JUNIOR LEARN TO SAIL

The New Plymouth Yacht Club offers both junior and adult learn to sail for those who are keen to get out on the water. Check out the courses below and see which one would be best for you.

JUNIOR LEARN TO SAIL

What Is It?

A fun Learn to Sail program for kids aged over 9 years, starting with a three day course run by the New Plymouth Yacht Club with each child sailing a Club Optimist dinghy.  The three half-day courses operate in the September school holidays and again just prior to Christmas. Course attendees become Junior Club Members and have the opportunity to sail on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings for the rest of the season in the ‘Rainbow Fleet’.

What Is The Cost & What Does It Cover!

The $250 course fee includes:

  • the three x half-day Learn to Sail Course – from 9am to noon each day
  • full Junior Membership of the Club for the October - April sailing season,
  • full use of the clubhouse facilities down at the beautiful Ngamotu Beach, and
  • free use of a club Optimist dinghy and life jacket for the weekly Saturday morning and Wednesday evening ‘Rainbow Fleet’ sailing.

What Do Kids Learn In The Course?

Sailors learn technical skills including rigging the boat, knots, boat handling for the basics of yacht racing.  The kids build confidence on the water and even learn how to recover when they capsize, all part of the journey!

Past experience has shown that the kids enjoy the course more if they learn with a friend and a parent is there to give encouragement. The learners need assistance at the beginning and end of the sessions to help to rig and pull the boats up and down the beach for launch and recovery.

What Happens Next?

Once confidently sailing in the Rainbow Fleet, sailors may purchase a boat to move to the Green Fleet where they learn to race their own Optimist dinghy in a relaxed and encouraging setting.  Parents are encouraged to stay involved to help with rigging, launching, and retrieving boats and also assisting the Club Racing by crewing on the Club Safety Support boats.

Sailing is a sport that can be enjoyed for life and builds independence, resilience, and a love for the sea.The culture at the Club is all about building life and boating skills by learning, laughing, and building confidence side by side.


Dates for 2025 Season are:

Tues 30 Sept to Thurs 2 Oct incl

Sun 21 Dec to Tues 23 Dec incl

This Sounds Great! How Do I Sign Up?

Register your child for our next Learn to Sail course and hopefully bring a friend along too for the adventure! 

It’s a great way to build confidence, make new friends and be part of an active, welcoming sailing community

Please complete and submit the enrolment form on below or for more information contact Ann Hatch the NPYC Treasurer on [email protected]



Ann Hatch
[email protected]

Learn to sail form