Prospective members and students wishing to book on a trip are required to assess their level of experience. While the levels are reasonably self-explanatory, a full definition is given here for the avoidance of doubt. Dinghy levels are defined in terms of helming experience. If you are a crew, select the level of helm for which you can crew competently.
Dinghy Levels
- Complete Novice: A sailor not yet at the Beginner stage
- Beginner: A sailor at RYA Level 2: able to sail round a triangular course in light to moderate conditions, pick up a man overboard, and right after a capsize.
- Intermediate: A sailor who is able to do all that a beginner can do, but in stronger winds. Good knowledge of dinghy racing plus good experience of local fleet racing (RYA Start Racing or equivalent).
- Experienced Intermediate: A sailor who is confident in strong winds and knowledgeable in all aspects of dinghy racing plus good experience of regional and open meeting competition (RYA Intermediate Racing or equivalent, plus relevant racing experience).
- Fully Experienced: A sailor who is a competent in all conditions and has had substantial racing experience at a national or international level (RYA Advanced Racing plus relevant racing experience, or membership of a National Squad).
Windsurfer Levels
- Complete Novice: A surfer not yet at the Beginner stage
- Beginner: A surfer who has a little experience on a board. Able to sail in a straight line out from the shore, turn around (tack and gybe) and come back in on their own – in gentle winds.
- Intermediate: A surfer who is able to do all that a Beginner can do – in stronger winds. An Intermediate is becoming more confident on the board, getting to grips with the non-planing carve gybe, beach starting, experiencing the harness and taking the first steps towards planing.
- Experienced Intermediate: A surfer who is confident using the harness and the foot straps, making the transition towards the first short board, practising the water start and other more advanced techniques – in strong winds.
- Fully Experienced: A surfer who is a competent water starter, and is now starting to sail in waves and high winds and performing more difficult freestyle moves. Such sailors encounter the greatest risks, because they are jumping and generally being more extreme.