Learning to sail with the London School of Sailing
(and the actual accreditation body, the RYA)
Ready to set sail on your next adventure? Welcome aboard with LSS!
Whether you’re brand new to sailing or have some miles and certificates under your belt, we’d love to help you get out there and progress through your sailing journey of self-discovery and adventure! We think there’s something magical about harnessing the power of the wind and navigating the open waters, whether it’s through the rush of the race or the tranquillity of cruising. Read on as we talk through some of the courses we offer and suggestions for your sailing progression.
Well, hello there sailor!
We provide fun and welcoming training for all on shout free boats.
At LSS we want sailing to be for everyone. After teaching dinghy sailing in Vassiliki for 6 years and seeing how receptive people are to learning in a friendly environment, Ruaraidh set out to help sailors learn from the ground up. From the outset the school has been built on the ethos that learning to sail should be welcoming to all and a whole lot of fun. We’ve been training sailors for 6 years now and the only time there are raised voiced is to be heard over the wind.
From complete beginners to seasoned sailors our RYA courses and race training weekends cater to a diverse range of individuals and skill levels.
RYA Competent Crew
Picture yourself sailing through the gorgeous scenery of the south coast as you embark on a Solent based RYA Competent Crew course, 5 days filled with fun, camaraderie, and the excitement of learning new skills.
The competent crew course requires no previous sailing experience and it takes you through a full entry level syllabus; learning the parts of the boats, how to tie knots, seamanship, personal safety, beginner sail trim and helming techniques. By sleeping and living onboard during the course, you will naturally pick up on the workings of the interior and domestic boat life, and when you finish you will feel comfortable and competent to be a valuable crew member on a sailing yacht.
RYA Day Skipper (Theory and Practical)
The journey doesn’t end there! Next level is day skipper, designed to boost your confidence and equip you with the license to skipper your own boat anywhere in the world that takes your fancy. Imagine the freedom of charting your own course, the wind in your sails, and the horizon your only limit (maybe for the horizon to be your only limit you will need to come back to us for Coastal Skipper…)
There is a theory element, you’ll learn the rules of the road, tidal calculations, and passage planning. The course is available to take online through the RYA interactive platforms, it takes approximately 40 hours. We have supplementary videos to assist you with any tricky parts, and we’re available for a phone call to check in if you get stuck.
The practical element is run over 5 days on the Solent (we also offer the 2-weekend option, we appreciate holiday days can be scarce). You’ll be lead through a course of skills and confidence building exercises, building on what you’ve covered in Comp Crew and the theory course. You will practise your parking, picking up buoys, and safety exercises like man over board drills (sorry, person).
You’ll have lunch on anchor and in the evenings, you’ll be ashore for food and a few drinks.
Flotilla holidays
At LSS we view sailing as a progression, and our courses pave the way for you to join a UK or Med flotilla (annually, usually September), the embarkation of your very own seafaring odyssey! Inspired by instructing hundreds of yacht and dinghy training courses and seeing how the majority of students rarely put it into practice before forgetting everything, Ruaraidh decided to offer an option at least once a year for day skippers to get out there on the water and hone their skills.
Flotillas are a great way for newly qualified skippers to take the (sometimes daunting) step into chartering. You’ll be accompanied by other yachts, often skippered and crewed by very experienced sailors, and there will always be a lead boat with a skipper to give guidance whenever you need. The lead skipper will plan the route, explain the plan for the day to you, will always be available for questions on shore or on the radio and they’ll be close enough to guide you into moorings, anchorages, or rafts.
So far, LSS have had flotilla trips in Croatia, Sicily, Greece and Cornwall. We plan the route and design a really varied itinerary. There will always be lunches on anchor in secluded bays, swim stops, nights ashore taking in the local culture and atmosphere (and bars, v important) and usually there will be some nights on anchor, just our boats under the stars, boat BBQs for dinner and swimming with the bioluminescence. Often there will be a longer day sail which adds some great sailing miles and experience, and on occasion a few night hours.
Flotilla trips are some of our absolute favourite events, and with the support of fellow sailors, you’ll explore, learn, and create memories that will last a lifetime. All you need is the Day Skipper licence (and VHF Radio Certificate, see below) and we can talk to you about chartering a whole boat for you and your family or friends, or we can match you up with some suitable crew.
RYA Coastal Skipper
Feeling ready to push yourself out of your day skipper comfort zone? The next level of progression on the RYA ladder, you’ll need to have logged 800 miles, 2 as skipper, and minimum 30 days sailing for this one.
Coastal skipper allows you to advance from day skipper and become a more confident and competent navigator and sailor. Learn more advanced techniques and undertake longer coastal passages by day and night. It’s a 5 day course, based on the Solent but will have longer passages to exotic locations (such as Poole or Alderney).
Race Training Weekends
Our race training weekends are designed for those new to racing and looking to gain some experience before joining a race crew, and those who have a bit of racing experience but want to race in different positions, or practise spinnaker work outside the intensity of a live race environment.
We simulate round the cans racing over a long weekend on the Solent, aboard Cougar a racey Reflex 38 with symmetrical spinnakers, and sail area of 100m upwind/ 110m2 Spinnaker downwind.
A great way to get comfortable with the race environment without too much pressure!
RYA SRC/VHF online courses and in-person exams
The SRC/VHF course teaches you how to operate a VHF radio and it is a legal requirement that someone on board has their licence. We offer the course through the RYA online platform.
We offer at least one exam date each month in person in SW London but we can (almost) always arrange something for you if you need the exam done by a deadline.
Contact us!
Want to chat through anything?
If you’ve got any questions, do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. Our email is: info@londonschoolofsailing.co.uk or follow us on Instagram @londonschoolofsailing