Learn to Sail in the 2011/12 Sailing Season

2010-04-12T18:58:00.072+09:30

BACKWATER

SAILING SCHOOL

and BOAT HIRE

Located in the centre of the Alexandrina Waterways in South Australia where the River Murray meets the Great Southern Ocean

We are Sailing!

We are a small sailing school that specialises in teaching Basic Sailing Skills we primarily teach dinghy, catamaran and trailer sailer sailing,
on a 1:1 or 1:2 instructor to student ratio.
It is like having your own personal trainer for sailing.

Our training is based on Yachting Australia's (YA) Start Sailing Right teaching programme and is run by YA qualified instructors.

We are based on the sheltered fresh waters of Clayton Bay at the end of the Murray River in South Australia. Our teaching is done in the Alexandrina Waterways, Clayton Bay and the Finniss Estuary with some excursions into
Lake Alexandrina and down the Coorong.

We provide quality sailing Experiences, Sailing Sessions and Sailing Courses.
Sessions and Courses are tailored to your individual requirements.

We also have programmes to teach families and small groups and being full time we are able to offer Sessions and Courses both on weekends
and mid week from October to May each year.

SAILING SCHOOL
We teach either in single 2 hour lessons we call Sailing Sessions, designed for a beginners introduction to sailing but these 2 hour time slots can be used as a series of isolated practical sessions for those needing flexibility of hours for their sailing lessons. We also run a concise Basic Sailing Course, this is a comprehensive program that provides the broad foundations of safe and proficient sailing. A log book of skills achieved is used to record your progress. Courses are run in 3 modules each of 2 days, module 1 Start Sailing covers the basics, 2 Competent Sailing gets you to a basic competency and and 3 Proficient Sailing improves seamanship. These modules can be taken as two days mid week Tuesday and Wednesday or Wednesday and Thursday
or on the weekend.
See our calander below for available dates.

The Sailing School Fleet.
Kymanu, (pictured above right with us furling the sails), is the 'main stay' for our introductory sailing experience 'Come and Try Sailing' and general sailing lessons. Her simplicity and ease of handling are a delight and while roomy is not so big as to be intimidating for the beginner. In normal wind conditions, ten to fifteen knots, she carries the instructor and two adult students. In lighter conditions an additional couple of smallish children can be shipped aboard for a family sailing experience. All sessions are tailored to what is prudent considering the ability and experience of the students and the weather conditions.
Wyndrel, pride of the fleet, is a 18 foot trailer sailer and is available for those who are interested in learning to sail a larger boat and handling an auxilliary engine. If you are looking to buy a trailer sailer with family sailing in mind this is a good way to give the family a taste of what is involved. The raising and lowering of the sails, reefing the main sail, furling jib, anchoring, picking up a mooring and operating an outboard motor are more complex skills required on a trailer sailer but not generally on the the smaller day sailing boats. Because of the time required to cover the extras Wyndrel is only available when doing a double 'Introductory Sailing Experience/Training Session', a 'Cruise & Learn Session' or a 'Basic Sailing Skills Course so we are out for at least a day. Our newest addition to the fleet is a Hartley T/S 16 trailer sailer. This iconic design started the recreational trailerable cabin boat movement and remains a brilliant introduction to sailing& camping ashore or onboard. Westwynd or better known by her nick name of 'Ratty', will be available for training and hire and for cruising further afield by experienced sailers. Lynx, our 14' Windrush cat and Twynns 1, 2 and 3, our smaller 12' Windrush cats are used for students wanting to learn the characteristics that make cats a quite different proposition to sail than a mono hull. We show you how to tack successfully every time even without a jib and our 12' Twynns have reefing points so sails can be reduced in size to cope with stronger winds and/or lighter people. The 12' Twynns are available for hire under supervised use to successful students for practicing the skills learnt in the sailing sessions. The instructor keeps an eye on you from shore and the retrieval boat is at the ready for the duration of the practice session. We have two Father and Son sailing dinghies Wyndi 1 and Wyndi 2 that are used when we get the the stage of students sailing solo These boats can take two people or be easily sailed single handed. Once you can sail, these boats can be hired. A couple can take out one each or take one on a picnic. Mim 1 and Mim 2 are our mirror dinghies that can be cat rigged (main sail only) or sloop rigged ( main and jib) and are also teaching and hire boats.

SAILING SESSIONS/LESSONS:

'Come and Try Sailing' . These introductory sessions are the recommended first approach for the beginner. We take you sailing as a crew on a short cruise. We explain what we are going to do, what we are doing as we do it and what you need to do. All crew are encouraged to participate to their comfort level and are able to control the sails and take the helm under the close supervision of the instructor. We sail about or do a short trip depending on weather conditions. We do the manoeuvres required when sailing a small dinghy or catamaran. How much each student achieves will depend upon the students natural aptitude and weather conditions at the time. At the end of the two hour session you will have a good idea if you want to become more involved in sailing and advance to doing a sailing course.
Available with 'Kymanu', 'Lynx', and the new addition to the fleet, the TS 16 'Ratty'.

Single Session: 2 hours - 10.00am to 12.00noon: or 2.00pm to 4.00pm

Cost: One adult $100; Two adults $150; 2 hours; Child (under 10 yrs) with adult $15. Pfds provided.

Double session: 4 hours - 10.00 am to 12 noon and 2.00pm to 4.00pm

Cost: One adult $200: Two adult $150 each: Child (under 10 yrs ) with adult $25. Pfds provided.

Classic 'Come and Try Sailing'
Available January 2012
Google 'Canoe Yawl Echo' for more about the building of Echo.

This is a new offering for those interested in a sailing experience on the Classic 1880's inspired canoe yawl Echo. Two hours of sailing in this unique vessel operating a 3 sail rig and finding out about the advantages offered by the mizzen sail.

Single session: 2 hours - 10am to 12 noon: or 2.00pm to 4.00pm
Cost: 1 adult student $200. 2 students $300

Cruise and Learn. These are a 6 hour day cruise on Wyndrel. We launch in the morning and your learning starts as you set the sails and we head toward Goolwa or out toward Rat Island, the Coorong or up the Finniss River estuary. You learn as we go. You take the helm to steer and learn to hold a course, to figure out our location on the chart and follow the windshifts. You learn to drop anchor and you have the lunch you have brought with you. We weigh anchor and you take the helm as we motor to windward to raise sail. We head back to Clayton, perhaps change a head sail or reef the main, we can do as much or as little as you can take in. You can come alone, bring your partner or a friend, even a couple of children who are beyond the 'are we there yet' stage.

Cruise and Learn: 6 hours mid week or week ends:- 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Cost: One adult $350: Two adults $450: Child or other crew $25 ea. (Maximum 5 adults including instructor)

Catamaran Sailing 101. An alternative starting point for the energetic person looking for instant action. We use our Windrush 12 Catamarans and can cater for a group of up to 6 sailors, 2 per Cat. We teach you how to handle the cat on the beach and in the water, to sail out, to tack, to gybe, to sail back and forth, to stop, to re-start, sail back in and come ashore safely in the prevailing conditions.We show you how to recover the cat after a capsize. These sesions make for a good fun morning or afternoon for teenagers and those willing to brave a wet and sometimes wild ride.
Introduction to catamarans: 2 hours- 10.ooam to 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm to 4.00pm.
Cost: 1 Cat, 1 student, $100 2 hours; Pfds provided.
Cost: 1 Cat, 2 students, $150 2 hours; Pfds provided.

SAILING COURSES:
Basic Sailing Skills.
2 plus 2 plus 2 days comprehensive Theory and Practical

Basic Sailing Skills Course, 3 modules, 2 days per module available mid week, or on weekends. The first two modules, 1 Start Sailing, 2 Competent Sailing form a basic competency unit. The third module, 3 Proficient Sailing, is, as the name suggests, improved proficiency and broader seamanship skills with a touch of Racing or Cruising. Modules 1 and 2 are essential and should be taken with in a 4 week period for optimum retention. Module three is optional but highly recommended but if time does not allow, it can be taken later as practice time in between can be beneficial.

We begin using the GP 14 'Kymanu' then move to the Father & Son Sailing Dinghies for the bulk of the course with other boats also used to broaden your experiance in module 3.
Courses introduce a more rigid training structure than the shorter sessions. Subjects include clothing, safety, parts of the boat, primary controls, the wind, how sails work, rigging, knots, sailing angles (points of sail), sailing upwind, down wind, sailing away from shore and returning, stopping (heave to), man over board drill, recovering from capsize, boat handling skills, weather, simple sailing theory, launching, retrieving & packing up. The students are taught to handle a small sailing boat safely, confidently and competantly and when it is prudent to stay ashore. This is a solid 6 hours a day course that includes practical, oral and written assessment along the way. Being competancy based, when you graduate you will know how to handle and sail a small boat and be eligible to hire from our fleet of training catamarans and dinghies [when they are available] through out our sailing season.** You will also have had experience of a range of boats that will help you decide on what boat is right for you when and if you decide to buy your own.

Mid Week: Basic Sailing Skills Course,
2 day modules - 10 am to 4 pm on each of 2 consecutive week days, either Tuesday and Wednesday or Wednesday and Thursday.

Cost: One student $300 per module,($150 per day)
Two students $400 per module, ($100 per day each)
Child under 10 years with adult $50 per module ($25 per day)
Pfds provided.

Weekend Basic Sailing Skills Course,
2 day modules - 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday: Same content as the mid week course but on Saturday and Sunday of weekends for those unable to attend mid week.

Cost: One Student $350 per module, ($175 per day)
Two Students $500 per module, ($150 each per day)
Child under 10 yrs with adult $50 per module, ($25 per day).
Pfds provided.

Note: Modules from mid week and week ends can be combined.

Working the calandar. Sessions and courses are conducted on Weekends and Midweek, Tuesdays to Thursdays. Choose what you want to do, then discuss it with us, we can advise on the suitability of your choice. Available dates for the activities are shown in blue/grey for mid week, blue for weekends where the dates that have been booked already or are other wise unavailable are shown in Red. On holiday long weekends we do 'Mini Introduction to sailing sessions marked Orange when available and Red when booked. When date has a blue background 12 it indicates no boat rental is available

Sailing Season 2011/2012

This coming season Mondays will be available to enable the 6 day course of 3 modules to be completed in a weekend and 4 week days.

January; 1 : 3,4,5 : 7,8 : 10,11,12,13 : 14,15 : 17,18,19,20 : 21,22 : 24,25,26 : 28,29 : 31

February; 1,2 : 4,5 : 7,8,9 : 11,12 : 14,15,16 : 18,19 : 21,22,23 : 25,26 : 28,29

March; 1 : 3,4 : 6,7,8,9SC : 10,11 : 13,14,15 : 17,18 : 20,21,22 : 24,25 : 27,28,29 : 31

April; 1 : 3,4,5 : 7,8 : 10,11,12 : 13,14,15,16 : 17,18,19 :21,22 : 24,25,26 : 28, 29,

May; 1,2,3,4SC : 5,6 : 8,9,10 : 12,13 : 15,16,17 : 19,20 : 22,23,24 : 26,27 : 29,30,31

BACKWATER BOATS, Boating Services:

Hull Identity Number or HIN If you are selling or have purchased a boat with an engine but no HIN it cannot be re registered untill an interim HIN certificate has been obtained. We can do this for you in Clayton Bay or can come to your boat in the surrounding area for a small travelling charge.
Condition Report. It is a declaration that is accepted by some insurance companies in place of a survey. It is an inspection by a person professionally involved with boats (not a marine surveyor) who makes out a written report as to the condition of the boat that the insurer can use to access the acceptability of the boat for insuring.
Rigging renovation, repair and rope work. We can fit lazy jacks, jiffy reefing, assess yor boats rig and suggest ways to make it easier to use, more efficient and possibly safer and then do the work for you.

BOAT HIRE,
Boat Hire Details:
Paddle and row at the best times of the day. Because the best time is in the early hours when the wind is light, the water calm, the birds are out and about and other boats are not, it makes sense to have the boat avilable at the best time. So that we do not have to be up at dawn, we now hire for 24 hours, the boats only to be used in daylight hours. To have this work you need to be spending the night in Clayton Bay so you can be up bright and early to take advantage of the best paddling time.
*Canoe, kayak, and row boat -
2 hour / 1/2 day hire stand-by:
Available to park customers and day visitors on the day if available, 10 am - 12 noon and 2 pm - 4 pm
Cost: one person $30. Additional crew $5 each.
Bond for paddles and pfds is $50
Hirer must be over 18 years old.

6 hour / day hire: Available to park customers and day visitors. 10 am to 4 pm
Cost : one person $50. Additional Crew $5 each.
Bond for paddles and Pdfs is $50.
Hirer must be over 18 years old.

24 hour (overnight) Hire: Available to customers staying over night in Clayton Bay, at the Boatmans Cabin or in the the Clayton Bay Caravan Park or one of the other holiay venues available in Clayton Bay. Hire 4-5 pm one day to 4-5 pm the next day.
Cost : One person $50 per 24 hours day, day light use only. Additional crew $5 each.
Bond for paddles and Pfds is $50.
Hirer must be over 18 years old.

Sailing boats come under a similar minimum hire system plus some additional requirements. To reduce the damage to our boats we have opted only to hire to people of whom we have a reasonable knowledge of their ability to sail a boat well, safely and respectfully. Either by qualification or practical assessment.

**Catamaran and Sailing Dinghy - 6 Hour Day Hire: Available to graduates of the Backwater Basic Sailing Skills course (or a recognised YA Basic Sailing Certificate Course) .
3 Windrush 12 Catamarans, 1 Windrush 14, 2 F&S Dinghies and 2 Mirror Dinghies are available for hire
Cost is $100 per day for one person - 6 hours, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm that day. Additional Crew $10 each
Bond for paddles and PFDs is$50
Hirer must be over 18 years old.

Hartley T/S16 available for hire
Cost is $150 per day for 1 person - 6 hours, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm that day. Additional crew $10 each.
Bond for paddles and Pfds is $50.
Hirer must be over 18 yrs old.

**If you belive you are able to rig, launch, sail a triangle course, tack , gybe, heave to and come back to shore, luff stop, de rig and beach the boat with out difficulty but do not have a qualification as described above you can do a 15 minute sail assesment for $25.
If you can demonstrate competant sail boat handling you will be able to hire one of our boats. Assesments must be booked ahead and when available are held at 10:30 am.

This sailing and boating season commenced in October 2011 and finishes at the end of May 2012.
All sailing activities are conducted on a 'weather permitting' basis, and will not be conducted in wind speeds exceeding 15 knots or if such wind speeds are forecast for the area. Backwater Sailing School and Boat Hire reserves the right to re-schedule courses and sessions if conditions are unsuitable or for what ever reason.
Clayton Bay Escapes reserves the right to change the cost, content, details, times or other parts of its activities to suit circumstances, maintain safe operation and viability.

Enquiries: Rob Hylton at Clayton Bay Escapes

Telephone. (08) 8537 0372

Email: claytonbayescapes@activ8.net.au

BACKWATER SAILING SCHOOL

Learn to Sail in the 2011/12 Sailing Season