Learn to Sail

Since the mid-1940s MYC has developed a rich history of producing State, National and International champions.  This tradition of sailing development continues through our training programs, designed for people who want to learn to sail, whether to race competitively or simply to have fun on the water in a friendly environment.

Learn To Sail Program

MYC is an accredited Discover Sail Centre with Australian Sailing. Our Learn to Sail Program offers Tackers and Dinghy courses, all run by qualified Australian Sailing instructors. Tackers courses are designed specifically for children up to 12 years old, while the Dinghy courses are open to all ages. 

Courses typically run in two terms each summer season, with the first term starting in October and the second in January. Each term includes 9 Sunday sessions. Entry-level and beginner courses are held in the morning, while progression courses run in the afternoon.

Our Learn to Sail courses include the following:

Start Sailing

Our recommended entry point is the double-handed Dinghy Start Sailing course. Open to all ages, this 9-week course is designed for beginners and those with little or no sailing experience. Sailors learn on Club Boats (the double handed MIRROR class) and may progress to other classes if appropriate.  Mirrors provide an excellent opportunity for family members to learn together.

Sessions run from 9:00am, though many sailors arrive earlier to help rig the boats and get on the water as soon as possible. Each session concludes around 12:00pm, with a debrief followed by a casual lunch at the Club.

The Club also has a fleet of the single-handed LASER dinghies. These boats may be offered to sailors with sufficient technical ability and are  generally best suited to sailors weighing over 50kg.

Start Sailing courses are offered twice per season, at the beginning (October) and again midway through the season (January/February). Membership is included in the cost of the course.

This course is currently running, and no further bookings are available until the second half of 2026.

Better Sailing

The pathway after completing the Basic Sailing 1 & 2 is to join the Better Sailing Course.  Club boats available for Better Sailing are the Mirror, Laser, Minnow, Pacer.  Get Race Ready with Better Sailing.

Depending on participants, these sessions may encompass the Green Fleet and Intermediate Fleet, and include all boat classess. Coaching covers everything from essential boat handling to advanced sailing techniques and race strategies, ensuring progression for every sailor.

• Green Fleet: Focuses on building control, confidence, and safe sailing in a fun, non-competitive environment. 
• Intermediate Fleet: Aims to enhance racing performance, with an emphasis on preparation, tactics and strategy.

Membership is included in the cost of the course.

This course has now started and is stilll open for bookings : Here

Tackers

The Tackers course is specifically aimed at juniors from around 10 years. Talk to us if your  child is younger and confident on water. Using the plastic Optimist boat, juniors are taught in a fun learning environment. As with all our courses, personal flotation devices are loaned out to sailors. Membership is included in the cost of the course.                                                                         Tackers 1 - Having Fun  School Holiday Dates : 26 Jan 2026 to Fri 30 Jan 2026 This five-session sailing course introduces children to sailing in a safe, supportive and fun environment. It is suitable for complete beginners as well as those who have completed basic training.  This course will be repeated in the school holidays. Tackers Combined - Sailing Fast  Sunday's 9-week course 8th Feb - 12th April 2026 This course aims to build on skills learned in Tackers 1 and focuses on advanced sailing skills through games and adventures on the water.  This is a Tackers combined course (a combination of Tackers 2 and 3). The combined course enables individual progression across its duration, whilst allowing friends to remain together. This course is now running and is still open for bookings: Here

 
School Holiday Intro to Sailing Course

MYC runs 5 day Introduction to Sailing courses during the school holidays.  These courses are open to school-aged children, with a recommended minimum age of around 10 years. Younger sailors may also be accepted provided they have parental supervision. Bookings for the 5 day course running from 19th Jan to 23rd Jan 2026 are now closed.

Wednesday Afternoon Coaching Fleet

Our Wednesday sunset coaching fleet is a great way to continue developing your skills beyond the structured Learn to Sail program, under the supervision of a coach.  Suitable for those who have completed at least basic sailing (or equivalent of Sailing 1, 2).  Sunset sailing is also a great way to socialise and upskill alongside fellow sailors.

The coaching fleet is led by a qualified Australian Sailing coach, with sessions adapted to meet the group's needs.
In addition, open training sessions may be arranged and coached by experienced club members.

Club boats are available for members to use if they do not have their own, subject to availability.

These sessions are open to all members of MYC at no extra charge

You can book for these sessions: Here

Training Boat Classes

Sailors in the Learn to Sail and School Holidays programs are generally introduced to sailing on Mirror dinghies (two sailors per boat) and Lasers. The Club also owns Optimists, Pacers and Minnows, which are used when appropriate for a trainee's skill level. 

Club boats are available to MYC sailing members for training when they are not in use by the Learn to Sail program.

Get Involved: Family and Volunteer Contributions

We welcome support from the families and friends of trainees, as well as club volunteers. Examples include assisting with rigging dinghies, preparing and driving support boats, assisting with junior training, or helping in the canteen.

Any queries, please go to our CONTACT page, or email training@maylandsyachtclub.org.au