The SailLAB Experience Days are one-day ‘taster’ programs designed to provide primary and secondary school students with hands-on sailing, and on-shore learning experiences after they've completed the classroom-based SailLAB Primary or Secondary Learning Modules. These days can be run by your school’s closest Australian Sailing affiliated Sailing Club. 

This day is designed to be an extension of the SailLAB School-Based Program, with the aim to deepen students' understanding of sailing and STEM concepts through practical, real-world activities.

Activities during a SailLAB Experience Day can include:

• Sailing on a dinghy or small keelboat with Australian Sailing Instructors. Students experience the feel of steering a sail powered boat, how to trim sails, reduce/increase power, and speed. Students learn how to tack/gybe the boat, and set sails for a new course.
• Radio Control Sailing around small course close to shore/jetties, practicing points of sail, racing rules, and some fun races.
• On-Shore STEM Activities to reinforce classroom modules:
  • calculating sail area– comparing the sail area of a Jib and Mainsail
  • identifying levers on a sailboat – the difference between a first, second and third class lever
  • build a boat challenge - students get a sail, mast, boom, sprit, hull, rudder and centreboard and have to put it all together without instructions in a timed challenge
  • pulley practical – simple machines reducing loads and measuring forces
  • measuring wind – scavenger hunt