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Tackers Courses

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Tackers courses use small, purpose-built dinghies which allow children aged 7 to 12 to learn the fundamentals of sailing in a fun, safe, and supportive environment.

  Learn to rig, sail and control a dinghy
  Build water confidence & basic seamanship
  Experienced, kid-friendly instructors
  Make new friends and have fun on the water

Tackers is also the first step on a clear pathway into ongoing sailing and racing at your local club.

Set sail with Tackers and give your child the best introduction to a lifetime on the water!

Tackers Intro

Course Overview
This is the ideal introduction to the Tackers program. 2.5-3 hours on-water activity to get children familiar with sailing in a fun, non-competitive environment with a pathway on to more sailing through Tackers. 

Age
7-12 years

Course Prerequisites
Water confident
7-12 years old (albeit where younger or older siblings or friends want to also participate, please contact your local Centre)

Who should do this course?
This course is designed for participants who wish to be introduced to the sport of sailing. It's an ideal course to determine whether you'd like to participate in a Tackers 1 course.

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Little Tackers

Course Overview
Fun and games at a Tackers Centre for 4-6 year-olds. Little Tackers is run in small groups of no more than 6 participants with close supervision from qualified Tackers Instructors. 

Age
4-6 years-old

Who should do this course?
This course is designed for 4-6 year-old children wanting to have fun at a Sailing Club and learn basic movement skills learned through play.

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Tackers 1 - Having Fun

Course Overview
This course aims to provide kids aged 7-12 with a fun, safe and affordable way to get into sailing. 

Age
7-12 years

Course Prerequisites
Water confident
7-12 years-old

Who should do this course?
This course is designed for kids who wish to have fun and learn the basics of sailing through games on and off the water.

What will you learn?
By the end of the Tackers 1 course, you will be able to:

  • Steer with tiller extension under towing paddling power
  • Tie a figure 8 knot, round twice and two half hitches
  • Tack (push turn)
  • Gybe (pull turn)
  • Reach around a figure of 8 course using both tacking and gybing
  • Sail with tiller extension
  • Sail upwind and downwind by following the safety boat

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Tackers 2 - Tricks & Techniques

Course Overview
This course aims to build on the fun that kids had in Tackers 1, to progress their sailing skills. 

Age
7-12 years

Course Prerequisites
Water confident
7-12 years-old
Skills, knowledge and experience gained in Tackers 1.

Who should do this course?
This course is designed for kids who have completed Tackers 1.

What will you learn?
By the end of the Tackers 2 course, you will be able to:

  • Get out of irons on their own
  • Safely gybe the boat
  • Correctly use the tiller extension
  • Sailing around a triangle course, including:
    • Upwind - on a close hauled course tacking through the 'no go zone'
    • Downwind - with centreboard up
    • Reaching - correct sail position
  • Demonstrate a 360 and 720-degree turn

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Tackers 3 - Sailing Fast

Course Overview
This course aims to build on skills learned in Tackers 2 and focuses on advanced sailing skills through games and adventures on the water. 

Age
7-12 years

Course Prerequisites
Water confident
7-12 years-old
Skills, knowledge and experience gained in Tackers 2

Who should do this course?
This course is designed for kids who have completed Tackers 2.

What will you learn?
By the end of the Tackers 3 course, kids will be able to:

  • Demonstrate the correct method and understand the theory of roll tacking and gybing
  • Stopping the boat in a confined areas for a period of time
  • Sail backwards
  • Understand the theory behind gybing and can demonstrate the action downwind
  • Show a sound knowledge of the five essentials:
    • Centreboard position
    • Boat trim
    • Boat balance
    • Course made good
    • Sail trim
  • Start and finish races on a triangle and trapezoid course
  • Always use tactical mark roundings in races

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Tackers Combined

Course Overview
This course aims to provide kids aged 7-12 with a fun, safe and affordable way to get into sailing. 

This is a Tackers combined course (a combination of Tackers 1, 2, 3). The combined course enables individual progression accross its duration, whilst allowing friends to remain together.

Tackers will always be about fun, social engagement and safety.

Age
7-12 years

Course Prerequisites
Water confident
7-12 years-old

Who should do this course?
This course is designed for participants who wish to have fun and learn the basics of sailing through games on and off the water.

What will you learn?
By the end of the Tackers combined course, the participants will achieve the standards of either Tackers 1, 2, or 3 and have had a lot of FUN!

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