Queenscliff Lonsdale Yacht Club
Dinghy Sailing
Express Sailing Course - Learn to sail in three days
April 2024
A three day express sailing clinic.
Learn to sail a club dinghy in just three lessons.
- No experience necessary
- Refresh your rusty know how (prior experience)
- Suitable for young and old
- Get ready for the club teams racing on April 20 and 21
Tues 9 - Thursday 11 April, 3 - 6 pm
$60 pp (members) $105 (non-members) Maximum 16 people
Each day session will last for 3 hours, from 1500 – 1800.
Wherever possible the clinics will use practical learning experiences and a hands-on approach.
Tues: On shore theory - How to sail, demonstrations, practicals and rigging
Sailing Clinic 1: How a boat works/sails Setting up a dinghy, parts and rigging
Wed: On water experience - Sailing roles and positions - skipper and crew, capsize recovery
Sailing Clinic 2: Points of sailing, tacking and gybing. Steering, centreboards and balance. Reading the wind. Safety Getting underway, luffing up and returning to land. Capsize recovery and On water sailing
Thur: On water experience - Sailing a course, starts, trim and basic rules
Sailing Clinic 3: Sailing together Gaining confidence to steer through a set course and fleet, getting a basic understanding of rules of racing and getting practice for the teams racing event on 20 and 21 April
Meet at the clubhouse before 3pm start, register attendance and prepare
For dinghy sailors with their own boats, here is a link to the recommended Safety Equipment Audit Form from Australian Sailing.
Here are some links to beginner training videos on You-tube:
A beginners guide to sailing UK – recommended (but typo “board reach” is “broad reach” and UK’s “kicker” is our “vang”)
Lecture (in USA)
The physics of sailing (USA)
Learn how to sail – a step by step guide. (US – Josh Post Part 1)
Spinnakers on YouTube. (US – Josh Post Part 2)
“Learn to sail in 20 minutes” (YouTube)
Some more training videos and a video of the last Discover Sailing event are linked from the Videos via YouTube.
contact the club captain for more information at qlyc.captain@gmail.com
Sailing Clinic A: October – December 2023
The Sailing Clinic A series is designed for people new to sailing who would like to develop an understanding of how to sail the club dinghies. The same skills developed in this program can also be applied in bigger yachts.
Each fortnightly clinic will last for 2 hours, from 1700 – 1900. Wherever possible the clinics will use practical learning experiences and a hands-on approach. See topics below:
(there’s also a little background theory to support your understanding.)
Friday 6 October Sailing Clinic A1: How a boat works/sails Setting up a dinghy, parts and rigging
Friday 20 October Sailing Clinic A2: Points of sailing, tacking and gybing. Steering, centerboards and balance. Reading the wind.
Friday 3 November Sailing Clinic A3: Points of sailing, tacking and gybing. Steering, centerboards and balance. Reading the wind.
Friday 17 November Sailing Clinic A4: Planning for Safety Getting underway, luffing up and returning to land. Capsize recovery and towing
Friday 1 December Sailing Clinic A5: Sailing together Putting theory into practice with a family cruise for a special Novices Trophy Race 1.
Friday 15 December Sailing Clinic A6: Sailing together Putting theory into practice with a family cruise for a special Novices Trophy Race 2
Final BBQ cost $3.00 or BYO Picnic at the event end for family and friends
Meet at the clubhouse
For dinghy sailors with their own boats, here is a link to the recommended Safety Equipment Audit Form from Australian Sailing.
Here are some links to beginner training videos on You-tube:
A beginners guide to sailing UK – recommended (but typo “board reach” is “broad reach” and UK’s “kicker” is our “vang”)
Lecture (in USA)
The physics of sailing (USA)
Learn how to sail – a step by step guide. (US – Josh Post Part 1)
Spinnakers on YouTube. (US – Josh Post Part 2)
“Learn to sail in 20 minutes” (YouTube)
Some more training videos and a video of the last Discover Sailing event are linked from the Videos via YouTube.
Off the beach sailing.
QLYC owns a fleet of dinghies, including 7 Sparrows and 1 Pacer.
These sailing boats may be booked and used by members of the club by following this link - Club equipment booking
Many members also own there own vessel including catamarans, dinghies, SUPS (Stand Up Paddle Boards) and windsurfers.
These may be launched and sailed from the clubhouse.
Social sailing also takes place most Fridays evenings from October to May, commencing at 4:30pm at the QLYC Clubhouse.
Catamaran sailors may also like to take part in a series of Sailing training days and races scheduled for Sunday afternoons.
See the Catamaran Sailing Program - here - for full details.
Discover Sailing and Paddling days.
Discover Sailing and Paddling Days offer experience in safe paddling of canoes and kayaks, rigging and sailing dinghies and make available some short training videos, expertise on ropes, knots and navigation, as well as the main focus of getting people in boats on the water.
Discover Sailing and Paddling Days are open to the public with advance booking and are held on selected Sundays in December and January at the Clubhouse.
Check for dates and times on our calendar of events - here - as these are dependent on tides.
Children must have parent(s) present at the venue and the expectation is for participants to stay for the whole program.
Dogs are not allowed on the premises during these events.
Sailing Clinic B: Jan – February 2023
A series of intermediate clinics for members who have completes series A or have some experience of sailing. A good refresher to get back into dinghy sailing.
Each clinic will start at 5 with rigging and briefing, 1 hour, on water from 1730 - 1830, then finish with bbq by 1930. Wherever possible the clinics will use practical learning experiences and a hands-on approach. When we can’t get on the water, theory (on line if needed) and inside prac continue. The last day is a Sunday where we will join the catamaran sailors in a day of racing on Swan Bay!
- Weather and tides
- Getting underway – Setting off and returning to land or jetty safely
- Tacking Gybing and Luffing
- Capsize recovery and Towing
- Boat balance and performance
- Trimming sails
- Basic racing rules and strategies
- Starting sequences
- Rounding marks
Members only. Enrol on line, $50 for the whole series. Once enrolled you will get confirmation of enrolment. Then meet at the clubhouse on course dates. Limited places. There will be some prereading and exercises prior to clinics commencement so enrol early.
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