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Home / Training hub / Adult Dinghy Training (RYA National Sailing Scheme) / RYA NSS Level 2 - Basic Skills

RYA NSS Level 2 - Basic Skills

Aim of course:

The aim of Level 2 is to give students basic sailing skills and knowledge required to enjoy recreational sailing safely without additional input from an instructor, all through relaxed tuition. The course offers students the opportunity of learning in single-handed dinghies or double-handed dinghies. Although the courses will run alongside each other the differences in teaching methods means that some sessions will take place separately.

Boats

Single-handed:

The Topper is an 11 foot sailing dinghy, constructed from polypropylene, meaning it is lightweight, robust and making it ideal as a training boat. The Topper is raced at SSSC as a Youth class boat. This option is best for those with a good level of mobility & fitness, who learn by doing and are confident on (or in!) water.

Double-handed:

The GP 14 (General Purpose 14-foot dinghy) is constructed from either wood or GRP (club training GPs are GRP) and are significantly heavier but more roomy and can be cruised, raced, rowed or even powered by a small outboard motor. As a training boat it is stable and large enough to accommodate an instructor and two students. The GP14 is raced as a two person adult class at SSSC. This option is best for those who take a more considered approach to learning and like to understand the theory.

Instructor ratio

Single-handed:

Will operate on a ratio of 1:4 with a maximum of 4 students.

Double-handed:

Will operate on ratio of 1:2 with a maximum of 6 students.

SI:

The SI will have an overview of both the Singlehanded and Doublehanded courses, monitoring any safety issues ensuring the standard of course delivery and timely progress through the sessions by the DI's. The SI will brief and debrief DI's as required.

Course delivery

Classroom, Onshore and Onwater sessions will be by DI's in accordance with the relevant method.

Course structure Overview:

Day 1:

Single-handed

Double-handed

Rigging and reefing the sail

Rigging and reefing the sails

Sailing a triangle or square

Sailing a triangle or square

Capsize and recovery

(for students who didn't do it on Level 1)

Capsize and recovery

(for students who didn't do it on Level 1)

Coming alongside (jetty, pontoon and Pilot)

Coming alongside (jetty, pontoon and Pilot)

Wet launch and lee shore landing

Wet launch and lee shore landing

Day 2:

Five Essentials

Five Essentials

Boat Handling

(hold position on a mark, follow my leader)

Man Overboard
Knots (reef, knot, clove hitch, bowline) Knots (reef, knot, clove hitch, bowline)
Paddling / towing / MOB Paddling / towing / MOB
Basic Metrology Basic Metrology
Intrduction to racing Intrduction to racing



Detailed lesson plans

Equipment:

Single-handed course:

Fleet:Toppers

Safety boat: T40 RIB

Classroom: Training loft

Double-handed course:

Fleet: GP14s

Safety boat: Highfield RIB

Classroom: Clubroom


Sailing areas:

The two courses will operate in separate sailing areas dependent upon wind direction.


Single-handed:

Will use the left hand jetty (looking out from the club) and sailing areas 1 & 2 or 2 & 3, depending on the wind direction.


Double-handed:

Will use the right hand jetty and sailing areas 3 & 4 or 1 & 4, depending on the wind direction.


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SINGLE-HANDED LESSON PLAN

DAY 1:

9:30 - 10:00 CLASSROOM / ASHORE: **JOINT SESSION WITH D/H COURSE**

    • Assemble
    • Course outline
    • Facilities and safety briefing (slip ways, booms, ropes etc)
    • Reminder of the "Rules of the Road"
    • Pair up (for double-handed boats)
    • Allocate boats


10:00 - 10:45 ASHORE:

    • Wind awareness direction and strength
    • Reefing instruction and demonstration


10:45 - 11:00 CLASSROOM:

    • Break


11:00 - 11:45 ASHORE:

    • Recap of capsize drill
    • Rig, and reef and launch


11:45 - 13:00 ON WATER:

    • Sailing a square or triangular course
    • Capsize recovery for anyone who hasn't already done it
    • (tethered to jetty or mark)


13:00 - 14:00 LUNCH / DEBRIEF / CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH D/H COURSE**

    • Coming alongside, Jetty, pontoon and pilot


14:00 - 14:45 ON WATER:

    • Coming alongside, Jetty, pontoon and pilot


14:45 - 15:00 CLASSROOM:

Break


15:00 - 15:30 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH D/H COURSE**

    • How a boat works, sails and foils
    • Wet launch
    • Lee shore landing


15:30 - 16:00 ON WATER:

    • Sailing practice, limited instructor input


16:00 - 16:30 ASHORE:

    • De-rig


16:30 - 17:00 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH D/H COURSE**

    • Debrief of day & questions


DAY 2:

9:30 - 10:00 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH D/H COURSE**(Brian)

    • Questions from day 1
    • Recap of the 5 essentials


10:00 - 11:00 ON WATER:

    • Boat handling, hold position on a mark, follow my leader.


11:00 - 11:15 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH D/H COURSE**

    • BREAK


11:15 - 12:00 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH D/H COURSE**

    • Knots (reef knot, clove hitch, bowline)


12:00 - 13:00 ON WATER:

    • Paddling
    • Being towed


13:00 - 14:00 LUNCH / DEBRIEF / CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH D/H COURSE**

    • Basic Metrology
      • Where to find forecasts, The Synoptic Chart
    • Intro to sea sailing
      • Tides, additional safety considerations


14:00 - 14:30 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH D/H COURSE**

    • Race theory


14:30 - 15:30 ON WATER:

    • Mini race/s


15:30 - 16:00 ASHORE:

    • De-rig


16:00 - 16:30 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH D/H COURSE**

    • Debrief and questions
    • End of course procedures: log books and next step


DOUBLE-HANDED LESSON PLAN

DAY 1:

9:30 - 10:00 CLASSROOM / ASHORE: **JOINT SESSION WITH S/H COURSE**

    • Assemble
    • Course outline
    • Facilities and safety briefing (slip ways, booms, ropes etc)
    • Reminder of the "Rules of the Road"
    • Pair up (for double-handed boats)
    • Allocate boats


10:00 - 10:45 ASHORE:

    • Wind awareness direction and strength
    • Reefing instruction and demonstarion


10:45 - 11:00 CLASSROOM:

    • Break


11:00 - 12:00 ON WATER:

    • Rig, reef and launch
    • Shake out reef afloat
    • Re-reef afloat


12:00 - 12:15 ASHORE:

    • Recap of capsize drill


12:15 - 13:00 ON WATER:

    • Sailing a square or triangular course
    • Capsize recovery for anyone who hasn't already done it
    • (tethered to jetty or mark)


13:00 - 14:00 LUNCH / DEBRIEF / CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH S/H COURSE**

    • Coming alongside, Jetty, pontoon and pilot


14:00 - 14:45 ON WATER:

    • Coming alongside, Jetty, pontoon and pilot


14:45 - 15:00 CLASSROOM:

    • BREAK


15:00 - 15:30 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH S/H COURSE**

    • How a boat works, sails and foils
    • Wet launch
    • Return under jib only
    • Lee shore landing


15:30 - 16:00 ON WATER:

    • Sailing without instructor in boats


16:00 - 16:30 ASHORE:

    • De-rig


16:30 - 17:00 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH S/H COURSE**

    • Debrief of day & questions


DAY 2:

9:30 - 10:00 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH S/H COURSE**

    • Questions from day 1
    • Recap of the 5 essentials
    • MOB Theory


10:00 - 11:00 ON WATER:

    • Man overboard


11:00 - 11:15 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH S/H COURSE**

    • BREAK


11:15 - 12:00 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH S/H COURSE**

    • Knots (reef knot, clove hitch, bowline)


12:00 - 13:00 ON WATER:

    • Paddling,
    • Being towed
    • Boat handling, hold position on a mark, follow my leader.


13:00 - 14:00 LUNCH / DEBRIEF / CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH S/H COURSE**

    • Basic Metrology
      • Where to find forecasts, The Synoptic Chart
    • Intro to sea sailing
      • Tides, additional safety considerations


14:00 - 14:30 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH S/H COURSE**

    • Race theory


14:30 - 15:30 ON WATER:

    • Mini race/s


15:30 - 16:00 ASHORE:

    • De-rig


16:00 - 16:30 CLASSROOM: **JOINT SESSION WITH S/H COURSE**

    • Debrief and questions
    • End of course procedures: log books and next step

Last updated 19:30 on 26 March 2024

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