Kids Learn to Sail
Kids Learn To Sail is the perfect way to get involved at FBYC; not just for kids but the whole family. We run 3-5 hour sessions run on weekend days (marked as KLTS on the Club Calendar), and provide boats from our boat shed. We have two intakes each season.
There are approximately 15 sessions through the season: times are tide dependent. Kids are expected to attend all sailing days in order to progress through Yachting New Zealand's Level 1 and 2 Learn To Sail curriculum.
This gives the kids more sailing opportunities and enables greater involvement in the club as a family.
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What are the costs?
For KLTS you need to be a member under either of the categories below:
Junior + Associate Parent Membership
$160 for one child and parent/caregiver
This includes a Junior membership and a parent's Associate membership for 12 months
OR
Family Membership
$250 for parents and 2 or more children from the same family. This is a Family membership for 12 months.
ADULT LEARN TO SAIL
The French Bay Adult Learn to Sail programme is designed to provide coaching for adults who are interested in sailing at French Bay.
The Club’s intention is to provide some basic practice and knowledge, from which adults might continue to participate at the club either by becoming boat owners or renting our club boats when available.
ALTS will teach you the basics needed to sail safely and continue practice in your own time:
Points of sail
Safety on and off the water
Terminologies
Boat handling
Depending on interest and coaching availability we will try to run the program in late summer. Please register your interest now!
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Note:
Due to the high number of enquiries, we try to only accept registrations from from adults who live in West Auckland.
What is the format?
An ALTS session takes place over one day, where one of our senior sailors will take you through the course using our RS Quest dinghy. We teach two adults per session.
We aim to have the ability to run an ALTS at least once a fortnight, subject to tides, weather, and availability of coaches. Once you have registered your interest, we will check our calendar and let you know the soonest day we can have you along. We will also confirm at least 5 days beforehand based on the latest forecasts.
What happens after ALTS?
Try another ALTS session
If you had fun and need more support before going solo, register your interest after your first session, and we’ll schedule you in again at the soonest possible slot for more coaching.
Practice in our club boats
When our club boats are not being used for coaching, you may rent them out at $20 per head, per day, on any day that the club is operating.
Join in with club activity
If you purchase a boat, we have Senior Coaching nights. In this course you work personally with our coaches on your own sailing goals and technique.
As a member, you can participate in club racing and adventure sails which are scheduled year-round. They provide a fun and social atmosphere while you continue to practice your sailing.
What are the costs?
TBC
Family membership special offer:
If you have recently initiated a family membership with the club (eg KLTS parents), we offer one free ALTS session per adult in the family. If you re-register for another ALTS session afterwards, it is subject to the normal cost.
Learn to race
Racing is not just competition, it is a playground in which you can grow as a sailor and a person, and a way to share adventures with friends.
In LTR we encourage our kids to develop self-coaching techniques that will enable them to make sailing a sport for life.
With an emphasis on friendship, persistence, and reflection, this course aims to highlight the best parts of the sport while keeping things low cost and local.
This course is meant as the next step from KLTS, and is open to all youth sailors who own their own boats.
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What goes on?
We meet as a group on weekends to practice, learn tactics and boat handling, and play games. Additionally we have some great group activities throughout the season:
Learn to race camp
Regional regattas
Adventure sails
Club racing series
What boat do I need?
In the 2022/23 season, we expect to have fleets of Bics, Optimists and Starlings.
Are groups separated by sailboat class?
In 2022/23 we expect so, in order to provide quality coaching to all sailors. However group activities will always be shared and we try to keep kids together as much as possible.
Club racing
A fun and friendly local racing scene, with adventure sails and pursuit races in the mix!
ABOUT CLUB RACING
Free to members, our club racing series happens on most Sundays throughout summer.
OUR CURRENT ACTIVE CLASSES INCLUDE:
- Optimist
- Starling
- O'Pen Bic
- RS Aero
- RS Feva
- Laser
- J14
- 3.7
SPECIAL RACING EVENTS
As a FBYC member, you are able to race in national events representing the best out west.
Throughout the season, we host a range of special events, such as regional class regattas, the annual FBYC regatta and sometimes the lauded Manukau Shield.
high performance
Coaching by nationally competitive sailors, for nationally competitive sailors.
ABOUT HIGH PERFORMANCE
FBYC have a core group of nationally competitive sailors who are working on their high-performance skills.
We believe that you are capable of achieving your sailing goals and want to be there supporting you on your journey.
Our head coach is a 4x national champion with expertise in everything high-performance dinghy, as well as techniques for self-coaching.
To help with your training, we have after-school/work coaching and pizza nights on Mondays throughout the season.
safety courses
We do first-aid courses, as well as motorboat and race management training.
ABOUT SAFETY COURSES
FIRST AID
We run first aid courses for our members once a year. You will be notified of when this might happen by joining our newsletter.
RIB TRAINING
We provide complimentary training for anyone who wants to use our RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) as volunteers on sailing days. We encourage parents of kids to join us on the water after this training.