Skipper a Clipper Sailing School
Skipper a Clipper Sailing School offers fully accredited AYF Inshore and Offshore sailing courses in a safe and fun environment. Learn the art of sailing on the beautiful Pittwater and Hawkesbury River.
Midweek One Day, Fun Day Pt 1
If you have never sailed before, try our one-day, fun day introductory course to make sure you will enjoy it. Add in the 2nd day at a later date and you have completed your introductory certificate. This course covers personnel safety, steering, correct use of winches, rigging the yacht, wind direction and all points of sailing. Pack a picnic lunch, don't forget the sunscreen, we give you a hat.
Midweek One Day, Fun Day Pt 2
Intensive course, second part, assumes you have completed one-day course or have basic sailing knowledge. This course covers basic steering, knots, navigation, compass and chart work and rules of the road. Receive your AYF introductory certificate at the end of the day. Meet new friends; Don't forget your lunch and your something to write with.
Midweek and Weekend cruises. - $85.00 per person
Cruise around Pittwater and Hawkesbury River, check out the wildlife, fairy penguins, eagles and occasionally dolphins and whales in season. Enjoy a swim off the back of the boat. Sit back and enjoy the view or take control of the yacht yourself with a skipper on hand to offer advice and guidance. Our 4 hour cruises depart at the following times from Gibson Marina, Bayview.
Saturday Morning 9am till 1pm
Sunday Afternoon 12pm till 4pm
Wednesday afternoon racing 1.30pm till 4pm
School holidays additional cruises available
Bookings essential. Register for our newsletter to be kept informed of dates and availability.
Course 1. AYF Introductory Certificate - Begin with the basics - One course $415.00 - Two or more courses $395.00
This complete 2 day course covers all aspects of the above course in 1 weekend The course includes the following elements of personnel safety, steering, correct use of winches, basic knots, rigging the yacht, wind direction and all points of sailing, compass, basic chart work and rules of the road. No previous experience required.
Course 2. AYF Competent Crew Certificate - The confidence builder - One course $415.00 - Two or more courses $395.00
This course will give you confidence on the water and practice the experience gained from your first course whilst gaining confidence in your own ability. Learn new elements of helmsmanship, anchoring and moorings, seamanship, sail handling, ropework, fire precautions, personal safety, man overboard drill, lights and flags, flares, rules of the road, meteorology and engine maintenance. Basic Knowledge is required to join this course.
Course 3 AYF Inshore Skipper Certificate - The Bareboat Charter Skipper - One course $415.00 - Two or more courses $395.00
Learn skills that will enable you to charter one of our luxurious yachts or catamarans on your own. Sailing the Whitsunday's or even Greece and Turkey this certificate is recognized worldwide and covers mandatory licensing which is required in most places outside of Australia. Elements of this course include organization of watches in harbour and at sea, Reefing, proficiency in navigation, meteorology and forecasting, maintenance and repair, victualling, emergency situations, passage planning, radio work, boat handling, mooring and docking in marinas. Basic first aid. Competent crew level plus a minimum 10 hours sea time are required to do this course. See our additional packages options.
Complete Package, courses 1,2 and 3 - Complete package $1,444.00
The complete package not only gives you complete confidence in your ability and knowledge that you have covered every facet of the sailing basics. This course represents terrific value, both in time on the water as well as equipment. As well as 3 weekends sailing taken in your own time, you will also receive the complete navigation package, our 6 part learn to sail theory course, Log book, hat, sailing gloves and 3 twilight sailing evenings on board with our twilight crew. The cost for this packaged represents a total saving of 30%.
Private Lessons - (minimum 3 hours) - Per crew $125.00 ph - Whole day 8 hours $995.00
Individual lessons with a private instructor can offer you one on one tuition in a totally private environment. Male and female instructors available, minimum sailing time is 3 hours or, alternatively, come along with 4 other friends and we will design a weekend course to suit all your abilities. Price depends on the chosen vessel.
Ladies Lessons - (minimum 3 hours) - Per crew $125.00 ph
All the above courses are suitable for ladies and we even supply lady instructors if required. Learn to sail in a quiet and controlled atmosphere, practice man overboard so you can go back to pick him up (guaranteed to improve life insurance premiums!) Bring along your friends for a girl's weekend of fun and enlightenment.
AYF Coastal /Offshore Skipper - Yachtmaster preparation $575.00
3 days on board:-
Learn skills that will enable you to charter your own yacht anywhere in the world.
Discounts offered to pupils who complete this course on their first and subsequent solo charters.
Included in this course is an offshore sail to places such as Port Stephens and back, night sailing preparation of yacht for sea, organization of watches at sea, deck work, navigation, meteorology, maintenance, emergency situations, docking and mooring, passage planning, radio, heaving to.
This course is a must for the dedicated sailor. Individual programs can be undertaken whilst on our annual passage to Hamilton Island or onboard our other trips to Coffs Harbour, Southport, Port Stephens and beyond - prices vary from trip to trip.
Offshore Courses/Cruises/Races
Offshore Sailing Adventures
Let us take you offshore to exciting destinations. Travel to Sydney Harbour for a short holiday or venture further afield to the Whitsundays on our annual pilgrimage north. Individual places available on trips to Jervis bay, Southport, Hamilton Island, Coffs Harbour and others. Register for our newsletter to receive information on these trips as they appear
Personalised programs
Come with a group of friends and let us take you to Port Stephens or Jervis Bay for the weekend. From the seasoned sailor to the first time adventurer. Sail offshore with fully qualified instructors and learn their world wide knowledge gained from many ocean crossings. AYF certificates available for coastal skipper, sea miles recorded for yachtmaster examinations.
Queensland Offshore Adventure Program
- July /August Sydney to Southport - 380 miles
- August - Mooloolaba to Airlie Beach- 509 miles
- August - Hogs Breath Race Week (fun week)
- August - Hamilton Island Race week.
- August/September - Return passage Hamilton Island to Pittwater Sydney.
The yachts are fully equipped for offshore racing, complete with spinnaker, liferaft, EPIRB, lifejackets, etc. Price includes insurance, race entry fees, meals (where applicable) and personnel safety gear. Come and join us for part or all of the above for the experience of a lifetime. Training given for AYF certificates. Register for our newsletter to receive information on these trips as they appear.
Spinnaker Workshop - 1 Day $265.00 - Per crew $995.00
Full day workshops on board your own boat -$375.00 - Per crew $640.00
Need to gain confidence, feeling a little rusty or have never flown a spinnaker before? This course includes theory on types of spinnaker, cloth weights and wind strengths. The practical course will show you how to pack spinnakers for racing, techniques in keeping it flying, steering to a spinnaker, using snuffers, spinnaker poles, gybing and racing techniques. Mastering how to get the most exhilaration out of sailing.
Racing Workshop - 1 Day $265.00 - Per crew $995.00
Full day workshops on board your own boat - $375.00 - Per crew $640.00
If you need to brush up on techniques in starting, mark rounding, sail setting, covering rules, manoeuvering at speed, light wind and strong wind sailing. Picking the right end of the starting line is always a tricky one, weight distribution. Bring along your own crew and even your own boat.
Theory Courses-
1. Sail trim and seamanship - 6 part course $160.00, with spouse/partner $220.00
Correspondence course in 6 parts covering all of the above elements. This is a well-respected theory course, which we fully recommend as a home compliment to your practical courses. Each part contains relevant information for the yachtsman seriously interested in getting it right.
2. Coastal Skipper / Offshore Yachtmaster Module - $99.00
This theory element must be completed to award the coastal skipper or Yachtmaster certificate of competence.
3. Meteorology for sailors - $160.00 With spouse/partner $220.00
Beginners and experienced sailors will benefit from this correspondence course with contributions from Dr Roger Badham and Ken Bat in 4 parts containing assessment sheets. Pass mark above 85% qualifies for endorsement to yachtmaster ocean meteorology.
4. Inshore and Coastal navigation - $192.00
Course in 4 parts with endorsements of the inshore skipper theory course AYF TL4. You will need the Navigation Pack with this course if you do not already have one.
5. Racing rules 2001-2003 - $159.00
Additional AYF rules book, ISAF case law, collision regulations required $61.50. Students should have their inshore skipper certificates before embarking on this course. Racing accreditation for TL2 dinghies and TL6 keelboats, both courses cover inshore and offshore racing. Course books will be required for this course.
Navigation Equipment Package - $146.70
Navigation equipment package is provided for practical courses, for theory courses you will need the additional equipment as supplied in this package. Included in the package are charts no 197 and 200, Dividers, parallel rule, tide tables, AYF log book, ships log book, pencils, rubber, pencil sharpener, chart and equipment holder.
Yacht Racing and twilight sailing - From Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, G-Arm
Wednesday afternoon - 11 weeks $420.00 includes team T-shirt
Thursday evening Spring series - 11 weeks $420.00 includes team T-shirt
Thursday evening Summer series - 11 weeks $420.00 includes team T-shirt
Occasional races $42.00
Sailing gloves from $27.50
Wednesday Afternoon
This regular event runs from Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club every Wednesday afternoon throughout the year. A non-spinnaker event during the afternoon is a fun way to spend a couple of hours on Pittwater. Start time is 2.00pm in summer and 1.30pm in winter followed by drinks in the Edinburgh Bar afterwards. No previous experience necessary
Thursday evening - spring and summer series
Also a non-spinnaker event, this race can become very exiting as up to 100 state of the art racing yachts jostle for a place on the start line. Be part of the action with plenty of close fast sailing as a large fleet flies around the southern end of Pittwater. No previous experience is necessary, presentation and dinner is served afterwards in the Halyards Bar at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Start time is 5.30pm until sunset.