On successful completion of the course you will be awarded a Yachting NZ Level 1 Introductory Keelboat Sailing Certificate. From here we can help get you involved in club sailing to add to your skills and experience as well as offering you follow on courses such as Racing Crew and Cruising Crew.

The course covers the following topics:

• essential safety skills

• boat parts, rigging & boat terminology

• knots and rope work

• all crew positions including helming

• tacking, gybing and sail setting

• reefing

• man overboard drills

The course is 28 hours long and involves both classroom and on-the-water elements. Courses run in a variety of formats – four consecutive weekend days, four-day block courses (usually over public holidays), or evening courses two nights a week for five weeks.​​​​​​

​​​​​Upcoming Courses

• Intro 684 - Sundays​​​​​​​

  • Sundays 23rd, 30th August, 6th, 13th September. 9am-4pm each day.​​​​​​​

  • $790 pp

  • 5 seats remaining - BOOK NOW​​​​​​​

• Intro 685 - Tue/Thur (midweek)​​​​​​​

  • Tue/Thur 29th September, 1st, 6th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 20th, 22nd, 27th October. 5:30pm-8:30pm each day.​​​​​​​

  • $790 pp

  • 12 seats remaining - BOOK NOW

• Intro 686 - Saturdays

  • ​​​​​​​Saturdays 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th October. 9am-4pm each day.

  • $790 pp

  • 4 seats remaining - BOOK NOW

• Intro 687 - Sat/Sun​​​​​​​

  • ​​​​​​​Sat/Sun 31st October, 1st, 7th, 8th November. 9am-4pm each day.

  • $790 pp

  • 3 seats remaining - BOOK NOW

Participants must have completed a Learn to Sail course or be referred by someone that can be verified by Wellington Ocean Sports for minimum sailing knowledge and experience. The training provides an opportunity to revise and consolidate the knowledge and skills you have already gained, and introduce you to yacht racing.

You will put into practice the following key elements:

• crew roles, role rotation, teamwork & communication

• sail tuning & boat handling

• wind awareness

• race starts

• racing rules

Upcoming Courses

• RC 84 - Sat/Sun​​​​​​​

  • ​​​​​​​Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th November. 9am-4pm each day.

  • $585 pp

  • 6 seats remaining - BOOK NOW

Compete in the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club races on one of Wellington Ocean Sports training yachts. Three races across consecutive series dates.

Minimum 4 and maximum of 6 crew per yacht plus WOS skipper and deckhand. You must be 18 years or older. Initially it will only be mainsail and headsail then when weather and crew proficiency allows the spinnaker will be included.

Each participant to commit to all 3 races, be at Wellington Ocean Sports Centre 45 minutes prior to the race starting ready to go. Yacht leaves the dock no later than 30 minutes prior to the race starting. Suitable wet weather gear and lifejackets are available. Total cost $296 (club member discount does not apply).

None currently scheduled, likely commencing again in October. Check back here or email ocean@rpnyc.org.nz to be notified of upcoming Race Squads.

This course will allow you to develop a better understanding of seamanship and introduces the wonderful world of cruising on a yacht.

The course forms part of the Yachting NZ National Sailing Scheme and on completion participants will be awarded a YNZ National Sailing Scheme Level 2 Basic Skills (Cruising Crew) Certificate.

New skills taught include:

• coming alongside

• anchoring

• picking up moorings

• making fast/towing a dinghy

• basic chart work

• sail handling

• preparing a boat for sea

• safety at sea

• engine maintenance

• night sailing

Upcoming Courses

• CC 265 - Saturdays​​​​​​​

  • ​​​​​​​Saturdays 12th & 19th September 9am-4pm, 26th September 2:30pm-9:30pm (Night Sail session).

  • $825 pp

  • 12 seats remaining - BOOK NOW