We are a Recognised RYA Training centre with an enthusiastic team of qualified instructors. We have RYA training courses in sailing, windsurfing, powerboating and first aid, and BCU courses in Stand up paddleboarding. A condition of our centre status means that we run courses for our members, anyone can access our courses as a member. Our instructors are all volunteer club members who instruct to pass on their skills and enjoyment of the sport. Course fees are kept to a minimum to cover costs and club equipment.
Taster sessions
Two hour taster sessions are available in sailing and windsurfing if you are undecided if you would like to join the club. They are run by qualified club instructors or experienced club members. There is a small fee which will be refunded on joining the club as a member.
You can book a taster session through our WebCollect page. Create an account if you don’t have one, sign in, find “Discover Sailing” or “Discover Windsurfing” under the “Events” tab, then click on “Book places”.
Sailing
We run RYA courses for adult and junior (usually under 16 years old) sailors. All available courses can be booked on webcollect.
Young Sailors Training
There are six training days on the third Saturday of the month from April to October from 10.30am to 4.15pm. Groups from beginners to competent sailors follow the RYA Youth Sailing scheme stages 1 to 4 using our club boats Optimists, Toppers and Hartleys 10 and 12. Children learn at very different rates depending on their age and enthusiasm and the scheme allows the instructor to sign off each part of the syllabus when competence in that skill is demonstrated. If your child is under 9 years old please contact the sailing team before booking on to a course.
Good friends are made whilst having fun learning to sail!
Adult Training
RYA Level 1 and 2, Start sailing and Basic skills — this is a learn to sail course held over 5 days on 5 different weekends, 9am to 5pm. By the end of the course the successful sailor will have a basic knowledge of sailing and be capable of sailing a dinghy without an instructor on board in light winds.
Other sailing courses are run when there are sufficient numbers. These include RYA Level 3, RYA Start racing, RYA Dinghy Seamanship skills, RYA Sailing with Spinnakers.
If you have any questions regarding sailing courses, please contact us!
Windsurfing
Our enthusiastic team of windsurf instructors run Team 15 junior windsurf training (with RYA stages 1-4), and for adults; RYA Start windsurfing and All comers windsurf coaching. For further details see Windsurfing.
Powerboating
We run two RYA courses. They are both held over 2 days usually in the same weekend at different times during the season. Members need to be 16 years old or over to take a powerboat course at Kielder. Those aged 16-18 years are usually club instructors and can only drive on Kielder Water with an adult in the powerboat.
RYA Powerboat Level 1/2
If wanting to drive the safety boat as a club duty or to become an instructor this course is required. The course provides the skills and knowledge to keep you safe whilst driving and manoeuvring a powerboat.
RYA Safety Boat
This course covers the rescue of people and small craft; boats, windsurfs, canoes. Members need to have RYA Powerboat level 2 and at least 2 years experience of driving and manoeuvring the powerboat before undertaking this course. A pre course assessment is needed to ensure you have the required competence. Please contact the powerboat team prior to booking on this course.
Powerboat Refreshers
These are held every March at the working party for club members to refresh their driving skills before undertaking their club duty.
For further information about powerboat courses, please contact us!
First Aid
An informative one day RYA First aid course covering all aspects of first aid and in relation to water activities, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cold water shock and head injuries.
For further details about first aid training, please contact us!
Stand up Paddleboarding
In order to paddleboard at Kielder all members need to have taken a learn to paddleboard course. These occur throughout the season.
For further information please contact us!
Cancellation Policy
Fees will be paid in full prior to the start of the course.
A full refund will be given for cancellation up to two weeks prior to the start of the course. A 50% refund will be given for cancellation within two weeks of the start of the course.
There may be circumstances where a full refund will be given within two weeks of the start of the course at the discretion of the Principal.
In the event of non-attendance due to illness, if it is possible, the missed training will be covered in the remaining training days. If this is not possible a further course or part course may need to be attended in order to complete the course. Payment will be required for further courses or part courses unless agreed otherwise by the Principal.