Dinghy sailing courses & lessons in Rye, East Sussex

At our dinghy sailing school in Sussex, on an inland lake by the South coast, we offer Royal Yachting Association sailing courses and private lessons with our team of experienced RYA instructors.  Fusions and Topper Topaz make make up our fleet of single handers. These are complimented by our RS Quests and Laser Bahias as our double handers. All course dates can be viewed and courses booked through our on line booking system but if the dates don’t suit you do give us a call and we will try and offer alternatives.  All our boats based here in East Sussex are available to hire by experienced sailors.

Adult Sailing Refresher 

Course Overview

1–2 Day Course – 10:00–16:00 from £125–£225

Our Adult Sailing Refresher Session is ideal for sailors who have completed RYA Level 1 or above and want to brush up on their skills after a winter off from the water. Across one or two days, you’ll practise key techniques such as sailing across the wind, tacking and bringing your boat safely ashore. This course is usually offered early in the season (April/May), with a 10% discount applied when booking two days (use ‘adult-refresher‘ at checkout).

Course Content

  • Rigging and launching your boat
  • Sailing across the wind and upwind
  • Tacking and gybing
  • Refreshing key skills and confidence on the water
  • Bring your boat safely ashore

RYA Level 1  Start Sailing

Course Overview 

2 Day Course – 10:00 – 16:00 from £255

Our RYA Level 1 sailing course is designed for complete beginners with no sailing experience.  It will give you the essential skills and confidence to rig, launch and sail a dinghy. With plenty of time on the water and close support from our instructors, you’ll learn to sail across the wind, tack, gybe and return safely to shore. On successful completion, you’ll be awarded the RYA Level 1 certificate.

Course Content

  • Rigging and launching a dinghy
  • Sailing across the wind
  • Tacking and gybing
  • Returning safely to shore
  • Essential theory and ropework

 

RYA Level 2 Basic Skills

Course Overview

2 Day Course – 10:00 – 16:00  from £255

Our RYA Level 2 sailing course builds on the skills gained in Level 1 and develops your confidence and control on the water. You’ll progress to more advanced boat-handling techniques, learn the RYA Five Essentials, and refine your rigging, reefing and on-water decision-making. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to sail confidently in a range of conditions and make good, efficient progress on all points of sail. Successful completion awards the RYA Level 2 certificate, enabling you to hire dinghies at centres worldwide.

Course Content

  • The RYA 5 Essentials: balance, trim, sail setting, centreboard & course made good
  • Man overboard recovery
  • Advanced boat-handling skills
  • Rigging, reefing and ropework
  • Towing, anchoring & basic weather awareness

 

Fast-track – RYA Levels 1 & 2 

Course Overview 

4 Day Fast Track – 10:00 – 16:00 • £399 (Save 20%)

Combine RYA Level 1 & 2 in one four-day course and progress quickly from beginner to confident sailor. Gain all essential skills for independent dinghy hire and receive both certificates on completion.

Course Content

  • Rigging, launching & recovery
  • Sailing across the wind
  • Tacking & gybing
  • Man overboard recovery
  • The RYA Five Essentials
  • Reefing & ropework

 

RYA Level 3 Better Sailing

Course Overview

2 Day Course – 10:00 – 16:00 from £255.00 

The RYA Level 3 – Better Sailing course is designed to build on your previous sailing experience and develop both helm and crew skills. You’ll gain confidence working with a crew member, refine the Five Essentials and get your first experience using a spinnaker. The course also introduces the basics of racing, helping you improve your technique and boat handling in a variety of conditions.

Course Content

  • Helm and crew seamanship skills
  • Use of spinnaker
  • Introduction to racing
  • Refining the five essentials

 

New For 2026 – RYA START RACING 

RYA Start Racing

Course Overview

2 Day Course – 10:00 – 16:00 from £255.00

The RYA Start Racing course is the perfect introduction for sailors looking to take their first steps into competitive sailing. Aimed at adults with existing sailing experience, this course builds the core skills needed to confidently join club races and local regattas. Across two days, you’ll learn how to prepare for a race, handle your boat efficiently under pressure, and make effective tactical decisions around the racecourse.

Course Content

  • Understanding basic racing rules
  • Effective race starts and course navigation
  • Key tactics and strategic positioning
  • Boat handling in race conditions
  • Building confidence to take part in club racing

Prerequisites:

To get the most from this course, you’ll need RYA Level 2 or similar sailing experience.
Instructor giving start racing rya training at rye watersports lake in the afternoon sunlight

 

RYA Seamanship Skills

Course Overview

2 Day Course – 10:00 – 16:00  from £255.00

The RYA Seamanship Skills course develops your ability to handle a larger double-handed boat. You’ll learn to crew and helm with a mainsail and jib, practise sailing rudderless, and refine your seamanship skills under expert guidance. Most practical work is done with your instructor aboard, helping you gain confidence in boat handling and decision-making in moderate wind conditions. Successful completion awards the RYA Seamanship certificate.

Course Content

  • Crewing and helming a double-handed boat
  • Rigging, launching and recovery
  • Sailing with mainsail and jib
  • Sailing rudderless and manoeuvring
  • Practical seamanship and decision-making

 

RYA Sailing with Spinnaker

Course Overview

2 Day Course – 10:00 – 16:00 from £255.00

This course is designed for sailors who have completed RYA Basic Skills or above and want to progress to sailing with a spinnaker. You’ll learn to handle a dinghy, keelboat, or multihull rigged with an asymmetric or symmetric spinnaker. The course also covers trapeze use and capsize recovery, helping you gain confidence in both crew and helm roles while improving your downwind sailing technique.

Course Content

  • Rigging and sailing with asymmetric or symmetric spinnaker
  • Using the trapeze
  •  Spinnaker hoist, gybe and drop (as crew or helm)
  • Capsize recovery including spinnaker
  • Sailing the best course downwind

 

Private 1.1 lessons

£130.00 per 2 hour Private

  • Intensive personal tuition
  • Concentrate on any aspect of sailing
  • Progress rapidly