Start Racing for Adults

A course for adults 18 yrs + who have comfortably mastered the skills of our Better Sailig course who want to learn more, have fun and practice their skills. The course will cover the following topics:

Preparation 

• appropriate clothing to suit conditions
• appropriate safety equipment
• basic pre-sailing warm up and stretches

Boats and Equipment

• rig boat to suit the conditions
• parts of the boat and sails
• correct boat, sailing gear and sail care

Safety

• capsize recovery of inverted boat
• multiple boat towing 

Skills and Techniques

• launch and recover boat safely in all wind directions
• roll tack, roll gybe, sail the boat backwards 
• set sails to advantage
• sail both a trapezoidal and slalom course
• come alongside another vessel/pontoon
• Maintain a position at a mark

Sailing Theory

• controls used to adjust sail shape
• adjust sail shape to suit conditions
• apply the basic sailing rules while sailing a course in a fleet
• common buoyage requirements relevant to local area

Weather and the Environment

• identify wind shifts
• gusts and lulls
• source weather forecasts 
• awareness of current tidal conditions & identify tidal flow while on the water

Class Dates Times

• South Brisbane Sailing Club (6 weeks – Sunday afternoon)
  • 12:30pm – 4:30pm
• Lake Samsonvale Sailing Club (2 weeks – Sunday afternoon)
  • 12:30pm – 4:30pm

Class Dates

(last updated 14-03-2026)

Costs

• $620* over 10 weeks
• This course fee includes the cost of SBSC annual membership. 

Age limit

• 18 yrs +

Discounts

• 20% discount for second and successive Family members OR
• 20% discount for Concessional members OR
• 20% discount for members continuing in the same level 
• 20% discount for Level 3 if you use your own boat

Only one discount is applicable.

Special Needs

• Please advise our Learn to Sail Coordinator if your child has medical, physical, intellectual or other support needs before finalising your booking in this program as we have limited instructor capacity.

Refund Policy

• Full refund for any full course if seven (7) days notice is provided.
• Full refund or make-up classes provided if a block of classes or any individual class is cancelled by SBSC due to weather etc.

How to Enrol

• Go to our How to Enrol page

Enquiries

• Contact our Learn to Sail Coordinator

Course Overview
Join in the fun and challenge as you learn the basics of racing in a dinghy.

Who should do this course?

This course is designed for participants who wish to learn the basics of racing and begin competing at club-level races. 

Course Outcome

You will gain your Start Racing (Dinghy) completion certificate. 

We recognise that some of our course participants are completing the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and may be using sailing and/or club membership to complete one or more sections of The Award. To learn more, click here.