RYA Youth Sailing Stage 4 in Brighton - Coastal Sailing

We are located at Brighton Marina. You will be sent the full address and postcode upon booking, but here is a guide to finding us:

• By Car: Approaching the marina from the A27 take the B2123. Turn right at first set of traffic lights, signposted Brighton Town Centre, Racecourse and Marina Village. Turn left at second set of traffic lights, pass the Racecourse and follow the signs for the Marina Village where there is free parking for 1500 cars in the multi-storey car park. From the car park you can either go across a linking bridge on level 6 or from the ground floor of the car park towards all the waterfront cafes and bars. Walk to the end of the boarded walk way where there will be a large ramp heading down towards the pontoons. We are the first set of pontoons on the right. Pontoon 6.
• By Bike: Brighton Marina has a bike share station which is either pay per minute or a yearly membership. For your own bike, racks are available on the main concourses of the pontoons. You must use the racks and not leave bikes on the pontoons otherwise Premier Marina will take them away.
• By Bus: Brighton and Hove bus service operates a number 7 bus approximately every 15 minutes 24 hours a day, from Brighton Town Centre (North Street or Queens Road), to the Marina Village.
• On Foot: Brighton Marina is a pleasant walk along the seafront from the centre of Brighton, it is 20 minutes walk from the main West Pier. During the summer you will also find the Volks electric railway operates along the front.
• By Train: The nearest main line station is Brighton with regular connections to Chichester, Portsmouth and London is under an hour away.
• By Air: Brighton is within easy reach of Heathrow and Gatwick international airports. Follow the A23 from Gatwick to Brighton. Shoreham airport is also available for private light aircraft.

• Spare set of clothes and towel just incase
• Quick drying clothes can be very practical, please avoid jeans
• Sunglasses, sunhat and suncream for summer days and woolly hats, thermals and layers for not to summery days
• Non-slip deck shoes, wetsuit shoes or trainers that don’t mark
• If you have your own waterproofs, please bring them, or you can borrow ours
• If you are worried or unsure whether you suffer from seasickness then pills and wrist-bands work well. Don’t arrive on an empty stomach and take tablets with breakfast if you have never been sailing on the sea before, sometimes the motion takes a while to get used to
• Snacks and drinks for a break, either on the water or onshore
• Please note that we only have limited lockers for putting valuables in, so please minimise these as much as possible

This course is for children aged 10+ who have already completed RYA Youth Sailing Stage 3 and have practiced sailing between courses. It is also suitable for younger children who have completed RYA Stage 2 and have gained significant experience. If you're unsure about eligibility, feel free to contact us for guidance.

Participants will cover advanced sailing skills, including:

• Rigging, motoring, and parking the boat
• Mastering sailing techniques and manoeuvres, such as tacking, gybing, and crew coordination
• Man overboard recovery procedures
• Dealing with different scenarios and conditions afloat
• Launching and sailing a boat around a triangular course in varying conditions

By the end of the course, sailors will be able to independently handle a boat and sail confidently, with the skills to hire and sail boats on the sea.

The RYA Youth Sailing Stage 4 Course lasts for 5 days, running from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM each day. This gives participants plenty of time for practical on-water learning and skill development.

To enrol in the Stage 4 course, participants must have completed RYA Youth Sailing Stage 3 and ideally have had some practice between courses. Younger children who have completed Stage 2 and gained sufficient experience may also be eligible. Please contact us if you're unsure whether your child qualifies for Stage 4.

Yes, upon successfully completing all the course elements, participants will be awarded the RYA Youth Sailing Stage 4 Certificate. This certification confirms that they have reached a level of competency where they can sail and manage a boat with minimal supervision.

We provide:

• Sailing boats, including high-performance Beneteau cruiser/racers and smaller Delphia 24 keelboats
• All necessary safety gear, including lifejackets
• Wetsuits for each participant
• Full tuition from RYA-qualified and DBS-checked instructors

We closely monitor weather conditions to ensure safety. If conditions are unsuitable for on-water training, we may adjust the schedule to focus on theory or reschedule the practical sessions. Our top priority is to keep your child safe while ensuring a valuable learning experience.

Yes, safety is at the core of all our training. Our instructors are RYA-qualified and DBS-checked, and we adhere to strict safety protocols. All participants will wear lifejackets, and safety equipment is regularly maintained and inspected.

Absolutely! After completing Stage 4, participants can move on to more advanced sailing courses or even join sailing clinics and racing events we organise. These additional practice opportunities help young sailors further improve their skills and take part in fun, competitive sailing.