RYA Adult Training & Kids Weeks
Welcome to Tamesis Club's RYA Training Centre and our 2024 calendar!
In 2024 we will be continuing with our popular RYA adult training weekends and holiday kids camps while introducing new Junior Race Weeks. This page also includes information about club training which helps members take a more active role in running our calendar of sailing events.
Training and coaching is open to both members and non-members with the relevant fees including temporary club membership. Tamesis Club's position on the non-tidal River Thames, above Teddington Lock, makes it an ideal place to learn and develop your skills in a safe and convenient location.
A little more detail, including costs and dates, is provided below; if you are interested in finding out more and making a booking, please contact Tim Medcalf on timothymedcalf@yahoo.co.uk or on 07768 018972.
RYA Holiday Camps for children aged eight to 15
By way of an introduction, here is some feedback from parents whose children enjoyed coming to recent camps:
- 'I just wanted to say a very big thank you to you and the training team for the sailing course last week. My daughter had a fantastic time! This is the third club she has been to and I have to say it has been by far the best. Your interaction with the kids and thoughtfulness has really impressed me. Also not only did my daughter improve her sailing but she had a ball while doing it! The key to kids learning!'
- 'A big thank you to you and your team for yet another week of great sailing. As I mentioned at the beginning, both boys were a bit reticent about the week and completely tired from a term of school, but your course has energised both of them and given them oodles of confidence in their sailing ability. Thanks so much to you all for your nurturing, encouraging and fun approach.'
- 'Our boys had a great time with you all and think learnt a lot so thank you for everything you did for them. We would love to book them on a summer camp too.'
The primary objective for our holiday camps is to have great fun on the river; while the youngsters will gain an RYA qualification, build their self-reliance, make new friends, and come home worn out each day, our overriding ambition is for them to simply enjoy their experience.
The camps are week-long and run from 08.30 to 18.00 each day, which is obviously a benefit for working parents. If a week includes a public holiday, the camp will be four days long with the fees adjusted accordingly.
Aside from the formal RYA tuition, the children will also play wide games, go on adventures, learn knots, and so on. They will be busy all the time!
We welcome total beginners on all camps and the club has a supply of buoyancy aids (a recommended kit list will be provided as part of the registration and joining pack). Training follows the well-established and effective RYA Stages program of progression, we offer all of Stages 1-4.
We will also run instruction for RYA Advanced Modules as part of of our program; these weeks are ideal for youngsters who already have RYA Stage 4 and are looking for the next step.
We have a highly experienced, professional, energetic and youthful training team. A unique feature is that our camps are quite small (a maximum of 15 children each week) but we have a large training team; this means that your children will enjoy a high degree of one-to-one supervision and coaching.
All activity is run within the club's RYA-approved operating standards, staffed by RYA-qualified, and Enhanced DBS-screened staff, and supported by our fleet of powered safety boats. The cost for a five day week is £380, and the cost for a four day week is £305
The 2024 calendar and availability is below:
27-31 May (half term). RYA Stages - 1, 2, or 3. 1 place remaining
22-26 July. RYA Stages - 1, 2, 3, or 4. 2 places remaining
29 July-2 August. RYA Stages - 1, 2, 3, or 4. Waiting list
5-9 August. RYA Stages - Stages 1, 2, 4 and Advanced Modules (participants must have RYA Stage 4). 4 places remaining
12-16 August. RYA Stages - 1, 2, 3, or 4. 2 places remaining
19-23 August. RYA Stages - 1, 2, 3, or 4. 1 place remaining
27-30 August (four days). Junior Race Week (see below for more details). 4 places remaining
28-31 October (half term). RYA Stages - 2. 10 places available
Our October half term course is an ideal opportunity for youngsters who have discovered a love for sailing while completing RYA Stage 1 to maintain their momentum and get back on the water to do RYA Stage 2. Once they have their RYA Stage 2 certificate they will be able to join the club's very popular Junior Sailing coaching sessions which run on Saturday afternoons. These two hour sessions, the use of club boats and buoyancy aids are free for members. The hours for the half term camp will be 08.45 to 17.15, and the cost is £340.
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Junior Race Week - NEW FOR 2024!
In response to many requests from our summer camp regulars, we are introducing a Junior Race Week that will run as the finale to our summer camp season. The week will appeal to youngsters who are competent, confident sailors and are either regulars at the club's weekly Junior Sailing coaching and/or have completed at least RYA Stage 3.
The Junior Race Week will be run and managed by our RYA-qualified team of instructors and coaches. The days will offer a combination of theory, on-water coaching, racing rules, and a program of racing using the club's entire fleet of boats which will provide challenges for all sailors. The race courses and formats will also vary from day to day so there will be plenty for everyone.
Race results will be collated during the week and our prize-giving will reflect race performances as well as other outstanding achievements of the week!
Like our RYA summer sailing camps, the Junior Race Week will run from 08.30 to 18.00 each day.
RYA Adult Training
The club relaunched adult training in 2022 and here is a little feedback from some of our students:
'Thank you so much for a really enjoyable course. The teaching was thorough and the practical taught sessions on the water were particularly good in making progress. I never really believed I could do it independently and then did! I'm now dreaming of racing! I'd love to join the club so that I can continue to use my new skills.'
'Thanks for a great weekend, really helpful, learnt a lot and very enjoyable.'
'I would like to thank you and the club for all the work you put into running the course, and for the friendly, welcoming atmosphere. I will be sure to recommend you to anyone thinking of taking up sailing.'
'The trainers on the course were great. I liked the way we had land-based training which was then affirmed with actual water-based training. The trainers were very knowledgeable and friendly.'
'Overall I had a great time. I'm looking forward to the level 2 course that I have booked onto. I would highly recommend anyone to do the Level 1 course at Tamesis Sailing Club.'
'Another terrific training weekend; theory and practice all superb and brilliantly scheduled to match the varying conditions.'
Our approach is to provide high quality tuition to small groups of beginners and improvers over the course of a single weekend; you will be at the club for at least eight hours each day. Training will take place with three students being coached by one instructor; this high level of personal contact will ensure that students are able to develop and achieve the course objectives.
We offer training for the RYA's Level 1 and Level 2 certificates. These qualifications will give you the skills and confidence to set-up, launch, and sail a dinghy on your own; Tamesis Club has more than 20 boats that are free for members with RYA Level 2 to use and practise the skills they have acquired on a course.
The cost per person per course is £280 which includes lunch at the club on Sunday.
The 2024 calendar and availability is outlined below:
- 20 & 21 April. RYA Level 1. 3 places available
- 4 & 5 May. RYA Level 2. 5 places available
- 25 & 26 May. RYA Level 1 or 2. 6 places available
- 8 & 9 June. RYA Level 1 or 2. 6 places available
- 15 & 16 June. RYA Level 1 or 2. 6 places available
- 29 & 30 June. RYA Levels 1 or 2. 5 places available
- 6 & 7 July. RYA Levels 1 or 2. 6 places available
More dates to be added for September and October.
Coaching
In response to a number of requests, the club offers one-to-one coaching.
This facility appeals to people who have completed some formal training and would like the opportunity to practise under supervision, or new members who would like an induction to the club's fleet of boats and getting on the river. The focus is on helping beginners and improvers, and those who haven't sailed for a while. The sessions will be tailored to your specific needs.
Coaching is delivered by RYA-qualified and DBS-screened staff and is available in two hour blocks at a cost of £45/hour.
There is no set calendar for coaching and we will try to fit in around your availability. If coaching is of interest please do get in touch with the training team via the contact form below.
Club Training
The club relies on its members to help with the running of many elements of its sailing and racing calendar. To this end, we run training for members in two areas:
Race management. Learn about how to run our weekly races, setting courses, race starts, and recording results, and many other things besides.
Patrol boat crewing. Learn how to operate the club's fleet of powered patrol boats.
These courses, normally delivered on a Saturday morning, are run by enthusiastic club members who will be keen to share their knowledge.
Dates for training are shared via the club's weekly Tammy Matters email newsletter, and Whatsapp groups.
Cancellation Policy
- Bookings on training courses are only confirmed once the club is in receipt of the relevant paperwork and full payment has been made
- A full refund will be provided if a written request for cancellation is received within 14 days of the booking being confirmed and at a point more than 30 days before the start of the training
- In the event of a cancellation made after the initial 14 days period, Tamesis Club will provide a full refund if a suitable replacement trainee is found either by the club or the cancelling party (the club tries to support this process by operating a waiting list but can not guarantee to be able to find a replacement)
- If the cancellation is made within the 30 days prior to the training activity, and a suitable replacement trainee cannot be found, the club will pay a 33% refund
- Tamesis Club reserves the right to vary course details, dates and prices without prior notice
Further Tamesis Club RYA Training Centre Policies
Last updated 18:38 on 25 April 2024