OnBoard is for everyone who is drawn to sailing, and is a convenient way to learn how to connect to the world of sailing. The goal of OnBoard is to give you the resources and information needed to help you navigate your way to the sailing experiences that suit your lifestyle.
By particpating in the OnBoard Program, you will be able to access many of the activities offered to new sailors by our OnBoard Partner Yacht Clubs including twighlight sailing, try sailing days, family days, trainee regattas and many more. No matter what the activity or experience you are looking for, OnBoard will help you find it! (OnBoard is only available to individuals who are not yacht club members)
What are the benefits of becoming an OnBoard participant?
As an OnBoard particpant you receive:
- An OnBoard Participation Card. By presenting this card at participating OnBoard Partner Yacht Clubs and Yachting Australia Training Centres, partcipants will be able to access a range of nationally available sailing experiences, activities and information (note: OnBoard does not provide free yacht club membership).
- The card and personal identification number will also provide access to the Yachting Australia website where you can manage your personal information and search for information about OnBoard providers and their activities.
- Access to a range of benefits and discounts offered by our benefit partners: Hertz, Cellarmasters, Hewlett Packard, Mortgage Force, Intercontinental Hotels and YAFFA publications.
If you would like to join OnBoard, please click here.
Victorian Yacht Clubs displaying the blue and orange OnBoard flag would love to introduce you and show you through their establishment and the different aspects involved in sailing. Whether it is racing, cruising or social activity that interests you, an OnBoard Yacht Club can provide you with the experience that you are after. OnBoard recognised yacht clubs are located all over victoria. To gain access to all this great information just become an OnBoard member.
What Else can you do......
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
Firstly – Try before you buy – be sure sailing is for you. How you can do this:
- Get to know someone who owns a yacht and ask him or her to take you for a sail. Try to experience a variety of weather conditions before making up your mind whether or not sailing is for you.
- Do a short two-day introduction course with a Sailing School.
- Ask Yachting Victoria for an introduction and visit one of the many yacht clubs located around our waterways. Ask an official of the club to arrange for you to have a sail. Provided that the weather is suitable, or the club fleet is not about to start racing, an experienced yachtsperson is usually quite happy to introduce a newcomer to their sport.
LEARNING TO SAIL
The best way to learn to sail correctly and safely is to enrol in one of the approved sailing courses conducted through schools, colleges, sailing camps, sailing schools or yacht clubs throughout the state. This will provide you with the introductory experience, basic safety and knowledge and confidence for you to continue - which you can do by joining an established yacht or sailing club. Contact details and locations for training can be provided by Yachting Victoria or accessed on the Yachting Victoria website www.yachtingvictoria.com.au .
Once you get to know a few people you will soon be a regular member of a crew participating in the Club's sailing activities. This gives you an opportunity to gain an overall 'feeling' for the sport, to learn seamanship and safety, the principles of boat- handling techniques, and eventually to evaluate which type of boat you might like to own. Build on this practical knowledge by reading books and magazines, attending lecture and film nights, talking to the experts and watching how they sail.
CHOOSING A BOAT
Having experienced the pleasure and excitement of sailing, and grasped some of the fundamentals, it is likely that you will want your own boat. Everyone you ask will have a different opinion on the right boat for you. But you must make you own decision. To help you reach this decision, try answering these questions:
- What do you want your boat for?
Racing? Training? Recreation? Family cruising?
- How will you transport and store your boat?
Car top? Trailer? Club storage? Mooring?
- How much can you afford to spend?
Allow for all necessary extras such as wet-weather gear, life-jackets, boat covers, spares, safety equipment, insurance, etc
Victoria has many Registered Class Associations. To obtain information concerning any type of boat in which you are interested, have a trial sail, its cost, where it is sailed, and so on they are a wonderful source of information. You will find that Yacht Clubs and Class Associations will be pleased to help you in any way they can. Refer to the Yachting Victoria’s website www.yachtingvictoria.com.au for club and class contacts.
