Easter Optimist Course 18th - 21st April 2011

Once again we're planning to run an Optimist sailing course over the Easter holidays. It's a great way to brush up on your skills before the main season starts. This will be the fifth year that we have run this successful course using qualified RYA coaches and demand as ever will be high so don't delay register today!

There will be one course which will run for four days towards the end of the Easter Holidays and the children will be split into separate groups depending on their ability. Groups will range from those who have just mastered the basics to those who are looking to hone their skills and/or have started racing. This course is not for complete beginners– those sailors will be very welcome in our Oppie Club Start Sailing group which starts in May 2011. We will be working towards IOCA grades and so if you have an IOCA handbook, do bring that along. The programme will consist of on/off the water training sessions interspersed with some great fun (warming) games. As in previous years we will be running a house parent rota (so long as we have enough willing parents) so that children over 8 years old can be left at the club. There will be a parents afternoon on the Thursday when parents can come along and see how much their children have progressed.

Sailors must have reached a minimum level of Oppie Club G1 or equivalent – that is to sail confidently off the painter and do a basic figure of eight including a tack and a gybe. Given the potential for cold weather, we would strongly recommend a full length wetsuit (and preferably a drysuit) – wetsuits are now relatively inexpensive (or can often be bought second hand) and the sailor will get so much more enjoyment from the week if they are warm. Sailors must also have their own buoyancy aid suitable for their age/size. A full kit list will be sent to those registered nearer the time of the course.

Any sailors under 8 years of age will require a parent to be at the club at all times. When you pre-register for the course, please give due thought to your child’s ability – the coaches and organisers want all children to have a thoroughly enjoyable time, but do reserve the right to take a child off the course for reasons of behaviour or their continual refusal to participate in activities as this can affect safety and the ability of the coaches to work effectively with the other sailors.

The expected cost of the course will be £150. Final confirmation of price will be dependant on numbers and will be advised two weeks before the commencement of the course. In order to keep the costs to an absolute minimum we will also need volunteers to form a rota for a clearing up each day (therefore negating the need for cleaners).

If you are interested in your child attending the Easter course, please register now by clicking on the link below. A deposit of £50 will be required on request by email.

All sailors are expected to have their own GRP or wooden Optimist that is in a seaworthy condition and suitable for sailing for the duration of the course.

Confirmation of places is on a first registered basis but we will endeavour to schedule enough coaches to accommodate all those who register before the end of March. After that time we will confirm if you have a place and ask you to pay the balance. Any bookings after the 31st of March will be subject to space being available.


If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Look forward to seeing you all there.

For any enquiries e-mail: