Jybaz offers young children the chance to gain confidence in the water and have fun at a new hobby whilst staying safe. Children of all skill levels are welcome. You don't need to have your own boat to join in the fun as the Club has a range of boats that are used for training on the Jybaz days. We welcome all age ranges from 6 to 18 to join the team. You are never too young to start.
Please read the FAQs below which will answer most of your questions.
Please email jybaz@rudyardlakesc.org.uk for further information
Bruce and Emma Carter, Jybaz Leaders
Smile with the wind, and the wind will smile with you.
FAQs - Jybaz
)1123355:
Q. When does Jybaz take place ?
A. Jybaz training sessions take place on Saturdays between March and October normally twice a month (other than June and July when the sessions are on Sundays). You are not expected to come to every session, but the more your child attends, the quicker they progress.
Other than in June and July, the sessions are split as follows:
- Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4: 9am - 1pm
- Racing Skills: 2pm - 5pm
In June and July all training is currently planned to take place from 9am - 12:30pm.
Family / Social Sailing commences after lunch from 2-5pm.
Please note sailors are expected to be dressed and ready for a brief at the start time. Most parents aim to be at the club 30 minutes before their start time.
Q. What does the training consist of ?
A. There are 4 stages to RYA training:
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
Stage 4 |
|
A basic understanding of how a boat sailing, with some experience of steering and handling the boat |
A range of sailing skills and knowledge to help in becoming a confident sailor |
Rigging, launching and sailing in any direction |
Sail a double handed boat as crew or helm, and solve a variety of problems afloat. |
|
Assumed knowledge |
None | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 |
Course content |
Launching and recovery, steering, parts of the boat, basic sailing | Basic sailing skills, ropework, collision avoidance | Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques, capsize recovery, sailing theory | Rigging, launching and recovery, sailing techniques and manoeuvres in crewed boats, recovering a man overboard |
Ability after course |
Able to steer and understand basic principles | Able to tack and control boat speed, and understand basic principles | Able to launch and sail a dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions | Can launch and return to a beach, jetty or mooring, and sail a crewed dinghy around a triangle in moderate conditions |
Once stage 4 is complete, additional training is available:
- Introduction to racing.
- Seamanship skills.
For each stage successfully completed a RYA certificate is awarded at our Christmas party held ever year in early December.
Many junior sailors become Assistant Instructors who help with training. The club has a rich history of members going on to become fully qualified RYA Dinghy Instructors, which looks good on the CV and also provides more interesting summer job opportunities.
Q. What boats do Jybaz use ?
A. There are four main boats used in Jyba:
- Oppie - Very stable boat used in stage 1
- Topper - Single handed boat used in stage 2/3
- Pico - Single/Double handed boat used in stage 2/3
- Feva - Double handed used in stage 4
Q. What does the training cost ?
A. All Jybaz training is included in membership costs. There, is a boat hire fee of £3 for a session or £5.00 for a full day to cover the boat maintenance costs. If you are using your own boat, there are no hire fees.
Q. Can I leave my child at the Jybaz session ?
A. No, as the club's safeguarding regulations require an adult to be present for all Jybaz events. The club is happy if parents want to share the responsibility (onsite and getting home) between themsleves, but you must inform the senior instructor at the start of a session.
Parents are also expected to help their children setup and clear away their boats. This maximises training time on the water.
Q. How safe is learning to sail ?
A. Safety is our number one concern at all times and we do everything reduce any danger.
- All Dinghy Instructors (DIs) and Assistant Instructors (AIs) are RYA qualified.
- All training sessions are supervised by a RYA qualified Senior Instructor (SI).
- All training sessions will have safety cover by up to four safety boats. Jybaz parents are encouraged to take the Powerboat 2 qualification to help provide this cover.
- All sailors are required to wear a buoyancy aids when on the water or pontoons.
- All Jybaz parents are required to wear a buoyancy aid on the pontoons.
- All safety boat crews are required to wear a buoyancy aid on the water or pontoons.
Q. What should I wear ?
A. The club has buoyancy aids for all new junior sailors.
Ideally sailors wear a wetsuit or dry-suit. But to begin with, you should bring with you sufficient warm clothing to sail in, bearing in mind that it is always colder on the water than on land. You will need a change of clothing in case you get wet.
There are spare wetsuits in family changing room you can use.
Once your child has committed to sailing, then they should have a wetsuit, splash top, gloves and wet boots. Dry suits are ideal for winter but are expensive.
Sports/Adventure Training retailers like Decathlon are good places for cheap effective wetsuits, especially as children quickly out grow them.
Q. Are there changing facilities at the club ?
A. There are male, female and family changing rooms with showers available. Entry to the changing rooms is strictly controlled during Jybaz sessions.
Q. Is there on-site catering ?
A. The Min-Bean Coffee Shop opened in April 2023, and will be available for all subsquent Jybaz sessions providing hot drinks, snacks, cakes and lunch items such as soup, sandwiches, oatcakes.
Q. Who volunteers ?
A. The club is a volunteer run organisation, for example, all the instructors you will meet at Jybaz provide their time free of charge. All club members are expected to do 2-3 duties per year. As a Jybaz parent our online duty system will allocate you duties during Jybaz sessions, which might cover general duties. Many parents go on to do powerboat training allowing them to assist with safety cover during Jybaz.
