From £ 595
Somerset and Dorset, United Kingdom
From £ 205
Poole, Dorset
From £ 450
Somerset and Dorset, United Kingdom
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The RYA Performance Sailing course is all about refining techniques, increasing boat speed, and sailing with greater control in a variety of craft and conditions. The focus is on smooth, efficient sailing—not just speed for speed’s sake, but sailing smartly and safely.
Most of the course takes place on the water, using high-performance dinghies or club racers. Expect a mix of short coaching sessions, skills drills, and longer free-sailing periods where you apply feedback in real time. Onshore briefings, debriefs and video analysis (at some centres) reinforce learning and provide personal feedback.
This is a continuous assessment course. Instructors observe your progress across the two days and offer real-time coaching. You’ll receive a signed RYA Performance Sailing certificate upon successful demonstration of the required skills.
Conditions and boat availability may affect the exact syllabus at each centre, but every course aims to build control, confidence and capability. And if you're looking to keep progressing, adventuro lists hundreds of sailing courses, experiences and rentals to help you stay on the water all year round.
Completing the RYA Performance Sailing course gives you the practical skills and confidence to sail faster, smarter, and more efficiently in a variety of dinghy types. You’ll be better equipped to sail high-performance boats, join club racing, or simply enjoy more responsive and dynamic sailing. The course is not a racing qualification, but it does introduce many of the boat handling techniques used in competitive sailing, such as roll tacking, gybing, and balance under pressure.
After this course, many sailors progress to the RYA Sailing with Spinnakers course or the RYA Seamanship Skills course, depending on their interests. It’s also an ideal stepping stone for anyone thinking of instructor training or competitive dinghy sailing. And of course, you can browse hundreds of sailing tours, courses and rentals on adventuro to keep your skills sharp year-round.
The RYA Performance Sailing course is typically run over two consecutive days, with around 6–7 hours of on-water and onshore training each day. Some centres may offer it as a series of evening sessions or part of a multi-day sailing programme.
The RYA Performance Sailing course is assessed through continuous observation by your instructor during practical on-water sessions. You'll be evaluated on your ability to sail efficiently and handle a dinghy in a range of wind conditions using advanced techniques like sail twist, boat trim, and efficient tacking and gybing. There’s no formal exam—just practical demonstrations of skill and decision-making. Instructors will offer coaching and feedback throughout, helping you to build confidence and refine your technique. Most participants complete the course comfortably within the standard two-day schedule. You can browse and book this course at a range of certified centres on adventuro’s dedicated sailing pages.
Quick answers about this qualification. For anything else, use live chat or browse bookable activities below.
Find activitiesMost centres use high-performance single or double-handed dinghies for this course, such as RS200s, Lasers, or similar. These boats are responsive and ideal for developing advanced sail handling and boat speed techniques. The exact model may vary depending on the centre and weather conditions.
Centres typically provide all essential sailing equipment, including buoyancy aids, wetsuits, and boats. However, you’ll need to bring suitable footwear (e.g., sailing boots or old trainers), swimwear, and a towel. A windproof jacket and thermal layers are also helpful for staying comfortable on the water.
You’ll learn how to fine-tune your sailing for speed and efficiency. This includes advanced boat handling, sail trim (including kicker and outhaul), using telltales effectively, and maintaining boat balance through wind shifts and gusts. The aim is to help you sail faster and more skilfully in various conditions.
Yes, there’s a small amount of shore-based theory to support your practical learning. This may include discussions on sail shape, wind awareness, and tuning for performance. The focus remains very much on hands-on learning, with theory applied directly on the water wherever possible.
You should be reasonably fit and comfortable moving around a dinghy in moderate wind conditions. Performance sailing can be physically demanding, especially in stronger winds, but your instructor will tailor the course to your ability and the prevailing weather.
If you’ve had a break from sailing, it’s a good idea to refresh your skills with a Level 2 (Basic Skills) course or a refresher session first. The Performance Sailing course builds on solid Level 2 sailing ability and assumes you’re confident helming and crewing in moderate conditions.
After completing Performance Sailing, you might consider the RYA Sailing with Spinnakers course or start racing with RYA Start Racing. These courses help you build on your new skills and introduce exciting new challenges, like using asymmetric and symmetric spinnakers or learning race strategy and rules.
Yes, successful completion of the course earns you the RYA Performance Sailing certificate. It’s part of the RYA National Sailing Scheme and shows that you’re capable of sailing a dinghy with confidence and efficiency in varied conditions.
You can explore a wide range of RYA-accredited centres and book the Performance Sailing course directly through adventuro’s sailing pages. Each centre offers slightly different boats and local conditions, so feel free to compare locations to find one that suits you best.