We run a variety of courses throughout the year, both for children and adults. Our instructors have years of experience under their belts and are deeply passionate about sailing.
Swimming ability is not a pre-requisite on any of our courses.
Check our Calendar for our next adult training course. For information on any of our courses, please contact Elwyn Agnew on 07852151378 or email us at info@ballyronanboatclub.co.uk.
- RYA Level 2 Basic Skills
This course is designed for complete beginners. On completion, you will have a basic understanding of sailing and sailing in light winds without an instructor on board. You will learn how to rig a club boat, launch it and recover it, manoeuvre it (by tacking and gybing), sail round a short course and understand race course and starting procedures. You’ll also learn how to keep safe on the water by understanding weather forecasts, what clothing and equipment to bring with you and the “rules of the road”. This course includes content for Level 1 (Start Sailing).
- RYA Level 3 Better Sailing
This improver course aims to build confidence on the water and develop good technique and independent sailing. You’ll learn how to prepare a club boat depending on different weather conditions, leave and return to shore, recover a man overboard, trim your sails according to the weather conditions (and use the sail’s “tell-tales”), maintain boat speed and balance when tacking and gybing, how to hoist/drop a spinnaker and how to start and finish a simple race (and choose the best route around the race course, depending on the conditions). In the process, you’ll discover more of Lough Neagh and experience even more fun on the water.
- RYA Level 2 Powerboat Handling
This course provides the skills and background knowledge needed by the competent powerboat driver and is the basis of the International Certificate of Competence. It aims to teach boat handling and seamanship in powerboats. It focuses on low speed close quarters handling, man overboard recovery, an introduction to driving at planing speed, and collision regulations. The course can be taken at an inland or coastal location. It may be conducted in a variety of boat types, both planing and displacement. The certificate issued will be endorsed to show the type of boat in which the training took place.
*We run Level 2 Powerboat Handling courses year round. Contact us for our next date*
- RYA Assistant Instructor
Upon completion of this course, an Assistant Instructor will be trained to assist qualified instructors to teach beginners up to the standard of the National Sailing Scheme Level 2 and the Youth Sailing Scheme Stage 3. The award will be specific to Ballyronan Boat Club. The course covers BBC’s safe operating procedures and the role of an Assistant Instructor at BBC. Training will be based around the Club’s fleet of training boats. Successful candidates will be awarded the Assistant Instructor certificate.
- RYA First Aid
This one-day course covers all the usual first aid subjects, but from a boating perspective. It is aimed at anyone who goes afloat, whether on inland waters, rivers, estuaries or on cross channel passages. This course is MCA approved and satisfies the requirements for Coastal Skipper Yachtmaster and Advanced Powerboat certificates of competence and some commercial work afloat.
Boat Club on Lough Neagh's Northwest Shore 