Love an adventure in the fresh air, then small boat sailing could be for you. You can take your family, go with friends or escape by yourself, leaving the stress of daily life behind on the shore.
The health benefits of sailing are: muscle strengthening and endurance, cardio fitness will improve through working heart and lungs, mental wellbeing will increase as you socialise with fellow sailors and your agility will improve as you move around the boat. Communication is key when sailing, as the helm and the crew need to know what’s going on both inside and outside of the boat.
Learn to Sail Courses
At Craigavon Watersports Centre you can choose from complete beginner lessons to experienced sailing. A sheltered harbour ensures a safe area to learn, with a larger outer lake to improve and practice.
Skills Taught
- Basic rigging of the boat spars, sail controls and foils.
- Sailing techniques e.g. sailing upwind / downwind.
- Parts of a boat, sailing and sail control.
- Reaching, Tacking, Gybing.
- Capsize recovery
- Basic rope work knots.
- RYA Level 1 certificate can be gained
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions below for more information.
What boats are used?
Laser Stratos, Laser 2000, Laser Pico, Laser RS Feva
Who are these courses for?
Sailing courses are suitable for 10 years and over
What to bring?
- towel/toiletries
- swimsuit/shorts
- Shoes that can get wet
- Sun Screen
- Sun hat or warm hat (weather depending)
- Snacks/ lunch and a drink.
RYA Dinghy Sailing Course Level 1
Learn to Windsurf
This course is designed for beginners who want to take up or try windsurfing. We teach you on the latest wide-style boards with lightweight sails to ensure a swift progression in skills and fun.
A sheltered harbour ensures a safe area to learn, with a larger outer lake to improve and practice. Once competent you are able to come and hire from us in the future. Courses run from individual lessons to RYA courses.
Skills Taught
- Balance on a board.
- Set up equipment and how to use it
- Windsurf in a straight line.
- Steer the board.
- Turn around (Upwind and downwind)
- Sail back to where you started
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions below for more information.
What boats are used?
Laser Stratos, Laser 2000, Laser Pico, Laser RS Feva
Who are these courses for?
Sailing courses are suitable for 10 years and over
Private Lessons
Private lessons are ideal if you can’t make Sunday mornings. You progress quickly under the watchful eye of a fully qualified instructor. There is 1:1 tuition or tuition for small groups.
The sessions can be booked anytime within the opening hours of the centre.
Sessions can be booked by contacting the centre here
| Prices | Standard | Concession |
| 2 Hour Lesson | £100 | £100 |
| Small Group 2 Hour | £100 | £100 |
All equipment is provided. Delivered by RYA Instructors.
For booking details contact the centre here
Group Lessons
We can offer your school or youth group the opportunity to achieve sailing qualifications perfect for;
- RYA Level 1
- G.C.S.E physical education
- Duke of Edinburgh awards
- multi activity team building day.
| Prices | Standard | Concession |
| 2 Hour Lesson | £100 | £100 |
| Small Group 2 Hour | £100 | £100 |
For booking details contact the centre here
When does the Sailing Club meet?
Club sessions run every Sunday afternoon 13.00hrs – 16.00hrs between April and Halloween.
However, members can come sailing anytime the Centre is open, when boats are available and the safety boat is on the water. Please phone 02838 326606 for availability.
WHAT DOES THE SAILING CLUB OFFER?
The club offers members the opportunity to get out onto the water to practice their sailing and windsurfing skills under the supervision of one of the centre’s qualified RYA Sailing Instructors and clubs volunteer instructors.
Open to all abilities, we have boats suitable of those with disabilities and all age groups, under 12yrs must be accompanied by an adult. Parents/guardians of young children are asked to assist getting boats on and off the water.
DO I NEED MY OWN BOAT/BOARD AND EQUIPMENT?
No, the sailing club uses the Centre’s equipment ie boats, boards, wetsuits, cags and buoyancy aids etc. You will need to bring with you the following: swim suit, old trainers you don’t mind getting wet, towel and toiletries.
DOES THE CLUB OFFER MEMBERS THE OPPORTURNTIY TO GAIN RYA QUALIFICATIONS?
Yes, each session you can choose to join in the instructional session where the instructor will give a briefing, on water coaching followed by a debrief and then sign off your RYA log book.
HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?
Having completed one of the Centre’s Sunday morning courses and learnt the basic skills, the instructor will give you a membership form which you complete, pay your fee and return to the club treasurer.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
| Prices | Standard | Concession | Family |
| Membership fee | £30 | £15 | £50 |
| Price per session | £8 | £6 |
DO I HAVE TO BECOME A MEMBER TO GO SAILING AND WINDSURFING?
No, visitors are welcome to come and going out on the water but you will have to be capable of rigging your own equipment, launch, sail and return to the shore safely and without assistance.
The Centre staff have the right to stop the session if they feel your skills are not at the appropriate level for the weather conditions.
RYA Funding
To support the development of clubs cross NI the RYA will be funding 6 weeks of session fees to new sailing club members. Please contact the watersports centre here for more details and to see if you are eligible.
