Author: John Hayward

Posted on

Adults 3 day Learn to Sail Course – July/Aug 2026

Saturdays 18th, 25th July, 1st Aug. 8.30-3.00 each Saturday.

Register Here

This Course will be conducted with on-shore instruction, followed by experienced volunteers providing personal One-to-One practice on the water in our Club Pacer and Corsair sailing dinghies. 

The aim of this introductory course is for all participants to be able to steer (and crew) a sailing dinghy on all points of sailing in light to moderate conditions in sheltered waters. Then be eligible for regular sailing on the Tweed River at our friendly Sailing Club.

The three-day course will include:

  • Safety
  • Boat and Sail handling
  • Capsize Drill
  • Upwind and Downwind Sailing
  • Tacking and Gybing
  • Parts of the boat and rope work
  • Wind, tide and weather considerations

Participants should be fit and be able to swim 25 metres and be agile (there is a lot of moving from one side of the boat to the other, quickly, and under a boom).

Participants should bring a packed lunch each day, aqua shoes, water bottle, blockout, and wear a sunhat.  A wetsuit or thermal or wool top with spray jacket. A pair of gloves is also handy to bring (there’s lots of pulling on ropes).

Club boats available: Seven 14’ Pacers, Six X3s, Two 16’ Corsairs and Safety craft. Life Jackets provided. Other Club facilities are limited.  

Learning to sail as an adult offers a unique combination of personal growth, adventure, and relaxation. Unlike many hobbies, sailing challenges both the mind and body, fostering problem-solving skills, confidence, and resilience. It provides a meaningful escape from routine, encouraging connection with nature and promoting mindfulness as one navigates wind, water, and weather. Adults often bring greater patience, discipline, and appreciation to the learning process, making it a deeply rewarding pursuit. Whether for solo exploration or shared experiences with others, sailing opens up a world of freedom and discovery at any age.

Cost: $265 – this includes a Sail Pass for the 3 days. All proceeds go to fuel and maintenance costs for our club, sailing and rescue boats. All instructors are volunteers. 

Maximum number 7 – so register and pay early

More general information contact John Hayward on 0431 025497 or Monique on 0409 761 908.

$265 Bank Transfer Required to confirm entry – please include your name when paying.

Bank details:

Bank: Westpac

Account name: Tweed Valley SC

BSB:032-552

Account No.111450

$265 Includes Sail Pass for Course for 3 days

Posted on

Junior Sailing – Every Sunday Morning

Junior sailing will continue every Sunday Morning from 8.30 to 11.30 until further notice. All juniors members are welcome and should register each week. Club boats are available and free for ‘Package’ members. Competent parents are encouraged to join in.

Check out our TVSC Juniors WhatsApp group.

Thanks to Marg W who has offered to help with administration, and to Lex B and Bryan T who are always there!

Cheers, John H

Posted on

Volunteers Need for Upcoming Sailing Lessons (Adults and Juniors)

Hi All,

After several requests for Sailing Lessons, I am keen to organise these, however numbers will depend on how many other sailors can help out.

This winter, I propose to run a course over two consecutive weekends: 15-16th and 22-23rd June. Each day 9am-12 then 1pm-4pm

Also a School Holiday Course for Juniors over three days: 22,23,24th July from 8.30am til 3pm

No bookings will be taken until we’ve confirmed volunteer numbers.

We have run these courses successfully in the past, using our six Club Pacers and six Club X3s. They provide valuble income for the club.

If you can help in any way please let me know what dates/morning and or afternoon, so I can work out numbers and start advertising soon.(we can switch around if you want to change later)

Thanks,

John Hayward (AS Instructor)

Text/mob: 0431025497

Email: interludesailing@hotmail.com

Posted on

Manly Junior Practice Day

Sunday 12 Nov. ’23. Starting 12.30

As Heat 1 of the MJ Club Championship has been postponed to Sunday 19th Nov ’23, Junior Sailing this week will be practice for that event.

Please register here to book an MJ (4 now available) or a Club X3 and nominate skipper and crew.

Parents who are members are welcome to register here for a sail in a Pacer. 

Posted on

Juniors Sailing News

This Sunday 22 Oct ’23 Juniors Fun Sailing will be starting later, at 10:30, so those doing Nippers can join in later. Register under ‘JUNIORS’, ‘CURRENT EVENTS’ (above). Parents can also register to sail if they are members or hold a Sail Pass.

Last Sunday 15 Oct ’23 we had excellent weather and tide conditions so sailed down the River to Tweed Heads and back. Thanks to Kate B for the photos!

September School Holiday Course. Conditions were great for a dozen new Juniors to complete this course over three days. Thanks to the club members and Juniors who donated their time to make this event a huge success. These birds-eye photos are thanks to Ari !!

Posted on

Sunday Morning Juniors – 23 July ’23 

Sailing threes X3s and a Pacer, seven Juniors hit the water on a cool winters morning. However as the cloud cleared to a warm sunny day, they sailed confidently upwind into a light sou’wester, with the benefit of an incoming tide. 

Tacking upstream, they were soon past Tony’s Island, then up under The Bridge to the ‘upper reaches’ of the Tweed, before easing sheets for a pleasant run back to Fingal. All boats returned to the beach without assistance. Well done Eva, Finn, Malu, Monty, Nathan, Tom and Travis,

Thanks to Adam, Lex and the parents who helped the kids to unrig etc, before the afternoon race. Next Sunday we might rig a couple of Manly Juniors? JH

Posted on

School Holiday Sailing Course

3,5,6 July 2023

Fifteen keen young locals turned up and signed on for a three day Sailing Course at Fingal. It was a chilly Monday morning.
After the safety briefing and a capsize drill demo, they trolleyed the club’s six Pacer dinghies down to the water, launched and boarded them to be towed by the two rescue boats around the Tweed River. Without sails, they soon had all experienced steering a boat with a rudder.

With a light sou’east breeze and no rain, conditions were ideal! Next, sails were hoisted ,and with one of our club sailors on board all youngsters experienced sailing for the fist time. Learning to raise and lower the centreboard and rudder, trimming and cleating the jib, trimming the mains’l, balancing the boat, steering a straight course using the tiller extension, and using teamwork to tack the boat onto a new course. Those who were apprehensive at first soon gained confidence.

Persistent rain was forecast for Tuesday, so sailing was postponed until Wednesday and Thursday.

With the sun shining and light winds, sailing practice continued after learning to tie a bowline and a few other sailor knots. The youngsters were gaining confidence so we introduced the skill of gybing. After one or two minor “booms” they soon learnt to duck!

We sailed to a distant beach where several of the youngsters braved the cold for a swim. On the final day, with most boats now sailing without instructors aboard, we set a triangular course, where they could practice the skills they had learnt. Some were now sailing two-up in our X3 dinghies! On the final afternoon the northerly wind picked up and some even practiced their capsize drill, after some thrilling rides!
Despite their ages (8-12 + one 15 year old) most seemed to have a great time and progressed well.

Well done! Barney, Bella, Cai, Eva, Floyd, Gabriele, Harry, Jonathon, Kip, Leonardo, Monty, Sufi, Tom, Vida and Wilbur (in alphabetic order).

Most of these Juniors will be now joining our fun Junior sailing sessions to practice their skills and, who knows we may have some Olympic Champions in this group! (Keep an eye on this website for the next Junior ‘Event’.)

Thanks to parents who helped the youngsters with launching, retrieving and putting the boats away. A huge thank you to those club members who were able to give their time to help out with, at times, a challenging group of youngsters! Thanks Kynan (all 3 days), Peter F, Peter R, Bryan, Karen, Kate Y, Monique and Tegan. And special thanks to other Juniors, Finn, Charlie, Ali and Travis who were given the daunting task of ‘Assistant Instructor’. You did well!

John H

PS. Thanks for photos!