Our courses
for every age.
Seven progressive learn-to-sail courses for kids, teens and adults — games-based, instructor-led and built around having fun on the water. No experience required.
Tackers
Tackers is Australian Sailing's national learn-to-sail program for kids aged 7–12. Developed to make sailing fun and accessible, it runs across three progressive levels — Have Fun, Get Skilled and Go Sailing — using games on and off the water to build water confidence, friendships and real sailing skills in a safe, supervised environment.
Tackers 1 is all about having fun and getting comfortable on the water. Sailing double-handed with a buddy and an instructor close by, kids play games that quietly teach the fundamentals — how a boat moves, where the wind comes from, and how to stay safe. No experience is needed, just water confidence and a willingness to get a little wet.
Who it’s for
Complete beginners aged 7–12 who are water confident and want a fun, low-pressure first taste of sailing.
What you’ll learn
- Sailing with a partner
- Steering with a tiller extension
- Basic sail control
- Where the wind comes from
- Launching & retrieving a boat safely
- Figure-8 knot & basic rigging
By the end you’ll be able to
- Steer with a tiller extension under tow
- Tie a figure-8 knot
- Tack (push turn) and gybe (pull turn)
- Reach around a simple figure-8 course
- Follow the safety boat upwind and downwind
In Tackers 2, sailors take the helm on their own for the first time. Building on the basics, they learn to read the wind, rig their own boat and steer their own course in light breezes. It's the level where kids start to feel like real sailors — making their own decisions and finding their independence on the water.
Who it’s for
Graduates of Tackers 1 (or kids with some sailing experience) who are ready to sail solo and build on the fundamentals.
What you’ll learn
- Solo sailing techniques
- The points of sail
- Reading wind direction & shifts
- Sailing upwind
- Rigging and de-rigging a boat
- Confident tacking & gybing
By the end you’ll be able to
- Rig and de-rig a boat with minimal help
- Sail solo in light winds
- Steer a course using the points of sail
- Sail upwind by tacking
- Recover and re-board after a capsize
Tackers 3 turns confident sailors into capable ones. Sailors refine their boat handling, learn to trim for speed and get their first taste of racing around a course. By the end they can sail independently in a range of conditions — and many go on to join their local club's junior sailing squad.
Who it’s for
Confident solo sailors who have completed Tackers 2 and want to sharpen their skills and try racing.
What you’ll learn
- Independent solo sailing
- Advanced boat handling
- Sail trim & boat speed
- Roll tacking & roll gybing
- An introduction to racing
- Right-of-way rules basics
By the end you’ll be able to
- Sail confidently and independently in light–moderate winds
- Trim sails to improve boat speed
- Roll tack and roll gybe
- Sail a triangular course
- Take part in a simple fun race
OutThere Sailing
OutThere Sailing is Australian Sailing's adventure program for teens aged 12–17 — the ultimate way to get on the water. It's an action-packed mix of sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing and powerboating, designed around having fun, meeting new friends and building genuine on-water skills and independence across two progressive levels.
OutThere Sailing is an action-packed introduction to life on the water for teens. Alongside the fundamentals of sailing, participants get to try stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing and powerboating — a full taste of watersports. It's the perfect starting point for teens who want adventure as much as they want to learn to sail.
Who it’s for
Teens aged 12–17 who are new to sailing and keen for an active, varied introduction to watersports.
What you’ll learn
Sailing
- Launch and retrieve a boat
- Tack & Gybe
- Points of sail
- Up-wind sailing
- Capsize recovery
- Rigging & Derigging
Powerboating
- Powerboat safety
- Basic boat controls
- Perform basic boat driving
- Perform a man-overboard
Windsurfing
- Windsurf rigging
- Windsurfer controls
- Tack & Gybe
- Windsurfer sail positions
Stand-up Paddle Boarding
- Basic balance techniques
- Basic SUP manoeuvres
By the end you’ll be able to
- Rig, launch and retrieve a boat
- Sail a basic course using tacks and gybes
- Sail upwind unassisted
- Recover confidently from a capsize
- Try paddleboarding, windsurfing and powerboating
OutThere Sailing 2 is for teens ready to take it up a level. The focus shifts to sharper boat handling, sail trim and an introduction to racing — building the skills and confidence to sail independently and, for those who want it, to start competing at their local club.
Who it’s for
Teens who have completed OutThere Sailing (or have equivalent experience) and want to refine their skills and try racing.
What you’ll learn
Sailing
- Advanced tacking & gybing techniques
- Precise sail trimming
- Racing skills
- Dry capsize
- Sail & boat tuning
- Racing sailing rules
Powerboating
- Powerboat safety
- Basic boat controls
- Perform basic boat driving
- Perform a man-overboard
Windsurfing
- Sail a triangular course
- Consistent tacks & gybes
- Maintain control in stronger winds
- Windsurfer sail positions
Stand-up Paddle Boarding
- Paddle effectively in crosswind conditions
- Advanced turning techniques
By the end you’ll be able to
- Sail confidently in a range of conditions
- Trim sails accurately for speed
- Perform a dry capsize
- Apply the basic racing rules
- Complete a short race around a course
Adult Sailing
Our adult learn-to-sail courses make getting on the water simple, safe and genuinely fun — no experience required. Start Sailing covers the fundamentals from scratch, while Better Sailing builds on them to take you toward sailing independently and racing. Patient, qualified instructors guide you every step of the way.
Start Sailing is an adult learn-to-sail course designed to take you from the dock to the water with no prior experience. Over two days, expert instructors guide you through every fundamental — from rigging and boat handling to understanding wind and weather — so you finish able to sail a basic course and keen for more.
Who it’s for
Adults with no sailing experience who want a safe, supportive and hands-on introduction to the sport.
What you’ll learn
Sailing
- Launch and retrieve a boat
- Tack and Gybe
- Sail positioning
- Up-wind sailing
- Capsize recovery
- Rigging and derigging
Theory
- Sailing rules
- Sailing terminology
- Points of sail
- Weather forecasting
- Gusts and lulls
- Buoyage and signage on the water
By the end you’ll be able to
- Rig and de-rig a dinghy
- Sail a triangular course unassisted in light winds
- Tack and gybe confidently
- Understand wind direction and points of sail
- Recover from a capsize
Better Sailing is the next step for sailors who have the basics and want to sail independently. You'll refine your technique, learn to sail faster through sail trim and boat balance, and start making the tactical decisions that lead toward racing. It's where good sailors become confident, self-reliant ones.
Who it’s for
Adults who have completed Start Sailing or have equivalent experience and want to build genuine independence and speed.
What you’ll learn
Sailing
- Correct tiller extension
- Advanced tacking & gybing techniques
- Precise sail trimming
- Boat balance for speed
- Tactical sailing decisions
- Racing starting techniques
Theory
- Racing rules to your advantage
- Reading gusts and lulls on the water
- Wind shifts
- Efficient sailing course
By the end you’ll be able to
- Sail independently in moderate conditions
- Trim sails and balance the boat for speed
- Make sound tactical decisions on the water
- Understand the basics of racing
- Be ready to join club racing
Ready to set sail?
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Elevate your school camps and outdoor-ed days with an on-water adventure that sparks teamwork, resilience and pure fun. Partnering with yacht clubs across Victoria and equipped with custom trailer fleets, we bring fully accredited sailing programs straight to you.
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