Europa Holidays RYA keelboat courses on Lake Garda
Beginners, improvers and experts
We offer formal RYA keelboat courses from beginner to expert, wind conditions permitting, either intensive – over two full days – or holiday-oriented, spread over 4 or 5 days.
The RYA keelboat courses are suited to those wishing to learn sport boat sailing (18′ to 30′ boats with keel and small or no cabin) and those wanting a sailing experience with no possibility of capsize.
Our ESS Intro 6-hour course is based upon two 3-hour sessions and is aimed at introducing you to sailing a keelboat safely but does not offer a certificate.
RYA keelboat sailing school
Instructor-led, small groups
You will be able to learn in a SB20 (formely Laser SB3) and can develop helming and crewing skills. Our instruction is personal with one instructor teaching a family or small group who have booked together . There is a maximum of 3 students for our RYA keelboat courses.
We use an SB20 keelboat which is small and manoeuvrable but fast and challenging in a strong wind. Everything you learn in this boat is good preparation for sailing in larger boats or taking the RYA Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses at a coastal venue.
RYA courses
We are an RYA training centre and follow the RYA syllabuses and course structure, full details of these can be viewed by clicking on Adult courses. While Junior sailors are welcome on the SB20, with responsible adults, formal courses are normally only available to those age 16 or over as the work and discipline involved may be too onerous for smaller and younger sailors.
Our advice to those interested in keelboats, single-handers and catamarans is to first complete a dinghy sailing course in double-handers before embarking on a different type of boat.
Our experience is that good boat handling and sail setting in a dinghy gives you a better understanding of “why” and “how” of sailing, making it easier to achieve high skill levels, quickly, in a different vessel.
Popular courses
The prices below are those available to Europa Holidays clients only. For those managing their own accommodation, please check the prices at Europa Surf and Sail
3-hour funsail
Experience sportboat sailing
£ 150
00
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3-hours
-
Basic equipment provided
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No experience necessary
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Should be confident around water
All students wear buoyancy aids.
Two-hour option available for £120. second, third person half-price.
Two-hour option available for £120. second, third person half-price.
Fun
6-hour ESS
Learn to sail and tack a sportboat
£ 250
00
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Two 3-hour sessions
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Basic equipment provided
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No experience necessary
-
Should be confident around water
All students wear buoyancy aids.
Learning
2-day RYA
Adult level 1,2 or 3
£ 340
00
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Two days or 4 half-days
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Basic equipment provided
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Certificate or skills to previous level
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Should be confident around water
All students wear buoyancy aids.
Basic spraytops and wet-boots are available but good weatherproof gear is recommended for whole day courses.
Basic spraytops and wet-boots are available but good weatherproof gear is recommended for whole day courses.
Certificate
3-day RYA
Adult levels 1&2
£ 500
00
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Three days or 6 half-days
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Basic equipment provided
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No experience necessary
-
Should be confident around water
All students wear buoyancy aids.
Also available as Levels 2 & 3 combined, providing that basic skills can be demonstrated at the start of the course.
Also available as Levels 2 & 3 combined, providing that basic skills can be demonstrated at the start of the course.
Certificate
Sportboat sailing for beginners, improvers and advanced sailors
Whether you pre-book or book when you get here, everything you need is at the beach. Buoyancy aids are supplied and spray-tops and wet-boots available. For your comfort, you should bring suitable sailing clothes and jacket / over-trousers / deck shoes if you have them. A spare set of clothes for when you return is recommended as the sailing can be exciting and a bit wetter when it is windy.
Our instructors are RYA trained and we use boats inspected annually by the RYA. Our SB20 is 20ft long and maintained throughout the season. An electric outboard (Torqeedo) makes berth exit and entry simple and the harbour mooring gives plently of opportunity to practice manoeuvring a keelboat
The SB20 is rigged for each days sailiung and we will appreciate your help in carrying the sails, outboard and other equyipoment to the port. Part of the training is likely to include hoisting and lowering sails and there is an opportunity also to drive the boat under motor.
Course packages
– for you and your family
We can tailor courses to suit your needs, providing all of the required syllabus activities are completed (if you want a certificate). We can also offer discounts to families or groups booking together and for combinations of courses not shown here e.g. RYA Level 2 Dinghy combined with a RYA Level 2 Keelboat.
If you want to mix windsurfing and dinghy sailing with your keelboat sailing, we can arrange that. Talk to Alison or Charles on +393386053096 or email info@europaholidays.com to discuss your requirements.