailors who are ready to start sailing more independently

Out There Sailing - A new program in 2020, OTS is aimed at 12-17 year olds. The emphasis is on having fun, while learning new skills and being safe on the water.  The sessions will involve a variety of different boats and water activities. Participants in this group will have mixed levels of sailing experience allowing children to sail with their friends. 

In February/March 2024 we will head off again to Randalls Bay for 2 weekends to have some fun, sailing and camping, making new friends, learning some new skills and gaining confidence.  

Become an Assistant Instructor - Older children are encouraged to assist with the beginners' program, where they fine-tune their own sailing and develop leadership skills. Experience older sailors can work towards a number of Australian Sailing qualifications.

Learn to sail at PCSC

PCSC is an accredited Australian Sailing Discover Sailing Centre. Our volunteer Instructors, Assistant Instructors and Safety Boat Drivers hold AS qualifications, current first aid certificates and have completed WWVP (Working with Vulnerable People) Checks. Sail Training follows the Australian Sailing programs and guidelines. 

The intention of our very popular and successful Junior and Youth Sailing programme is to make sailing accessible to all children and teens in Cygnet and the surrounding communities.  Our course fees are low compared to other clubs and we look for ways to assist families who would not otherwise be able to join in.

Our Boats

PCSC is lucky to have a small fleet of club boats; 9 Pacer Dinghies and 4 Optimist dinghies.

Pacers are 3.7m in length, with enough room for an assistant instructor and 1 or 2 beginners. Two teenagers, or a parent and child can comfortably sail these boats.   We are continually upgrading and maintaining our Pacers.  During the season 2023/2024 we will have Pacers rigged for those just learning to sail as well as 2 Pacers rigged with spinnakers for more advanced sailors.  The fluoro colours of the sails stand out in the bay and it is spectacular to see them out sailing each Saturday during the summer season.

Optimist dinghies are smaller than Pacers and very stable, able to be sailed by children (7-12 years).  The little boats are great fun for smaller children to sail safely and independently.

PCSC members can also rent a dinghy for a nominal fee to take part in club dinghy races and events.

We have upgraded our safety boats, having purchased a 5m RIB (called "Stan Kay") servicing both senior and junior sailing fleets. There is also a tender, the "Rubber Ducky", and a PUNT which is great for laying marks.  Volunteers are always required to crew the safety boats, to be a shore contact person and for the ever present task of preparing food for the young sailors when they come ashore.

Registering for Junior Sailing

All sailors must be a member of the PCSC.

Junior membership is $60 and the course fee for a full term of sailing is $130.  The cost of the 4 week beginner session and for younger sailors will be $65.

There is approximately 20% discount for siblings. 

To register for one of our sailing courses please contact  Jeremy Clowes at junior.sailing@cygnetsailing.org.au  

It is also important that you read the Safety and Information Sheet  registering.

Please also take the time to discuss our CORE VALUES AND SAFETY RULES with your young people.  Click here

Dinghy Racing 

We hold some dinghy racing as part of our Saturday Junior program. There are also dinghy racing opportunities outside of the learn to sail programs.

Dinghy racing is open to all age groups, and all sailors must be members of PCSC to ensure insurance cover. All crew must wear a compliant lifejacket. A full length wetsuit, wetsuit booties and a windproof spray top is strongly advised between April and December, and at other times dependent on weather conditions.

Any dinghy is eligible to race in the Dinghy start and will race under their yardstick rating.

Race fees are $10 per boat per race. This fee will be waved for any boat that has a crew member already participating in the PCSC Junior Sailing Program.

The Club Pacers are available to rent for a Boat Fee of $10 per race. Any club member who is deemed to have sufficient proficiency for the prevailing weather conditions may rent a boat. Preference will always be given to crews that include a junior member. The first aim of the Pacer leasing provision is to get junior sailors and families participating in sailing. Leasing of a Pacer will be by agreement with the Junior Sailing Captain or their nominated deputy. The Club Pacers may only be used for club events. Contact our Junior Sailing Captain, Jeremy Clowes at junior.sailing@cygnetsailing.org.au

Port Cygnet Sailing Club acknowledges the support of Harcourts Huon Valley, Wilson's Boatyard and the Tasmanian Government for donations and grants to assist us with the operation of our Junior Sailing Programs.