Royal Queensland
Yacht Squadron

Royal Queensland
Yacht Squadron

With Adrian Finglas, Head Coach RQYS.

A small sailing dingy lands at the RQYS boat ramp, a child maybe 8 years old nimbly jumps out, secures the boat and rushes to grab the trolley to take the dingy up to the hosing off area. The boat is washed, put away and secured in no time. Parents take note, these skills alone make the RQYS sailing program worth every cent. Children of various ages repeat the process. Happy, responsible, resilient children with skills and connections to last a lifetime. 

How does someone learn to sail? 

• The first step is to contact the club. We have new programs beginning regularly for people of all ages
• “Tackers” is where most children start, this has progressive stages so children can continue to improve their skills. Coaching and racing is also available. 
• “Out there sailing” is a national program for teenagers 12 – 17. It is designed to get young people out in boats having fun and learning how to sail responsibly. 
• School holiday programs are always popular.  

It’s a daunting thing to go out there, do you get wet on your first day?  

• Maybe…. everyone loves it! Our instructors are young and fun-loving. All staff are well trained and ensure the area is clear, and that it is a safe environment. Our rescue craft are there to reassure. The terminology we use is “worst case scenario is you’ll get wet”.  

Can anyone sail? 

• Yes, as long as someone has the agility to move around the boat they can sail. If agility is an issue, there are adaptive measures that can usually be used. 

Do you have many families involved in the club? How many generations? 

• It is very much a family activity, often parents learn after their children learn. We currently have a Sunday morning group of parents that are learning. 
• Grandparents and even the occasional great-grandparents are involved particularly with the larger boats. 
• The club hosts many family-friendly events and celebrations. Everyone is included. 
• Even if people don’t have family here, people become part of the sailing tribe. We often see our young sailors benefit from their connections in the club when they seek mentors and employment opportunities. 

What sort of cost is involved? 

• Learn to sail is cheaper than babysitting. Entry level per hour very cheap. Less than tennis lessons. Tackers holiday program, all day, is $395 for the week.  
• Equipment leasing is an option with junior level boats leased per term. Even to buy an Optimum boat isn’t overly expensive, around $1200.  
• Like all sport, the higher the level the more expensive the equipment. Sponsorship for talented competitors may be an option. 

What are the pathways for people to progress? 

• People can choose how they sail, whether is it purely for leisure or competing at world level.  
• Those who may not want to sail are included in the club. Our volunteers manage the safety boats, radios, and a host of valued positions. 
• Careers in the yachting industry are vast and plentiful. From coaching tacker programs, being a part of a racing team, broker, to working as a superyacht captain. 

What sort of skills can people expect to learn and how does that spill over to other aspects of life? 

• Tactical thinking 
• Planning – tides, weather etc 
• Resilience – tip over 
• Planning for safety,  
• Maintenance of equipment 
• Teamwork 
• Listening to coach 
• Independent thinkers, our participants become captains of their own ship, taking it on a journey they must plan for. 
• They learn how to be aware of other traffic in the harbour, increase spatial awareness, the limits of craft, and the importance of safety. All youth that sail, ace getting their licence, as the driving skills are second nature. Even young children, young instructors and coaches, deal with motors, rules, safety planning when using the rescue power boats.  
• Consequences of concentrating even when tired and uncomfortable. 
• The diversity of the members create opportunity and understanding. Boaties can be anything from concreters and builders to barristers and high court judges. Exposure to all different walks of life is invaluable. 
• Physical agility, healthy outdoor lifestyle is an obvious positive but the mental freedom the sport gives you is the best. It opens up the imagination for what is possible, particularly the interaction with dolphins, dugongs and other marine life. From a young age, our participants understand that they have incredible tropical islands within their reach.  

Sail away, sail away……. 

​With Adrian Finglas, Head Coach RQYS.

A small sailing dingy lands at the RQYS boat ramp, a child maybe 8 years old nimbly jumps out, secures the boat and rushes to grab the trolley to take the dingy up to the hosing off area. The boat is washed, put away and secured in no time. Parents take note, these skills alone make the RQYS sailing program worth every cent. Children of various ages repeat the process. Happy, responsible, resilient children with skills and connections to last a lifetime. 

How does someone learn to sail? 

• The first step is to contact the club. We have new programs beginning regularly for people of all ages
• “Tackers” is where most children start, this has progressive stages so children can continue to improve their skills. Coaching and racing is also available. 
• “Out there sailing” is a national program for teenagers 12 – 17. It is designed to get young people out in boats having fun and learning how to sail responsibly. 
• School holiday programs are always popular.  

It’s a daunting thing to go out there, do you get wet on your first day?  

• Maybe…. everyone loves it! Our instructors are young and fun-loving. All staff are well trained and ensure the area is clear, and that it is a safe environment. Our rescue craft are there to reassure. The terminology we use is “worst case scenario is you’ll get wet”.  

Can anyone sail? 

• Yes, as long as someone has the agility to move around the boat they can sail. If agility is an issue there are adaptive measures that can usually be used. 

Do you have many families involved in the club? How many generations? 

• It is very much a family activity, often parents learn after their children learn. We currently have a Sunday morning group of parents that are learning. 
• Grandparents and even the occasional great-grandparents are involved particularly with the larger boats. 
• The club hosts many family-friendly events and celebrations. Everyone is included. 
• Even if people don’t have family here, people become part of the sailing tribe. We often see our young sailors benefit from their connections in the club when they seek mentors and employment opportunities. 

What sort of cost is involved? 

• Learn to sail is cheaper than babysitting. Entry level per hour very cheap. Less than tennis lessons. Tackers holiday program, all day, is $395 for the week.  
• Equipment leasing is an option with junior level boats leased per term. Even to buy an Optimum boat isn’t overly expensive, around $1200.  
• Like all sport, the higher the level the more expensive the equipment. Sponsorship for talented competitors may be an option. 

What are the pathways for people to progress? 

• People can choose how they sail, whether is it purely for leisure or competing at world level.  
• Those who may not want to sail are included in the club. Our volunteers manage the safety boats, radios, and a host of valued positions. 
• Careers in the yachting industry are vast and plentiful. From coaching tacker programs, being a part of a racing team, broker, to working as a superyacht captain. 

What sort of skills can people expect to learn and how does that spill over to other aspects of life? 

• Tactical thinking 
• Planning – tides, weather etc 
• Resilience – tip over 
• Planning for safety,  
• Maintenance of equipment 
• Teamwork 
• Listening to coach 
• Independent thinkers, our participants become captains of their own ship, taking it on a journey they must plan for. 
• They learn how to be aware of other traffic in the harbour, increase spatial awareness, the limits of craft, and the importance of safety. All youth that sail, ace getting their licence, as the driving skills are second nature. Even young children, young instructors and coaches, deal with motors, rules, safety planning when using the rescue power boats.  
• Consequences of concentrating even when tired and uncomfortable. 
• The diversity of the members create opportunity and understanding. Boaties can be anything from concreters and builders to barristers and high court judges. Exposure to all different walks of life is invaluable. 
• Physical agility, healthy outdoor lifestyle is an obvious positive but the mental freedom the sport gives you is the best. It opens up the imagination for what is possible, particularly the interaction with dolphins, dugongs and other marine life. From a young age, our participants understand that they have incredible tropical islands within their reach.  

Sail away, sail away…….