The RYCT Dinghy Group is the centreboard club of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT). It is run by volunteers and offers a safe and fun environment for kids and adults to learn sailing in a variety of centreboard boats.
Our sailing year begins in September with a four-day sail school where interstate and local coaches provide classes. This event is a great introduction to the sailing season and a chance to experience this fantastic water sport.
After sail school our training begins on Saturday mornings with training groups in the morning followed by races, for the more experienced, in the afternoon.
Children at a beginner level will have the use of our well-equipped club Sabots.
All children must have the appropriate equipment. Minimum gear required is wet suit, sun hat or beanie, a correctly fitted life jacket (PFD type 2 is recommended for dinghy sailing), wet suit boots or old sandshoes. A change of warm dry clothes and a towel should also be on hand for occasions when capsizing occurs.
Remember hyperthermia can occur when the children are wet and then sit in a dinghy in the breeze. Recommended extra items for cold days would include; thermal underwear which can be worn under a wetsuit, polar fleece jumper, spray jacket, sailing gloves. It is a good idea to include some water and a snack. Lunch can usually be purchased at the canteen.
The dinghy group depends on volunteers and requires your assistance for many areas of the program because this sport requires lots of support. This may be in the form of lifting boats in and out of the water, rigging and de-rigging club boats, accounts, canteen help, assisting in rescue craft, help on committees, shore patrol. A boat licence is a great help and we can help you to obtain one.
Each child must have a fully completed registration form signed by their parent/guardian. The child must also be a member of the RYCT and this can all be done on Saturday mornings.
Children are given the opportunity of having 2 sessions as a beginner before payment is required. This allows for an opt out period if necessary.
Enquiries or feedback can be directed to any of the committee listed on our contact page.
DINGHY GROUP TRAINING / RACING PROGRAM
Our aim is to develop sailors from first timer’s right through to potential champions via a consistent training program and by having fun. So how do we do it?
During the sailing season (usually Oct to Dec and then Feb to Easter - see calendar) we meet every Saturday morning. Although sailing starts at 1000, participants will need to be ready to by then so most people start arriving around 0900-0915 to give them time to set up their boats and get changed.
Beginners can bring their own boats or use one of the club sponsored Sabot's. We are also luck enough to have four International 420's sponsored by Nest Property that are used for training of that class as well as providing a more stable and larger platform for the more nervous beginners or bigger kids. Once beginners have their own boat and the necessary skills, they move up to the Intermediate's where they work on their handling skills and learn how to race. The next level is Senior Sabot's and this is where the sailors learn to make the boat go as fast as possible and learn race tactics. Of course we cater for all classes of dinghy and currently have 420's, Flying 11's, Laser 4.7's, Laser Radial's, 29er, etc receiving training as well as the Sabot's.
Training for all classes and abilities commences at 1000 and involves theory and on water activities (depending on weather) with the plan to be off the water around 1200 to 1230. Beginners, and those not competing in races, then pack their boats away and normally go home. Lunch is available to be purchased.
All other participants, after they have refuelled with lunch, are encouraged to race in the afternoon racing. Two races are held each outing with the 1st one starting at 1345. Depending on weather conditions and length of course, racing is normally finished around 1600.
The racing format is as per the sailing instructions but usually involves a "triangle, sausage, traingle" format and by the time junior participants are ready to sail a race, the coaches would have explained this format. All senior sailors are very familiar with this course layout.
In the 2007/8 season, we changed our sailing day to Saturday (from Sunday) and this has mean't that we can not only sail amongst the bigger boats. thus showing our younger sailors the possible opportunities ahead, but also means that we can offer older sailors the opportunity to train and race. The Dinghy Group therefore now represents all centreboard sailors of the RYCT as well as providing an ideal introduction and training for the future sailors of our clubs.