Thornton Steward Sailing Club
The Family Club
Whether you're trying sailing or powerboating for the first time or keen to develop your skills, we have courses and events for you. The reservoir at Thornton Steward is an ideal place to learn water sports. Both TSSC and CGSC are recognised Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Establishments and together we offer both dinghy and power boat RYA courses taught in a safe environment by fully qualified RYA Instructors. Our RYA instructors are all club members - volunteers who love teaching sailing or powerboating. The atmosphere is friendly and by relying on volunteers we can keep the costs low and offer great value for money. Fees for RYA courses include use of club boats, buoyancy aids, logbook and certificate. Courses are available for both adults and juniors, but some have age restrictions; please see the course details for further information.
For safeguarding reasons, if the participant is aged 16 or under, they must have a parent, guardian or other nominated adult acting as ‘in loco parentis’ present on site throughout their course. To take part in any course you need to be a member of TSSC or CGSC. Details about membership can be found on the Join TSSC or GCSC pages of this website here. We offer "Taster sails" for non-members during our annual Discover Sailing Open Day. See the Events page for this year’s date and more details. Dates for coaching sessions and RYA training courses can also be found on the Events page.

Training & Courses

Dinghy Sailing Courses

We run various approved RYA certificated courses, primarily to teach

new members how to sail and then to develop skills and confidence.

Sailing is great for both mind and body and we want newcomers to enjoy

what could be the start of a lifelong passion. All our RYA sailing courses

are taught by qualified RYA Dinghy Instructors who hold the RYA First Aid

certificate and have completed the RYA Safe and Fun Safeguarding course

for working with children and/or vulnerable adults.

Adults and older teenagers

The key RYA courses which we run for adults and older teenagers are the

National Sailing Scheme:

Level 1 Start Sailing - An introduction to sailing dinghies for complete

beginners, covering everything you need to know to get afloat under

supervision.

Level 2 Basic Skills - Build your confidence and develop

your skills. By the end of this course, you'll be a competent

sailor in light winds.

Each level usually takes 2 days to complete and is run over

1 or multiple weekends. Beginners are strongly

recommended to complete both courses in a season to equip

themselves with the core skills you’ll need to start boating

independently.

Level 1 and 2 courses are usually taught in larger dinghies (Wanderers)

with a ratio of 1 instructor to 2 trainees, with trainees taking turns to

helm or crew in the boat and the instructor either stays with you in the

boat or provides close supervision from a powerboat or the shore.

Depending on numbers, these courses may alternatively be taught in

single-hander dinghies (Fusions) which you will sail on your own under

close supervision in a group of up to 6 per instructor.

Other RYA Courses

The following RYA courses can be offered on a demand-led basis:

Level 3: Better Sailing

Dinghy Seamanship Skills

Dinghy Sailing with Spinnakers

Dinghy Start Racing

Youth Sailing Scheme Start Racing

Supplementary coaching sessions:

Kickstart sessions: Aimed at encouraging both juniors and

adults to become involved in our active racing scene,

‘Kickstart Racing’ sessions will run on selected Race days

from April to September.

Starting before the first race of the day, the sessions will

provide a welcoming environment for newcomers to

racing through, providing guidance, tips and opportunities

for practice before joining in the first race of the day.

If you can already sail independently and get around a

triangular course why not give racing a go?

It’s the best way to hone your skills, challenge yourself (and hopefully

other racers!) and you’ll find the racing scene at TSSC is friendly,

welcoming and not at all intimidating. Topics will include starts,

tactics, boat handling and rules. Sessions will be available throughout

the sailing season….Check the event calendar for specific dates.

Power boat Courses

Power boats are used by TSSC and CGSC to provide Safety cover at

scheduled times and to support training activities. All adult members

are required to carry out at least 2 Safety boat duties per year as a

condition of membership.

Our team of Power Boat Instructors are focussed on upskilling members

to become competent power boat helms so they can carry out Safety

boat duties effectively and safely.

Key to this is the RYA Power Boat Level 2

course, which can be completed in 1 or 2

days. Instructors also provide ‘Safety Boat

familiarisation’ days to introduce members to

basic handling of TSSC’s Rigiflex powerboats

and provide a pre-cursor to

completing the Powerboat Level

2 course.

All adult members are required

to complete the Safety Boat

Familiarisation course and it is an

ambition to then progress to full

PB2 Status.

RYA Powerboat Level 2

This course provides the skills and background knowledge

needed by the competent powerboat driver and is the basis of the

International Certificate of Competence. It aims to teach boat handling

and seamanship in powerboats. It focuses on low-speed close quarters

handling, man overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at planing

speed, and collision regulations. As the course may be conducted in a

variety of boat types, both planing and displacement, the certificate

issued will be endorsed to show the type of boat in which the training

took place.

Safety Boat Familiarisation Courses

These taster sessions are designed to give members a flavour of how the

safety boat and equipment operates at Thornton Steward and to entice

new members into becoming trained and capable of handling our craft.

Download our on line video Safety Boat training session here.

Juniors & Youth training

We offer courses from the RYA Youth Sailing Scheme for younger members

(8-16 years):

Stage 1 Start Sailing (beginner) - An introduction to the parts of the boat and

the basic principles of how to get a boat sailing.

Stage 2 Start Sailing (beginner, intermediate) - Develop the skills needed to

sail around a course and understand the basic principles needed to become a

confident sailor.

Stage 3 Start Sailing (beginner, intermediate) - Build your confidence and

develop the skills needed to sail in different directions in moderate

conditions.

Stage 4 Start Sailing (beginner, intermediate, advanced) - Learn how to sail

a double-handed boat as crew or helm and solve a variety of problems afloat.

Youth courses are typically run using the club fleet of Fusion single-hander

dinghies. These stable, easily handled boats are ideal for

beginners and help newcomers build confidence and skills

quickly.

TSSC 2023
THORNTON STEWARD SAILING CLUB, NR NEWTON LE WILLOWS, BEDALE NORTH YORKSHIRE HG4 4BQ e-mail: webmaster@thornton-steward-sailingclub.co.uk T: 01609 748989 eve / M: 07773 386 208

All courses are available to book and

pay for on line

See event calendar

Book through our on line portal

All courses are available to book and

pay for on line

See event calendar

Book through our on line portal

All courses are available to book and

pay for on line

See event calendar

Book through our on line portal
Thornton Steward Sailing Club
The Family Club
THORNTON STEWARD SAILING CLUB, NR NEWTON LE WILLOWS,BEDALE NORTH YORKSHIRE HG4 4BQ TSSC 2023 e-mail: webmaster@thornton-steward-sailingclub.co.uk T: 01609 748989 eve / M: 07773 386 208
Whether you're trying sailing or powerboating for the first time or keen to develop your skills, we have courses and events for you. The reservoir at Thornton Steward is an ideal place to learn water sports. Both TSSC and CGSC are recognised Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Establishments and together we offer both dinghy and power boat RYA courses taught in a safe environment by fully qualified RYA Instructors. Our RYA instructors are all club members - volunteers who love teaching sailing or powerboating. The atmosphere is friendly and by relying on volunteers we can keep the costs low and offer great value for money. Fees for RYA courses include use of club boats, buoyancy aids, logbook and certificate. Courses are available for both adults and juniors, but some have age restrictions; please see the course details for further information. For safeguarding reasons, if the participant is aged 16 or under, they must have a parent, guardian or other nominated adult acting as ‘in loco parentis’ present on site throughout their course. To take part in any course you need to be a member of TSSC or CGSC. Details about membership can be found on the Join TSSC or GCSC pages of this website. We offer "Taster sails" for non-members during our annual Discover Sailing Open Day. See the Events page for this year’s date and more details. Dates for coaching sessions and RYA training courses can also be found on the Events page.

Training & Courses

Dinghy Sailing Courses

We run various approved RYA certificated courses, primarily to teach

new members how to sail and then to develop skills and confidence.

Sailing is great for both mind and body and we want newcomers to enjoy

what could be the start of a lifelong passion. All our RYA sailing courses

are taught by qualified RYA Dinghy Instructors who hold the RYA First Aid

certificate and have completed the RYA Safe and Fun Safeguarding course

for working with children and/or vulnerable adults.

Adults and older teenagers

The key RYA courses which we run for adults and older teenagers are the

National Sailing Scheme:

Level 1 Start Sailing - An introduction to sailing dinghies for complete

beginners, covering everything you need to know to get afloat under

supervision.

Level 2 Basic Skills - Build your confidence and develop your skills. By

the end of this course, you'll be a competent sailor in light winds.

Each level usually takes 2 days to complete and is run over 1 or multiple

weekends. Beginners are strongly recommended to complete both

courses in a season to equip themselves with the

core skills you’ll need to start boating

independently.

Level 1 and 2 courses are usually taught in

larger dinghies (Wanderers) with a ratio of 1

instructor to 2 trainees, with trainees taking

turns to helm or crew in the boat and the

instructor either stays with you in the boat or

provides close supervision from a powerboat or

the shore. Depending on numbers, these courses

may alternatively be taught in single-hander dinghies (Fusions) which

you will sail on your own under close supervision in a group of up to 6

per instructor.

Other RYA Courses

The following RYA courses can be offered on a demand-led basis:

Level 3: Better Sailing

Dinghy Seamanship Skills

Dinghy Sailing with Spinnakers

Dinghy Start Racing

Youth Sailing Scheme Start Racing

Supplementary coaching sessions:

Kickstart sessions: Aimed at encouraging both juniors and adults to

become involved in our active racing scene, ‘Kickstart Racing’ sessions

will run on selected Race days from April to September.

Starting before the first race of the day, the sessions will provide a

welcoming environment for newcomers to racing

through, providing guidance, tips and

opportunities for practice before joining in the

first race of the day.

If you can already sail independently and get

around a triangular course why not give racing a

go?

It’s the best way to hone your skills, challenge

yourself (and hopefully other racers!) and you’ll

find the racing scene at TSSC is friendly,

welcoming and not at all intimidating. Topics

will include starts, tactics, boat handling and rules. Sessions will be

available throughout the sailing season….Check the event calendar for

specific dates.

Power boat Courses

Power boats are used by TSSC and CGSC to provide Safety cover at

scheduled times and to support training activities. All adult members

are required to carry out at least 2 Safety boat duties per year as a

condition of membership.

Our team of Power Boat Instructors are focussed on upskilling members

to become competent power boat helms so they can carry out Safety

boat duties effectively and safely.

Key to this is the RYA Power Boat Level 2 course, which can be

completed in 1 or 2 days. Instructors also provide

‘Safety Boat familiarisation’ days to introduce

members to basic handling of TSSC’s Rigiflex

powerboats and provide a pre-cursor to

completing the Powerboat Level 2 course.

All adult members are required to complete the

Safety Boat Familiarisation course and it is an

ambition to then progress to full PB2 Status.

RYA Powerboat Level 2

This course provides the skills and background

knowledge needed by the competent powerboat

driver and is the basis of the International

Certificate of Competence. It aims to teach boat

handling and seamanship in powerboats. It focuses

on low-speed close quarters handling, man

overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at

planing speed, and collision regulations. As the course may be

conducted in a variety of boat types, both planing and displacement,

the certificate issued will be endorsed to show the type of boat in which

the training took place.

Safety Boat Familiarisation Courses

These taster sessions are designed to give members a flavour of how the

safety boat and equipment operates at Thornton Steward and to entice

new members into becoming trained and capable of handling our craft.

Download our on line video Safety Boat training session here.

Juniors & Youth training

We offer courses from the RYA Youth Sailing Scheme for younger

members (8-16 years):

Stage 1 Start Sailing (beginner) - An introduction to the parts of the boat

and the basic principles of how to get a boat sailing.

Stage 2 Start Sailing (beginner, intermediate) - Develop the skills

needed to sail around a course and understand the basic principles

needed to become a confident sailor.

Stage 3 Start Sailing (beginner, intermediate) - Build your confidence

and develop the skills needed to sail in different directions in moderate

conditions.

Stage 4 Start Sailing (beginner, intermediate, advanced) - Learn how to

sail a double-handed boat as crew or helm and solve a variety of problems

afloat.

Youth courses are typically run using the club fleet of Fusion single-

hander dinghies. These stable, easily handled boats are ideal for

beginners and help newcomers build confidence and skills quickly.

All courses available to book

and pay for on line

See event calendar or book

through our on line portal

All courses available to book and pay for on line

See event calendar or book through our on line

portal

All courses available to book and pay for on line

See event calendar or book through our on line

portal

All courses available to book and pay for on line

See event calendar or book through our on line

portal

All courses available to book and pay for on line

See event calendar or book through our on line

portal