Experience the sport of sailing at Abbotsford 12 ' Flying Squadron. The club offers three programs:
- Try Sailing Day
- Learn to Sail Course
- Cadets: Coaching to Race Level
- Ongoing training and supervision
Learn to Sail is kindly supported by Club Five Dock and Canada Bay Club via CDSE category II funding
Basic Requirements
Children need to be prepared to get wet! Board shorts and rash shirts are ideal. Sunscreen and a hat (preferably with a toggle or a string to prevent it blowing away) are required. Some sort of footwear that can get wet such as low-cost wet shoes (available from places like K-Mart) or soft soled joggers are advisable as the river bottom near the beach is very rocky.
Children need to be able to swim and must be confident in deep water however PFDs (Life-jackets) will be provided by the club.
Try Sailing Day
| Cost | None |
| Dates | First Sunday in November |
| Duration | A one off session. 10 am to 1 pm |
| Boats | Provided |
| Requirements | You will be given the opportunity to try your hand at various boats under instruction from club sailing members. A parent or guardian must accompany children under the age of 18. |
| Contact | or phone 9713 8178 |
The Try Sailing website
Learn to Sail Course
| Cost |
Free, however participants are required to join the club (see here Membership informationfor costs) |
| Dates | First course begins Saturday October 16th and ends November 6th . Second course TBA |
| Time | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm (roughly) |
| Duration | 2 hours per week for 4 weeks |
| Boat | Club boats provided |
| Requirements |
No experience required. Just the basic requirements above. Parents are required to stay during the course and help with launching/rigging boats. Children should wear swimming clothes, wet suit or clothes which can get wet. |
| Contact | or phone 9713 8178 |
Introduction to sailing is a four (4) week course held in October/ November and again after Christmas. The aim is to provide an opportunity for children to try sailing in a safe and comfortable setting. During this course the children will learn:
- The name of all the parts of a sabot and their purpose.
- How to rig a sabot.
- Safety on the water.
- Knots useful in boats.
- Capsize recover (usually on a warm day)
- Introduction to the points of sail.
- Basic steering and boat handling.
- The role of skipper and crew.
To find out more or register for learn to sail, send an or phone 9713 8178
Participants must become members of the club in order to undertake the course due to insurance requirements.
The course involves coaching by skilled sailors both on and off the water. The students sail in the club's sabots on the Parramatta River in front of the clubhouse. Parents are required to stay while the children do the introduction to sailing course and are asked to participate in the training by helping to rig boats (parents get to learn too!) and by helping to get boats and children in and out of the water. Parents can go out on the support boats to watch their children sail or can sit back with a coffee and watch the action from the clubhouse verandah.Cadets: coaching to Race Level
| Dates | Following Learn to Sail |
| Time | 11:00 - 1:00 pm |
| Boat | Participants must either lease a club boat or purchase their own boat. |
| Requirements | Participants must have completed the learn to sail or an equivalent course elsewhere. |
| Contact | or phone 9713 8178 |
This course is for children that understand the basics of sailing and who want to progress to racing. The course covers:
- Learn to sail content in greater depth.
- Starting flag sequences.
- Basic starting line tactics.
- Rounding marks.
- More in depth boat handling.
- Provides an opportunity to sail longer courses.
The learn to race program is similar in format to the learn to sail however the children sail in a larger area and participate in short races. Caoching is provided by qualified Yachting Australia Coaches
Ongoing Training and Supervision
For interested young sailors who have completed Learn to Sail and Learn to Race courses at Abbotsford or elsewhere, the club can assist in ongoing training to prepare sailors for club and further racing. Participants will be expected to own or lease a boat. Club members of all ages are encouraged and supported by the club to attend Class Association training and regattas.
All training provided by the club has suitable levels of on water supervision and support for children sailing.