Registration

If you would like to join one of our courses please use the online registration form. Courses are limited to 12 students and we often receive more applications than this. If the course is full we will keep you on the list in case a place becomes available , or until we schedule another course.

If you register but decide you cannot attend a course please let us know using the registration form or write to oxleysc@gmail.com.

Course dates

We have 2 courses a year, one in November and one in March (approximately - exact dates chosen to give the best tide conditions).
They run over 4 Sundays, from midday to 5pm each day.

Suitability

The course is suitable for all ages but 8-9 years seems a minimum, though there are exceptions. Children of this age usually have enough body strength and agility; they also need a reasonable attention span to keep concentration in both on-water and
'theory' sessions.

The list is usually longer than the 12 we can handle in a course, so it's first come first chance; however, often other family commitments mean someone can't do the course and we work down the list. Those who can't make it remain on the list for next time, unless they tell us otherwise.
You must be able to swim - unless you can make a very strong case. Water sports mean accidental immersion is going to happen, and sailing dinghies can capsize in strong gusts. PFDs (personal flotation devices or "life jackets") provide help with flotation, but you need to be confident about manouevering in the water.

Skills

• Learn the names and purposes of boat parts
• Steering the boat
• Sailing upwind and tacking
• Sailing downwind and gybing
• Trimming the sails and understand the points of sailing
• Capsize recovery and man overboard recovery skills
  
• Tie figure eight and bowline knots and know the use of each
• Weather, wind, tides and currents
• Know which vessels have right of way and other sailing rules
• Boating safety and (limited) first aid.
  

Benefits

The course is the Yachting Australia "Getting Into Small Boat Sailing, Basic Skills 1 and 2".
You will receive course notes and a YQ log book to use if you continue to other courses (OSC does not offer advanced courses).
After successfully completing the course you will receive a certificate.

What should I do afterwards?

Sail - as much as you can. It's the practice that makes the skills solid and gives you the real pleasure of sailing.
One of the best ways to sail a lot is to join a club and participate in racing (it can be quite non-competitive at first). Naturally we'd like you to join Oxley!
To give you a taste, the course cost includes temporary membership of the club to sail 3 times after the course - normal club racing is on Saturday afternoons.

That's all you need to sail safely by yourself or (preferably) with a club. With more experience, you will develop racing skills, or you can do a racing course (OSC does not offer this).

What is the cost and what do I need to bring?

For 2009-2010 cost is $140, with a discount for further members of the same family.
All you need is yourself and suitable clothing for water sports; if you have a PFD (Personal Flatation Device) bring it, but we have plenty. Warm clothing, and a change of clothing  -  you *will* get wet from the capsize drill, and on other days there can be
spray.

Can I miss a day?

If unexpected circumstances (eg sickness, change in family plans) mean you miss a day, we can usually catch up over the other days. Clearly this is hard it it's the last day ... so let us know early.

What about food and drink?

We break for afternoon tea in mid-afternoon. The club canteen has limited food and drink for sale (mostly 'junk' variety), so we recommend you bring your own. We expect you've had lunch before the class.

Is it really 5 hours solid?

As noted above, there's a break in mid-afternoon. Also we run a '2-shift' model, where half the class is on the water while the other half does theory in the clubhouse. These groups swap regularly - so there's plenty of variety and breaks.