Australian Sailing Start Sailing 2

Start Sailing 2 is the course that turns a beginner into a sailor who can take a dinghy out without an instructor. It builds on Start Sailing 1, adds rigging so you can get the boat ready yourself, and completes the fundamental sailing skills on Australian Sailing's dinghy pathway.

Who it suits

• Start Sailing 1 graduates who want to sail independently
• Adults and teens aiming to hire club boats, join social sailing or buy their own dinghy
• Sailors returning after a break who want a structured refresher on the fundamentals
• Anyone who plans to go on to performance sailing or racing

You need to be water confident and have the skills from Start Sailing 1.

What you'll actually do

The recommended length is about 12 hours. Depending on the centre, that might be a two- to four-day intensive or a run of weekly sessions. You'll spend more time sailing on your own or with one other person, while the instructor coaches from a support boat.

You'll rig and de-rig the boat, from stepping the sails and threading the sheets to checking fittings and securing the boat afterwards. On the water you'll practise sailing all the points of sail, tacking and gybing smoothly, and leaving and returning to the shore under control. You'll also sail a set course around marks. Expect a little more wind than on your first course, and more responsibility for your own decisions.

Key ideas explained

• The five essentials: many sailing schools teach five things to check constantly: sail trim, boat balance (keeping the boat flat), boat trim (fore-and-aft weight), centreboard position and course made good. If the boat feels slow or awkward, one of these is usually the cause.
• Centreboard use: push the board fully down when sailing upwind to stop the boat sliding sideways, and raise it partly when sailing downwind to reduce drag. Always leave some board down.
• Heading up and bearing away: heading up means turning towards the wind and bearing away means turning away from it. Easing the sails as you bear away, and pulling them in as you head up, keeps the boat powered and under control.
• Stopping and slowing: a dinghy has no brakes. You slow it by letting the sails out and turning into the wind (into "irons"). This is how you come alongside a jetty or pick up a person in the water.
• Rules of the road: basic right-of-way rules for sailing boats, such as port tack giving way to starboard tack, the windward boat keeping clear of the leeward boat, and an overtaking boat keeping clear.

Where it fits

• Before: Start Sailing 1
• This course: rigging and independent dinghy sailing
• Next: Better Sailing for stronger winds, spinnakers and trapezing, then Australian Sailing's Start Racing if you want to compete
• Or switch to keelboats: Keelboat: Start Crewing (minimum age 16)

Start Sailing 2 is broadly comparable to intermediate "sail on your own" dinghy courses in other systems. It is not an official equivalent to any of them.

Getting ready

• Before the course, run through the parts of the boat and the points of sail from Start Sailing 1.
• Practise a few knots at home: the bowline, reef knot, figure-of-eight stopper and round turn and two half hitches.
• Dress to get wet. A wetsuit or quick-dry layers, sun protection and grippy shoes work well.
• Ask the centre which boat you'll sail, and whether you can hire it afterwards to practise. Sailing on your own soon after the course is what makes the skills stick.
• If you tend to tense up in gusts, tell your instructor. Practising depowering early builds confidence quickly.

Good to know in Australia

Many clubs run social or "twilight" dinghy sailing, which is a good next step. A course certificate is not a state boat licence. If you ever use a motor, check your state's maritime authority for licensing and equipment rules.