Tackers FAQ's

Do you have to be a member of Williamstown Sailing Club to participate in Tackers Courses?

No, one of the great things about Tackers is you don’t have to be a member of a club to participate. Of course, we’d love all Tackers kids and their families who participate in Tackers to go on to become members.

Do kids need to be able to swim to participate in Tackers?

Participants must be water confident. Some ability to swim would be preferable, however they will be wearing lifejackets at all times. In the first session, the instructors supervise the group in a 25m swim with their lifejackets on. Parents/guardians are encouraged to talk us if they have any concerns.

What type of boats will the kids be sailing?

The Tackers program is delivered in a boat called an Ozi-Opti. This boat is an ideal introduction to dinghy sailing. The boats allow two kids to sail together and as they gain confidence and move up from Tackers 1 to Tackers 2 they are able to sail the boat single-handed. The boats have built-in buoyancy which means they provide extra stability.

Are the kids out sailing on their own?

When kids start sailing in Tackers 1 they will be sailing in pairs. There are 6 boats in a group and there will be an Instructor and an Assistant Instructor in a safety boat supervising the group. The safety boat stays on the water all the time the kids are sailing.

Do the kids need any special clothing to participate in Tackers?

No, there is no special clothing needed. Here is what you need to bring when you go sailing with Tackers:

Clothes & Shoes – wear ones that will protect you from the sun and that you don’t mind getting wet and will keep you warm on cold days. A wet suit is not essential but can be a good idea.
A change of clothes and shoes.
Towel
Drink bottle, lunch and snacks.
Hat – to keep you warm and protect you from the sun.
Sunscreen – we have more available at the Club

…and loads of energy! Life jackets are provided.

What do you cover in Tackers 1?

By the end of the Tackers 1 course, the participants will be able to:

Steer with tiller extension under towing paddling power
Tie a figure 8 knot, round twice and two half hitches
Tack (push turn)
Gybe (pull turn)
Reach around a figure of 8 course using both tacking and gybing
Sail with tiller extension
Sail upwind and downwind by following the safety boat

What do you cover in Tackers 2?

By the end of the Tackers 2 course, the participants will be able to:

Get out of irons (no-go-zone) on their own
Safely gybe (pull turn) the boat
Correctly use the tiller extension
Sailing around a triangle course, including:
- Upwind - on a close hauled course tacking through the 'no go zone'
- Downwind - with centreboard up
- Reaching - correct sail position
Demonstrate a 360 and 720-degree turn

What can kids do when they finish Tackers?

To complement the Tackers Courses, Williamstown Sailing Club offers Tackers Fleet sailing on most Saturday mornings throughout the season (9:30am-11:30am). This is supervised sailing to practice the skills leaned in a Tackers Course, rather than formal instruction. It is free for members.

After completing Tackers 2 parents are encouraged to purchase a Minnow for their child and get involved in our Novice Sailing Program.

How can parents/guardians be involved?

Tackers Courses are taught by qualified Australian Sailing Instructors from Williamstown Sailing Club. They oversee the session planning, delivery, and make sure the kids have fun and develop their skills and confidence in a safe environment. Parents/guardians are not required to stay for the duration of the course.

How can I register?

Tackers Courses FAQs