Sharpen your Sailing Skills

However long we have been sailing there is always something new to be learned, or some forgotten fact that needs to be revisited.

The RFYC Training pages are here to help, with signposting to training events, knowledge and advice from our members, along with some fun anecdotes along the way.

Cadet (Dinghy) Training

We train a  number of youngsters every year, mostly in small Topper dinghies. Training takes place on Tuesday evenings during the sailing season starting in early May.

In summary:

  • Register for training at the start of the season
  • On the water sessions start at 18:30
  • Shore based sessions, when offered, start at 19:00
  • No shore based sessions in July

The Cadet training events can be found in the Events calendar, and are shown on the filtered Training Events calendar.

Keelboat Training

We have negotiated a discounted membership with Port Edgar Watersports (£10, normally £99) that gets you a 10% discount on their courses. For details or to book please contact the club office. For shore based courses (navigation, VHF, First Aid etc.) see Port Edgar or Leith Nautical Sailing Academy

The RYA has a Which Course search facility to help you find an appropriate course for your needs.

Recent Sailing Tips and Stories

Day Skipper Practical

Day Skipper practical is the qualification needed to charter a yacht, which could take you to all corners of the world. Giving you the necessary skills to skipper a boat during the day in familiar waters, the course allows students to hone their sailing and crew management skills. Louise wrote about her training with New Horizon sailing school in Troon, which took her over to both Arran and Bute. Read it here.

Have you completed Day Skipper? Get in touch with the web team if you would like to share your own experiences.

Man Overboard!

It’s vital that everyone learns and practices those hopefully never needed safety procedures ready for the day when the bad thing happens. Two of our newest sailing members found the wisdom when one of them went overboard on their first competitive race together.

Thankfully, they had recently revised the MOB procedures and that meant a great deal to achieving a successful recovery. Read more about their unexpected encounter here.

Man Overboard
It was supposed to be a tentative first race run together…

Ever wondered what a Yachtmaster exam is like?

Louise is crewing for one in Marbella. Read her blog to find out more about the preparation week and exam.

The Forth is rather cold …

… if you are unexpectedly plunged into it.  If you are wearing a lifejacket your chances of survival are greatly increased. Have a look at these superb videos explaining the effect of falling into cold water:  Cold Water Boot Camp and Cold Water Shock – wear a lifejacket.

Sailing safely downwind

Several recent accidents from the world of round the world yacht racing have highlighted the (potentially fatal) dangers of accidental gybes. It is not just the boom that is a hazard, but the main sheet as well. Make sure that you have thought about where the danger zones are on your boat and make your crew aware. If you’re on an unfamiliar boat, find out from the skipper where it’s safe to be when sailing downwind. It is safer and often faster to sail on a sequence of broad reaches than it is to sail close to dead downwind.

If you’ve got people on your boat who aren’t used to it or you, make sure they know the danger zone and stay out of it, and be doubly careful to be aware of any risk of accidental gybes. Make sure whoever is helming understands how to avoid accidentally gybing.

Share your sailing tips

If you have any tips for your fellow sailors or perhaps have a question that you think should be answered on the website, we would love to hear from you. Send us an email and your advice could be featured on our website.