Australian Sailing Tackers 3 – Sailing Fast!

Tackers 3 – Sailing Fast! is the final level of Tackers, Australian Sailing's sailing program for children aged 7 to 12. Children sail on their own, learn what actually makes a small boat go faster, and try the basics of racing, all under qualified supervision and still in a fun, games-based way.

Who it suits

• Children aged 7 to 12 who have completed Tackers 2 or have the same skills
• Kids who are comfortable sailing a boat on their own
• Young sailors curious about racing, or who simply want sharper boat handling
• Families thinking about the next step after the Tackers program

What you'll actually do

The recommended length is 20 hours, delivered as a 4–5 day holiday program or as a series of sessions over several weeks, with all equipment provided. Kids sail purpose-designed Tackers training boats, which have built-in buoyancy for stability.

By the end of the level, children should be able to:

• roll tack and roll gybe, and understand why these work
• stop the boat and hold it in a confined space
• sail the boat backwards
• use the five essentials of sailing
• start and finish races on triangle and trapezoid courses
• use tactical mark roundings when racing

Finishing the level earns a Tackers 3 completion certificate.

Key ideas explained

• Roll tack and roll gybe — the sailor uses body weight to heel the boat and then flatten it through the turn. Done well, it helps the boat turn with less rudder and speeds it up coming out of the turn.
• The five essentials — a checklist sailors run through all the time: sail trim (sail set for the wind), balance (keeping the boat flat side to side), boat trim (weight placed fore and aft), centreboard (how far down it is for the direction you are sailing), and course made good (actually heading where you want to go).
• Stopping and sailing backwards — letting the sail out until it flaps slows the boat; pushing the boom out against the wind makes it go backwards. Both are useful for getting out of tight spots around other boats and docks.
• Race starts — a race starts from a line between two marks after a countdown. The aim is to be moving at speed near the line just as the start signal goes, without crossing early.
• Triangle and trapezoid courses — standard course shapes built from upwind, reaching and downwind legs, so sailors practise every point of sail in one race.
• Mark roundings — a common rule of thumb is to approach a mark wide and leave it close ("wide in, tight out"), so you exit on the best line.

Where it fits

Australian Sailing's pathway points Tackers graduates towards OutThere Sailing and green fleet, which builds confidence and independence through coaching in foundation race skills.

Getting ready

For parents

• What to wear — no special clothing is needed: clothes and shoes your child doesn't mind getting wet, plus a towel, a change of clothes, a hat, sunscreen and water. Racing drills can mean more time on the water, so an extra warm layer is handy on cooler days.
• Lifejackets — Tackers participants wear lifejackets at all times while taking part.
• The swim check — some swimming ability is preferred. In the first session of a Tackers course, instructors supervise a 25 m swim with lifejackets on.
• Racing nerves — Tackers stays non-competitive, and the racing here is about learning how starts and courses work. Remind your child the goal is to try the skills, not to win.
• A typical session — expect a briefing, rigging, a warm-up game, focused skill work or short practice races, then packing up and a debrief. Exact formats vary by club.
• What next — ask the club about green fleet, junior racing days or OutThere Sailing, and whether there are club boats your child can keep sailing.

Good to know in Australia

Many Australian clubs run green fleet racing as the step between learn-to-sail and regular junior racing. Find Tackers 3 sessions on Australian Sailing's course finder.