RYA Training & Kids Weeks
Welcome to Tamesis Club's 2025 training calendar!
As an RYA Recognised Training Centre, we focus on providing high quality tuition and coaching for both children and adults. Our Chief Instructor Tom leads a team of enthusiastic and engaging RYA-qualified Dinghy Instructors and Assistant Instructors.
We follow RYA best practice operational guidelines, including in relation to the recruitment and screening of our staff (DBS Enhanced checks), the quality and maintenance of our equipment etc.
Training is delivered in small groups which means that students have plenty of opportunities to ask questions, confirm their understanding, and practise until they have mastered the new skills.
We train children on week-long camps during the school holidays, while adult courses are delivered over a single weekend.
In addition to RYA training, we will be running a Race Week for youngsters aged 12-18 who already have a solid level of sailing ability, and also adult 1-2-1 coaching for those who might be coming back to sailing or just want a refresher after doing an RYA course.
Here is some feedback about previous kids 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.'
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Kids Sailing Camps (RYA training, and Race Week)
Our RYA kids camps are an ideal way for children aged 8-15 to learn to sail, make new friends, and gain new life skills. We teach all of the RYA Stages 1 to 4, as well as running sessions which cover the RYA Advanced modules; the Advanced Modules allow children who already have RYA Stage 4 to further develop their skills.
We welcome the youngsters to the club at 08.30 and they will be ready to collect at 18.00 (slightly reduced hours for our October camp). These hours are significantly longer than at most other sailing centres and can be a real benefit for working parents.
While learning to sail and spending time on the water form our primary focus, we also make sure that the children also have a break now and then - widegames and jumping in off our jetties being a lot of fun (when the conditions are appropriate of course). More experienced groups may find that they spend a day taking part in a sailing adventure along the river.
Race Week will happen during the week of 14 July. This week is run by Tom and members of our regular training team; the focus will be on race coaching and taking part in as many races as we can fit in! We stretch the age range for this week to 12-18 it is therefore an ideal way for children who may be at a loose end after their GCSEs or A Levels to start their summer with a bang. As the focus of the week will be racing rather than basic boat handling, we recommend that participants hold at least RYA Stage 3 and have spent some time on the water, for example as part of Tamesis Cub's weekly Junior Sailing sessions.
Here are the planned dates and availabilities (all camps are five days unless stated):
27-30 May (four days): Half Term Camp teaching RYA Stages 1 to 4. 5 places left
14-18 July: Race Week. 10 places left
21-25 July: Summer Camp 1 teaching RYA Stages 1 to 4. 15 places left
28 July 1 August: Summer Camp 2 teaching RYA Stages 1 to 4 & Advanced modules. Provisionally full. Wait list available
4-8 August: Summer Camp 3 teaching RYA Stages 1 to 4. 6 places left
11-15 August: Summer Camp 4 teaching RYA Stages 1 to 4. 9 places left
18-22 August: Summer Camp 5 teaching RYA Stages 1 to 4. 13 places left
26-29 August (four days): Summer Camp 6 teaching RYA Stages 1 to 4. 11 places left
27-31 October: Half Term Camp teaching RYA Stages 1 to 4. 10 places left
The hours for our October camp are 09.00 to 17.00. The 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.
As mentioned above, our camps run over much longer hours than is the case at other training centres. We also have a higher ratio of staff to students than the RYA recommends as we believe that this provides a better training experience for the youngsters.
Our 2025 camp prices are:
Five day camp - £415
Four day camp - £335
October half term £350
If you would like to go ahead and book a place on one of our kids camps, please get in touch with us using the 'contact us' box below. Our Training Centre Principal Tim will come straight back to you.
We look forward to welcoming you and your youngsters to Tamesis Club in 2025!
RYA Adult Training (2025 dates to be confirmed)
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.
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 £50/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 being requested 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).
- In the event that a course participant, through illness or otherwise, missed the start of (or any other part of) a course, Tamesis Club is under no obligation to offer completion of the course or any refund or to transfer the booking.
- Tamesis Club reserves the right to vary course details, dates and prices without prior notice.
Further Tamesis Club RYA Training Centre Policies
Last updated 16:44 on 17 March 2025