ADULT LEARN TO SAIL

The New Plymouth Yacht Club provides lessons for adults who wish to own or crew on a yacht and sail with the club in our regular racing during the season which runs from October through to April. The lessons provided are aimed teaching the basics of sailing centreboard yachts.

Overview

The New Plymouth Yacht Club offers adult sailing lessons from October to April, focusing on centreboard yachts. Programmes are designed to teach basic sailing skills and encourage ongoing club participation. Learners are encouraged to volunteer as part of the race management group since this is both helpful to the club and provides an opportunity to learn how racing works.

Programme Options (per season)

1. Women on Water (WoW) – $350

  • Learn in a supportive, all-women environment aboard an Elliott 5.9 with a coach.
  • Three sessions, each ~2 hours.
  • May include 420 dinghy sailing for comparison.
  • Option to continue in ALTS at no extra cost

2. Adult Learn to Sail (ALTS) – $350

For beginners interested in centreboard yacht sailing.

  • Runs twice weekly during daylight saving.
  • Entry based on alignment with club goals and availability.
  • Coaching starts 1:1 in two-person yachts.
  • Rescue boats provided.
  • Encouraged to join the club, purchase a yacht, and volunteer in race management.

3. Adult Coaching – $200 (or $100 with own boat) + Membership Fee

  • For those with prior experience or ALTS graduates.
  • Includes coached sailing on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
  • Priority access to club boats for ALTS learners.
  • Encouraged to buy a yacht after two seasons.
  • Participation in club racing recommended for skill development.
  • After two years coaching, participants are required to have their own boats.

Boats Used

  • Two person 420 and Phase 2 centreboard yachts
  • ILCA 4 & 6 (Laser 4.7 & Radial)
  • Elliott 5.9 (WoW only)

Requirements

  • No prior experience needed.
  • Must be able to swim confidently.
  • Buoyancy aids required at all times.

Resources

  • Instructional videos and knot-tying guides provided.
  • Club sailing booklet included.

Get Involved

Limitations

These programs alone are insufficient for bareboat yacht charters. Responsible operators should require additional sailing experience and a formal boating qualification, such as the Coastguard Boatmaster course.

 




GET IN TOUCH

Please contact John Pitman 027 669 3991 or johnalisonpitman@gmail.com for any further information.

Please register your interest on the linked form below and we will be in touch for next summer’s programme.

Sign up form

We currently have fleets of Lasers, Paper Tigers, 420s, Farr 3.7s, Hartley 16s, and Noelex 22s.  However we welcome all centreboard classes to sail with the club.  The principle club contacts and class websites for our regular fleets are:

Laser: John Pitman, NZ Laser Class Association

Paper Tiger Catamaran: Mark Jones, NZ PT Class Association

Hartley 16:  Jason Holdt; Hartley 16 Class Association

A list of NZ Yachting affiliated class associations and how to get in touch with them can be found here: Class Associations.  Regionally and nationally, there are regattas in each of these classes with friendly and competitive events for sailors of all ages.

The lessons provided are not by themselves an adequate basis for bareboat yacht charters for which responsible operators should demand further sailing experience together with a formal boating qualification such as completing the Coastguard Boatmaster course.