Experience:
Beginner to Advanced
Duration:
4 X 3.5 hour Sessions
Cost:
€160
Syllabus & Certificate:
Learning-thru-Doing
Our Schools Sailing program started in 2018 & our “Fair Winds” Graduates have gone on to…
- Work as Sailing Instructors all over the country
- Race Locally & Nationally
- Race Round Ireland
- Work as Yacht Delivery Crew in Europe
…and they had fun getting there!
Program Schedule
1 x 3 hr Session per week for 4 weeks in Autumn & again in Spring.
It’s all about Progression!
Our sailors follow the Irish Sailing Syllabus, moving to a new level each year, & working towards the QQI Qualification with the Improving Skills Certificate. We run our courses on J24 Keelboats with our instructors onboard for total safety & instant coaching. Altogether on the boat, its great craic & by the end of the the first block, our sailors will be skilled in:
- Rigging the boat
- Launching and Return to a Mooring
- Tacking and gybing (steering the boat around)
- Sailing upwind, downwind and 90° (across) to the wind.
- Man Overboard Maneuvers
As the sailors progress, the difficulty of tasks increases, ensuring challenges all the way.
Everything we teach refers back to the fundamental principles… the “4 Essentials of Sailing”
- Boat Balance
- Sail Set
- Boat Trim
- Course Made Good
As our students progress through the levels they understand & develop a feel for these fundamentals.
What am I aiming for?
Work towards the Irish Sailing Start Sailing Certificate. Get your Certificate!
Our Locations
Where is it?
(VENUE WEATHER DEPENDENT)
Our Schedule
When is it?
Full-day session
Weekends (March–September)
2 × evening sessions
Mid-Summer (June–July)
Skills You’ll Learn
Sailing & Steering
Take the helm and feel in control
Sail Setting & Trimming
Adjust sails for speed and efficiency
Wind Awareness
& Points-of-Sail
Understand how wind direction affects sailing
Basic Ropework
Learn essential knots and line handling
Couldn’t recommend highly enough.
Lovely Boat, Great Instructor And An Incredible Place To Sail Off Ireland’s Beautifully Rugged West Coast. A Day Trip To Sligo’s Innismurray Island In Summer With Wild West Sailing Is Unforgettable, And Sailing There As Part Of A Crew Was A Great Experience. Dave Has A Wealth Of Knowledge, Yet Is Patient In Training Others. He Knows How To Put People At Ease, While Also Pushing Them To Achieve More.
Sophie Skinner
July | 2018
A true bucket-list experience!!
Round Ireland September 2023. Exceptional!! I will remember this experience for the rest of my days! Big seas, calm seas, lots of wind, no wind, amazing islands, pristine coastlines, basking shark, bioluminescence and dolphins swimming in it in the pitch dark, the Skelligs at night, starry skies, shooting stars under full sails, tidal gates, tuskar rock, the fastnet, we saw it all!
John Mc Donald
Sept | 2023
WWS continue to exceed expectations!
Highly recommend Wild West Sailing having done both Day skipper theory and practical courses with them this year. David and Nigel provided expert, friendly tuition and were super patient. Will be back for my Yachtmaster next year.
Damien Duggan
June | 2023
A great experience!
Great experience and awesome instructor with many years of sailing experience! Thanks Dave for the perfect week sailing on the west coast of Ireland. We will come back for sure and do the day skipper course with you. I highly recommend this experience for everyone who is serious about sailing.
Eike Willner
Aug | 2018
Excellent quality, 2nd to none
Can’t recommend Dave at Wild West Sailing enough. The quality of the Day Skipper Courses, Yachts & Instruction are 2nd to none. Already booked in for my next trip and working towards a Yachtmaster in the next year.
Jonathan Curran (Coastal Skipper)
June | 2018
What’s Next?
Keep the momentum going!
After completing Keelboat 1, advance to our 2-Day Sailing Skills Course to further develop your confidence and technique.