Crawley Mariners Yacht Club has always been regarded as a friendly club, with much to offer all dinghy sailors, especially those with families. The club has a fleet of Optibats and Toppers to assist their junior training scheme.

Under the guidance of the RYA we have structured our race training for juniors and became a Volvo Champion Club. This enables us to help and assist any aspiring Olympic medallists to find the right coaching and training available to help them in their quest.

We also have two Lasers with Radial rigs, plus one 4.7 (for smaller helms). To improve the opportunities for double-handed sailing we purchased a Cadet dinghy, which is ideal for those aged 9-14 who want to learn traditional spinnaker techniques. Two Topper Magnos were purchased which are ideal for us to take to Cobnor and the south coast to teach Trapezing skills and asymmetric spinnakers to older juniors and adults. Every year we sell our oldest Topper and buy a new one to ensure we always have the latest up to date fitting. (e.g. centre main).

Thanks to three of our young sailors living in the West Sussex area, who applied to the Youth Opportunities Fund, we now have four RS Fevas (age range 10-16, and small adults). These boats enable us to teach RYA Stage 4 which includes more advanced sailing and boat handling skills enabling our members to apply for pre-assessment to take part in RYA Dinghy Instructors courses held at other coastal RYA centres. This qualification can help young people with their D of E awards, and often allows them to find summer jobs abroad whilst at college or university.

These new boats will also allow us to learn Team Racing skills, and enter more young people than we are able to at present in County and National Regattas.

Cobnor Weekends

Twice a year we take a group of twenty students to Cobnor Activity Centre in Chichester Harbour. These weekends are very popular with both the young people and the instructors who come along to help.  It involves staying in a log cabin, with a bit of sleep and a lot of sailing.

Junior Helm Week

In August, the Mariners hold their annual Junior Helm Week, this is ‘the’ event in the junior calendar, when some 100 youngsters, aged between six and sixteen attend, to either learn to sail or help others to sail. It is held in two sessions, morning and afternoon, with around fifty sailors attending each session. The Oppie group caters for those aged 6 to 10 and the Topper group for the 10 to 16’s. These groups are sometimes split again into ability groups if numbers allow. It is a very enjoyable week of fun which culminates with the biggest water pistol fight imaginable! Be sure to book early for this event it is always very popular. Application form in the May newsletter and on the website around the same time.

Junior Saturday Club

In addition to the recognised RYA courses, there are the junior ‘Saturday Club’ days, a non-certificated workshop for members aged 6 to 16 wishing to improve their skills and have some fun sailing. They take place one a month starting at Easter and finishing in November. Experience is not necessary but registration is required to enable the instructors and helpers to organise the activities. Optibats are ideal for the younger ones and even those that have never sailed will soon have the satisfaction of being in control of a sailing boat. Toppers are more suitable for older children and although less stable, are great fun. Both groups start at 9.30am with rigging and ready to go afloat at 10.00am, and start to de-rig and be packed away by 12.30pm. Suitable wet weather clothing is adviseable and a change of clothing is sensible. As a guide, the age range in the Oppies is 6 to 10 and Toppers 10 and up. This is only a guide and depends on experience and confidence. Note that children under 10 yrs require a parent or responsible adult to stay on site during the sessions. Parents are actively encouraged to help with preparing the boats and putting them away as this enables instructors to spend more time instructing!

The races start at 1.00pm and are run especially for beginners to racing (both juniors and adults). The duration is only 30 minutes and coaches will be on hand before and after the racing to help you. Plus they are also allowed to coach on the water during the race – which is against the rules in all other race series!

The Junior committee are..