Sailing lessons

Sailing lessons Optimist

7 to 12 years

Learned at a younger age will given you the fun in the older days! Many experienced sailors once started out in an optimist. During these lessons, children learn in a playful manner how to sail in these ideal teaching boats. Of course under the supervision of qualified instructors, the children can practice on the water of De Kuilart.

The minimum age for these lessons is 7 years.
A swimming certificate is required.

The day programme of the optimist lessons

• Day 1:
  To start with, you learn how to rig the optimist and how to launch the boat. We also go out and sail on the lake of De Kuilart. On the water, we learn 8s and you learn what tacking is. At the end of the day, we sail back to the shore and you will learn how to unrig the optimist.
• Day 2:
  Today, you will start rigging up the optimist yourself and we will sail around the buoys in a course. You will also learn how it is that your boat moves forward because of the wind and watch out for the jibe!
• Day 3:
  This day we are going to teach you how to master sailing even better, to learn this we are going to practice a lot, and you will automatically notice that it is getting easier and easier!
• Day 4:
  On day 4 we will repeat everything you have learned in the past days. And at the end of the lesson you will receive the only real Kuilart sailing certificate!

Sailing lessons Valk

12 years and older

For the older children from 12 years and adults, we have the sailing lessons in a valk. A stable and safe instruction boat. In a few days the participants learn the basics of sailing. These lessons are also suitable to sail together with your family, you can take a maximum of 4 persons in a valk.

The minimum age for these lessons is 12 years.
A swimming diploma is required.

The day programme of the valk lessons

• Day 1:
  Day 1 you start by learning how to rig the boat, learning the terminology and then set sail! Everyone will take turn on the helm. We also practice tacking (turning the boat) and various courses. After an intensive day on the water, the valk must be rigged again. You will also learn this on day 1.
• Day 2:
  Today, you will start rigging the valk yourself. We will repeat the lessons, but we will also learn something new! On day 2, we will practice luffing - falling off the wind, close to the wind, jibing and finally tacking.
• Day 3:
  We start by rigging up the valk and then we go sailing and repeat what we have learned in the past few days. On day 3, you will also learn what is meant by upwind and downwind, high, low and finally alongshore.
• Day 4:
  The days fly by, we arrive at day 4 the last day. On this day, we are going to make a beautiful sailing trip where the crew will put the finishing touches to the lessons and go ashore themselves.

Conditions sailing lessons

The sailing lessons are held during the regular May holidays, Ascension/Pentecost and the summer holidays. With sufficient interest, lessons can also be organised in the early and late seasons.

The lessons always takes place, even in rain or bad weather. If there is a thunderstorm, we will not go on the water for safety reasons, but a theory lesson may be given. It is compulsory for participants to wear a life jacket. Don't you have one? No problem, this is included in the price of the lessons, of course you may also take and wear your own life jacket!