RYA Start Yachting (Royal Yachting Association)

RYA Start Yachting is a two-day, hands-on taster of cruising under sail. You join a small crew aboard a cruising yacht with an instructor, help sail the boat, and find out whether life on a yacht is for you before signing up for anything longer. No experience is needed.

Who it suits

• Complete beginners who want to try yacht cruising without committing to a full week
• Partners, friends and family of boat owners who want to feel useful and relaxed aboard
• People planning a charter or flotilla holiday who'd like to understand what the crew actually does
• Families: the RYA recommends a minimum age of 8, and says the course is open to anyone over 16, or younger if accompanied by an adult

What you'll actually do

Expect two full days on the water, living aboard with your fellow students. You'll learn your way around the boat, take the helm under engine, help hoist and trim the sails, and handle lines when coming and going from a berth. The instructor sets a gentle pace: the emphasis is on having a go rather than being tested.

The RYA syllabus covers the yacht itself, ropework, being underway, the rules of the road, man overboard recovery, clothing and personal equipment, emergency equipment and precautions, and an introduction to weather. You'll also get a feel for everyday life aboard: cooking in the galley, using the heads (marine toilet) and stowing gear so it stays put when the boat heels.

Key ideas explained

• Port and starboard — left and right when you face the bow (the front). They never change with the way you're facing, which is why sailors use them. At night a boat shows a red light to port and green to starboard.
• Windward and leeward — the windward side is the side the wind is blowing from; leeward is the sheltered side it blows towards. It matters for where you sit, where you pass things over the side, and how boats give way.
• Halyards and sheets — halyards are the lines that hoist a sail; sheets control its angle to the wind. Easing and trimming sheets is most of what crew do while sailing.
• Rules of the road — the international collision regulations. For example, two power-driven vessels meeting head-on both alter course to starboard, and a small sailing boat must not impede a large ship that can only navigate within a narrow channel.
• Man overboard — shout, point and never take your eyes off the person, throw them something that floats, and let the skipper bring the boat back. Practising it is a core part of every RYA cruising course.
• The bowline — a knot that makes a fixed loop that won't slip or jam, and is easy to untie even after heavy load. You'll use it constantly.

Where it fits

Other systems have broadly comparable first steps, such as Australian Sailing Keelboat Start Crewing, IYT International Crew and ASA 101. They differ in detail, so compare syllabuses rather than assuming one equals another.

Getting ready

• Pack layers: a thermal or fleece top, a warm hat and a windproof jacket, even in summer. Ask whether wet-weather gear and lifejackets are supplied.
• Wear soft, non-marking, grippy shoes and bring sun protection: broad-brim hat with a strap, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Use a soft bag rather than a hard suitcase; it's much easier to stow aboard.
• If you're prone to seasickness, talk to a pharmacist before you go, eat lightly, stay hydrated and stay on deck looking at the horizon.
• Questions to ask the school: boat size, how many students per instructor, sleeping arrangements, what meals are included, and where you'll sail.

Good to know in Australia

RYA courses are delivered by RYA-recognised training centres, so check that the school holds current recognition. A sailing course certificate is not a state recreational boat licence; if you later want to drive a powered vessel yourself, check the requirements with your state's maritime authority.