RYA Level 2 (dinghy)

Dinghy sailing level 2 “Basic Skills” is usually a four day course and builds on the skills learned during Level 1. It is an important step in dinghy training and you will learn a lot. Once you have completed Level 2 you will have the skills necessary to start racing and to handle a dinghy in normal conditions.

Course Structure

Onshore teaching

•Points of sailing and No Go Zone

•How a sail works – basic aerodynamic theory

•Sea sailing – basic advice for inland sailors including taking local advice. Tide tables, tidal sequence of springs and neaps, ebb and flow

•The effect of wind direction and tidal flow on sailing conditions

•Speed over the ground with/against tidal flow

•Informing someone ashore

•Inland sailing – basic advice including local bylaws, permits, overhead power lines, locks and weirs

Practical

•Sailing techniques and manoeuvres

•The Five Essentials – sail setting, balance, trim, course made good and centreboard*

•Leaving and returning to a beach, jetty or mooring

•Coming alongside a moored boat

•Knows basic rules of the road: power/sail, port/starboard, windward boat, overtaking boat Aware of lee shore dangers, sailing in close company. with others and man overboard recovery .

•Has knowledge of boat storage ashore, launching and recovery*

•Able to paddle a sailing dinghy and row a boat around a short triangular course, come alongside and make fastt

•Understands how to rig according to weather conditions

•Able to reef ashore

•Can tie a bowline, clove hitch and rolling hitch

•Able to come alongside and pick up a mooring