Anglia Sea Ventures

For many, dinghy sailing is the traditional entry point into sailing and is probably the cheapest way to get afloat.

About dingies

dingies are small, easy to handle and are generally light to launch and transport. They have one or more sails and can have one (mono) or more (multi) hulls. dingies lean over when the wind blows and unlike yachts do not normally have a ballasted keel to provide stability. The crew therefore act as ballast and need to move about the boat to counter the force of the wind on the sails and prevent it blowing over (capsizing).

dingies are open to the elements and do not offer accommodation or creature comforts. Because they often capsize, expect to get wet!

You can sail single handed or with a crew. dingies are usually sailed in local waters such as rivers, estuaries or close to the shore. They are often stored ashore at yacht clubs or trailered between home and the water.

RYA National Sailing Scheme

The scheme is a series of two-day courses for adults wanting to learn in dingies, small keelboats and multihulls. It has been designed to help you enjoy whichever aspect of the sport appeals to you.

RYA Youth Sailing Scheme

You can take these courses at any age, but under 16s should start learning through the Youth Sailing Scheme.

Progression through the scheme

Following on from the early courses in both the National Sailing Scheme and the Youth Sailing Scheme, you can choose one of the five advanced modules to suit your sailing interests. e.g. Start Racing, Day Sailing, Seamanship Skills, Sailing with Spinnakers and Performance Sailing. These are available to both adults and young people.

Courses

Dinghy courses are available through yacht clubs and youth training organisations.

Click here for an overview of the RYA National Sailing scheme

Yacht cruising

If living on board, cruising the coast or sailing offshore appeals to you, then why not give yacht cruising a go?

About cruising yachts

Cruising yachts have accommodation, toilet and cooking facilities, offering a degree of comfort whilst spending time afloat.

Yachts come in all sizes and like dingies are either mono or multi hull. Smaller yachts can be trailered to and from the water (trailer sailers) but larger yachts are kept afloat on a mooring or in a marina berth. The cost of buying a yacht ranges from a few thousand pounds to hundreds of thousands. Many prefer instead to hire a yacht (yacht charter) or own a share in a yacht (syndicate or fractional ownership).

Yachts are not necessarily harder to sail than dingies but they usually require two or more crew and their larger size and weight calls for different handling skills when manoeuvring particularly in close quarter situations. To sail offshore, navigational skills are required making yachting more involved than dinghy sailing.

Modern yachts have auxiliary engines to help them manoeuvre in harbours and marinas or when there is insufficient wind to sail.

Yachts lean in strong winds but unlike dingies do not easily capsize due to their ballasted keel which, like a pendulum, returns the yacht upright. In yachts crew can move around the deck or cabin without adversely affecting stability.

All but the smallest of yachts are capable of coastal or offshore sailing and many families holiday abroad in their own boat or charter a yacht abroad.

RYA Sail Cruising Scheme

The scheme comprises a series of practical courses complemented by navigation and other specialist short courses. You can use them simply to increase your knowledge and confidence or as a progression to the RYA/MCA Certificates of Competence which are recognised by maritime authorities worldwide.

Progression through the scheme

The ideal introduction is the two-day Start Yachting course. Following that, courses generally take place over 5 days, or a series of weekends, starting with crewing, then progressing to skippering and then advanced skippering courses.

You can enter the programme at any level, provided that you have the correct level of experience beforehand.

Cruising abroad

If you want to cruise outside the UK you are likely to need certification, often in the form of the International Certificate of Competence. You should also be aware of the local requirements for skippers, boats and licences wherever you go and, if possible, take with you translations of the certificates that you hold.

Courses

If you would like to give cruising a go, why not join us on one of our Sailing Taster Days. If you prefer to make a weekend of it then come on a 2-day RYA Start Yachting course.

For a full list of RYA Sail Cruising courses click here.

Click here for an overview of our RYA Sail Cruising courses

Powerboats & RIBs

Powerboats have come a long way since their inception and are no longer primitive utilitarian craft but are thoroughbreds of the sea. They have stunning performance due to their high power to weight ratio and excellent stability when handled properly. The cost of buying a powerboat ranges from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands.

About powerboats and RIBs

These boats are generally powered by a single outboard engine (sometimes two), do not normally have accommodation on board and are not intended for extended cruises. They may be used for short coastal or inland trips, fishing, safety cover for other watersports, waterskiing or as a support boat for diving.

Powerboats are to motor boating, what dingies are to sailing . However, powerboats can be used for short coastal trips and due to their speed can travel long distances in a relatively short period of time, so a knowledge of basic navigation is required before venturing offshore.

RYA National Powerboat Scheme

The scheme comprises a series of practical courses complemented by navigation and other specialist short courses. You can use them simply to increase your knowledge and confidence, or as a progression to the RYA/MCA Certificates of Competence which are recognised by maritime authorities worldwide.

Progression through the scheme

The ideal introduction is either a one-day Powerboat Taster Course (Level 1) or the two-day Introduction to Powerboating (Level 2) course. The scheme also includes Intermediate and Advanced courses for the more experienced. Most courses take place over two days and can be taken either onboard one of our training boats or your own boat if you have one.

You can enter the programme at any level, provided that you have the relevant experience beforehand

Courses

If you would like to give powerboating a go, why not join us on one of our Powerboat Taster Days. If you prefer to make a weekend of it then come on a 2-day RYA National Powerboat course (aka Powerboat Level 2).

For a full list of RYA National Powerboat courses click here.

Click here for an overview of our RYA National Powerboat courses

Motor Cruising

If living on board, cruising the coast or venturing offshore appeals to you, then why not give motor cruising a go?

About motor cruisers

Motor cruisers have accommodation, toilet and cooking facilities, offering a degree of comfort whilst spending time afloat.

Motor boats come in all sizes up to and including super yachts, and like sports boats and RIBs have one or more engines. Motor boats are usually kept in the water in a marina berth. The cost of buying a motor boat ranges from a few thousand pounds to hundreds of thousands if not millions. Many prefer instead to hire a motor boat (motor boat charter) or own a share in a motor boat (syndicate or fractional ownership).

Motor boats are not necessarily harder to drive than sportsboats but they usually require two or more crew and their larger size and weight calls for different skills when manoeuvring in close quarter situations. Many powerboats have bow and/or stern thrusters to help control the boat in these situations. To venture offshore navigational skills are required making motor boating more involved than powerboating.

All but the smallest of motor boats are capable of coastal or offshore passages and many families holiday abroad in their own or a chartered yacht.

RYA Motor Cruising Scheme

The scheme comprises a series of practical courses complemented by navigation and other specialist short courses. You can use them simply to increase your knowledge and confidence, or as a progression to the RYA/MCA Certificates of Competence which are recognised by maritime authorities worldwide.

Progression through the scheme

The ideal introduction is the two-day Helmsman course. Following that, courses generally take place over 4 days, or two weekends, starting with Day Skipper, then progressing to advanced skippering courses.

You can enter the programme at any level, provided that you have the correct level of experience beforehand.

Cruising abroad

If you want to cruise outside the UK you are likely to need certification, often in the form of the International Certificate of Competence. You should also be aware of the local requirements for skippers, boats and licences wherever you go and, if possible, take with you translations of the certificates that you hold.

Click here for an overview of RYA Motor Cruising courses