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Sailing School

Learning to Sail at NSC

Scroll down for instructions on How to Enrol.

Note: In the case of over-subscription to our courses, we may offer alternative dates/arrangements. We will always do our best to get as many people sailing as possisble, but with limited boats and volunteers, you may need to meet us halfway in order to make that happen!

At Northbridge Sailing Club, we offer training for beginners of all ages. The sailing school is run by enthusiastic volunteers who are passionate about sharing their love for sailing. We will guide you throughout your first season and beyond, helping to improve your skills throughout your sailing journey at NSC.

All activities at NSC require participants to first sign up as members. Membership fees are not inclusive of training with the sailing school, which incurs supplimentary fees as set out below. Click here or navigate to our "Membership" page for information on membership fees - for reference, most participants in sailing school training will be suited to membership categories 1, 2 or 5. Northbridge Sailing Club is a not-for-profit organisation; prices are set to be as affordable as possible for our members while covering costs.

This season (Sep 2024-Apr 2025), we are offering several pathways for complete novices:

Live-in 2025! (20/01-24/01)

Our legendary Summer Camp is one-of-a-kind among Sydney's Sailing Clubs. Kids aged 7-16 of all skill levels (including absolute beginners) are welcome. Participants spend the day sailing and exploring middle harbour, then sleep overnight in the clubhouse (supervised) to wake up in the morning and start all over again! It is an unrivalled highlight in the club's calendar, and will be the highlight of your child's Summer Holidays. For more information click here.

Junior Learn to Sail (September 2024) - Course Full!

For kids aged 7-14, our program takes absolute beginners and turns them into confident, independent sailors, ready to join the club's Flying 11 and Green Fleets. Training runs every Sunday Morning from 9am-12:30pm, and graduation from the sailing school into higher fleets will be managed by instructors based on each student's rate of progression/skill acquisition - this generally takes around 10 weeks. During this period, the club provides all boats and training equpiment, but we ask that you equip your child with an appropriately sized life-jacket, a full-length wetsuit, a rain/spray jacket and water shoes.

Parents should be aware that once graduated from "Learn-to-Sail", sailors in the Green Fleet need to have their own boat: a fibreglass "optimist" dinghy (a fantastic Christmas/Birthday present!). The club has several available for purchase or to rent (on a per half-season basis) at very attractive prices - email rearcomm@nsc.asn.au to make an enquiry.

Price:

  • $600 per child. Includes coaching for the whole season (7 months!), including Green Fleet. Excludes Membership (required).
  • There is also an option for a trial period until the end of September for $200 (plus membership), if you'd like to dip your toes into sailing before comitting to a whole season. However, please be aware that in the event of over-subscription, preference will be given to season sign-ups.

A second Junior LTS intake will be run in late January 2025 - details coming soon!

Family Learn to Sail - Course Full!

Fun for the whole family! For ages 7+, jump in a boat along with your kids and one of our fantastic instructors and learn the ropes together! This intensive course brings kids up to speed with the (above) September cohort of Junior learners, ready for integration into the continuing Junior Learn to Sail program every Sunday. It's also a stepping-on point for parents who are keen to get on the water with their kids and learn something new.

Following this course, all participants have a pathway to integrate into the NSC sailing community: whether the kids want to work their way up to Green Fleet, or mum and dad want to start racing competitively, or the whole family wants to go for weekly leisure sails, there will be both coaching and boats available to you for the whole season.

The course will last from 9am-3pm each day beginning on Friday the 4th of October and finishing on Monday the 7th. As with the Junior LTS, we request that participants come equipped with life jackets, suitable waterwear (wetsuits if cold), rain/spray jackets and water shoes.

Price (excluding membership):

  • $900 for 2 people
  • +$100 for each additional family member

Adult Learn to Sail - Course Full!

Whether you're new to sailing, or need a refresher before getting back on the water, this intensive course will get you sailing independently in time for Christmas. Held over 3 weekends on both Saturday and Sunday mornings (ending on the 8th of December), the goal is to get you racing by the end of the course. Of course, racing isn't for everyone, but this course will teach the absolute fundamentals which you can apply to whichever pathway you take at NSC. As a club member, further coaching and guidance will also be available to you throughout the season after the completion of this course.

Price: $400. Includes continual coaching through the season. Excludes membership.

How to Enrol

Head to the Membership page of our site and click "New Member". After selecting the appropriate membership class for your circumstances, there will be an option to add a Learn-to-Sail Package.

Please Note: If you are registering multiple participants (multiple kids, adults or a whole family), you will need to undergo this process for EACH participant. Every person needs to be set up as a "New Member" so we know how many individuals have enrolled, and so that all members are issued with Australian Sailing Numbers. For family and junior+parent memberships, there are options attracting $0 fees to use when registering subsequent members, so you are not charged twice for membership.

If you have questions relating to our programs, please feel free to email training@nsc.asn.au

See you soon!