Member Training Programme Launches with Crew Talks

26 January 2026
Member Training Programme Launches with Crew Talks
 
The HYC 2026 Adult Member Training Programme is live! Training starts next week, kicking off with the first of this year’s member Crew Talks on 4th February.
 
These sessions will be run by HYC Training & Sailing Development Officer Matthew Cotter on Wednesday evenings until 15 April. A wide range of topics will be covered starting with the basics of crewing and sail setup. Matthew will be joined for advanced topics by experts in the field including Shane Hughes and Maurice O'Connell.  
 
All members are welcome, so whether you’re new to sailing or looking to deepen your knowledge, there will be something for everyone. Crew Talks can be booked here.
 
To support the training programme, a Sailor Development Pathway has been designed to make progression clearer and more accessible. It highlights the different routes available across keelboat racing, cruising, and dinghy sailing, helping sailors identify where they are now and where they’d like to go next.
 
For Beginners, Learn to Sail courses begin in March and are an excellent way to get on the water and start sailing in a fun, supportive environment.
 
New this year, the J80 Helm Development Sessions are ideal for sailors with some experience who want to improve their helming and skippering skills and begin working towards their ICC with each week focusing on a specific skill.
 
For those with a strong interest in racing, J80 Race Training Sessions will start in May with each session focusing on a different aspects of racing, including starts, upwind sailing and downwind sailing. Training will be delivered by qualified instructors alongside members of HYC’s K25 Team.
 
In addition to structured race training, two social racing evenings will run in May and June. No need to organise a crew or a boat — simply sign up and you'll be assigned to a team. The format will be four short, non-spinnaker races in the J80s, followed by food and drinks in the bar.
 
 
For sailors who enjoy a bit more splash and excitement, there is a packed Dinghy Training Schedule planned. This includes a 3-day Learn to Sail Dinghy Course over the May Bank Holiday weekend covering all the essential skills to get started.
 
Dinghy 'coaching lite' sessions will also take place during Thursday evening club racing with a coach on the water to guide sailors around the course and cover a specific racing skill during the weekly briefing.
 
Additional training will be available on Saturday mornings over the Summer for more advanced dinghy sailors looking to focus on the Basic Skills course.
 
And as if all that wasn't enough, for members who are more interested in engines than sails, there is a range of powerboat courses throughout the year, from Introduction right through to advanced Safety Boat courses and new Powerboat Development Sessions have also been added to the schedule this year.