Australian Sailing Discover Sailing Experience

The Discover Sailing Experience is Australian Sailing's try-sailing session: about three hours on the water with qualified instructors at an accredited Discover Sailing Centre. It is the easiest way to find out whether you like sailing before committing to a course, and it is deliberately less technical than a structured program.

Who it suits

• Complete beginners of any age who have never been sailing
• Families, friends, partners and work groups looking for a shared activity
• Children from 5 years old, when accompanied by a parent or guardian
• Anyone who is water confident, which is the only stated requirement
• People weighing up whether to start a dinghy, keelboat or windsurfing course

What you'll actually do

Centres run the experience in dinghies, keelboats or windsurfers, depending on the venue, so check which one you are booking. Qualified Australian Sailing instructors give a practical, hands-on introduction and go out on the water with you.

Expect a short safety briefing and lifejacket fitting, an introduction to the boat and the wind, then as much time sailing as conditions allow. In a keelboat you may take turns steering and handling ropes; in a dinghy or on a windsurfer you get a direct feel for how the wind drives you along. You receive a completion certificate at the end, and the session can count towards the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award.

Key ideas explained

• Wind direction — sailing depends on knowing where the wind is coming from. Instructors show you how to read it from flags, ripples and the feel on your face.
• How a sail works — a sail shaped at an angle to the wind produces force, a bit like an aircraft wing. That is why boats can sail across and even partly towards the wind, not just away from it.
• Steering — small boats steer with a tiller, bigger ones often with a wheel. Tiller and wheel turn the boat in opposite senses, which surprises most beginners.
• Tacking and gybing — the two ways to change direction: turning the front of the boat through the wind (tack) or the back (gybe).
• Heeling — sailing boats lean in the wind. In a keelboat the heavy keel counteracts the lean; in a dinghy, the crew's weight does the job.

Where it fits

Australian Sailing also runs free Discover Sailing Days at clubs, which offer a shorter sail and a look around the club.

Getting ready

• Clothes — wear clothes and shoes you don't mind getting wet. Shoes with non-marking soles are preferred on boats. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, a towel and a change of clothes.
• Safety gear — the centre provides the boats and safety equipment.
• Seasickness — if you are prone to it and booking a keelboat session, eat a light meal beforehand, and keep your eyes on the horizon.
• Water confidence — you should be comfortable in the water, especially for dinghy or windsurfing sessions where getting wet is likely.
• Questions for the centre — which type of boat the session uses, the minimum age, and what to do if the weather is unsuitable.

Good to know in Australia

Sessions are listed on Australian Sailing's course finder. The sun on the water is strong year-round, so sun protection matters even on mild days.