Welcome to Bay Sea School, the 'go-to' place in the North West where adult beginners learn to sail on the sea in a small yacht (also called a keelboat).
Discover the basics of how to sail on a series of 2-day courses and turn your sailing dream into reality!
COVID 19 Restrictions: We're unable to meet social distancing requirements on our practical sailing courses because we sit shoulder to shoulder for about 5 hours. Please sign up to our mailing list to be notified of course dates.
"Fantastic location & instruction!"
Beginners & Improvers
- Level 1 Start Sailing - Ideal for absolute beginners who'd like a gentle introduction to sailing. You'll steer the boat, adjust the sails and experience what's involved in sailing on the sea with the security of having a professional skipper onboard.
- Level 2 Basic Skills - The next step after Level 1. It's aimed at sailors of all levels who want to build confidence in the basics. You'll do lots of tacking & gybing and learn more about weather charts, tidal sailing techniques, all points of sail, reefing the sails, man overboard under sail & anchoring.
As a complete beginner you'll be amazed how much you pick up during your first two days on Level 1. After four days tuition (Level 1 followed by Level 2) you'll experience all the basics of how to skipper & crew a small yacht on the sea.
Expert sailors know the best way to learn to sail is on a small boat rather than a larger cruising yacht. With a winning combination of manoeuvrability and stability keelboats are the ideal way to learn the basics. They're also a good option for adults who find dinghy sailing a bit cramped & uncomfortable. You need to be mobile enough to board the yacht from the inflatable boat & also to move promptly from a seated position on one side of the yacht to the other. Call us if you want to know more about this.
Bay Sea School normally restrict numbers on their keelboat courses to 3 students but can accommodate 4 if necessary.
When you book a 2-day beginner level course you can work towards either Level 1 or Level 2 because we run both courses together.
Experienced Instructors at Bay Sea School
Principal & Chief Instructor John Parlane is a Yachtmaster Instructor & Examiner. He's also winner of the RYA 'Instructor of the Year' award. His professional work includes inspecting other RYA recognised training centres so your safety on the water is very important at Bay Sea School. Deirdre, the other instructor, is a Yachtmaster Offshore with nearly 30 years of sailing experience on the sea.
The Best Way to Learn to Sail - read more about it.
Beginner to Day Skipper is a useful pathway through the various RYA courses to gaining your ICC (International Certificate of Competence).
Your 2-day course fee (£310 per person) includes:
- RYA Sailing Logbook (G4)
- Bay Sea School's unique course notes
- RYA course completion certificate
- Free use of sailing waterproof trousers & jackets if required (adult sizes small to extra-large)
- All the necessary safety equipment including auto inflate life-jacket
If the weather is unsuitable for sailing, alternative dates will be agreed. Please read our Terms & Conditions.
Please make a note of your start time when booking your course. Every day is different due to the tide.
The second day may starts up to an hour later.
Click here for course joining instructions
| Start | Time | Finish | Places left |
| It's now unlikely that we will run any practical sailing courses this season. | |||
| The next season starts in April 2022 | |||
| If you're interested in yacht cruising or boating on the sea | |||
| there's a great online course for beginners called 'Essential Navigation & Seamanship'. | |||
Click here for course joining instructions
"Patient and calm instructors. Different modes of learning. Felt able to ask questions and make mistakes. Great activities and tasks"
"Instructors have great knowledge and can pass this knowledge on in a very pleasant and efficient way"
"Patient explanation and good humour"
"Excellent throughout. Great teaching. Practical tutorship brilliant. (Weather perfect!)"
"Learnt a lot in 2 days!"
" The whole day was terrific. I really enjoyed it"
"The instructors complemented each other and were really knowledgeable"
I most liked...
"the balance of theory & practical and the opportunity for plenty of 'hands-on' practice.
Deirdre's explanation of rules of the road was excellent"
"the personal attention of the instructor, the boat and equipment"
"how the theory backed up the practical & the amount of practical"
"the detail and thoroughness of the instruction"
"gaining a clearer understanding of the basic skillsto improve my overall confidence"
"the feeling of sailing close to the wind and how everyone worked as a team"
"Excellent good all-round course. Deirdre is an excellent teacher"