WOSC Sailing School

Principal: Matt Batterton

Email: sailingschool@wosc.org.uk

West Oxfordshire Sailing Club has a well-established RYA-affiliated sailing school.

All tuition is organised under the supervision of an RYA Senior Instructor and participants can gain a nationally recognised certificate in sailing. The school offers courses to existing WOSC members (adults and juniors) and external adult candidates if availability allows (adult weekend courses only).

See Sailing School Courses for more details of the courses offered.

For information on becoming a member, please see the Membership pages on this website.

Important information for all students

All training is conducted at West Oxfordshire Sailing Club sited off the B4449 Stanton Harcourt to Hardwick road near Hardwick in Oxfordshire. The nearest Postcode for Sat Nav use is OX29 5AG.

All individuals involved in the WOSC Sailing School, including participants, parents, instructors and volunteers agree to follow a Code of Conduct.

By participating in any training course, you must agree to the Booking Conditions (see below). 

In line with RYA policy, WOSC Sailing School aims to ensure that all present and potential participants, instructors, coaches and volunteers are treated fairly and on an equal basis. More details can be found on the RYA pages: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and at Equality and Diversity policy.pdf

Instructors and supervision

All training is delivered by RYA-trained volunteer Instructors with the aim of promoting the sport of sailing and participation in the club.

For all training the following minimum ratios are required:

Pre-requirements and Equipment

For the sailing courses, you must be able to swim 50 metres in light clothing; you will not be tested on this, but you are expected to be confident enough in water, wearing a buoyancy aid, to participate in the capsize drill. 

• Please wear suitable clothing for the weather and assume that you will get wet, so bring a change of clothes.
• You must bring your own buoyancy aid for the Saturday Afternoon Training Sessions and Junior Sailing Week. Please do not use buoyancy aids that are of a tabard design without a crotch strap.
• For the weekend course, buoyancy aids can be provided by the club if necessary.
• All participants must wear closed shoes that don't come off, i.e. no 'crocs', sandals or flip-flops. Old trainers or water/beach shoes are fine.
• You MUST declare any medical issues of relevance (see booking conditions) to the Training Secretary (mailto:training@wosc.org.uk) before participating in any training course at the time it is booked. Information on medical conditions will need to be passed on to Instructors so that they are better prepared to assist you should you be taken ill.
• If you have a medical condition that could potentially cause loss of consciousness or awareness, as well as informing the Training Secretary, you will need to use a life jacket that supports the head above the water, rather than a buoyancy aid. 
• It would be helpful for Instructors if parents could discuss any special educational needs with the Training Secretary (mailto:training@wosc.org.uk) before participation in the course.  

Booking conditions

In booking any training course as a participant or parent/guardian of a participant, I declare that the participant:

1. Is able to swim 50 metres.

2. Agrees to abide by the West Oxfordshire Sailing Club rules and understands that insurance against personal accident and loss or damage to personal property is the responsibility of the participant.

3. That to the best of my knowledge, the participant does not suffer from epilepsy, disability, giddy spells, asthma, diabetes, angina, or other heart condition, and is fit to participate in the course or that I have declared any issues before booking a course to the Training Secretary (mailto:training@wosc.org.uk). Note that a medical condition does not necessarily prevent participation in the course, but the Senior Instructor and supervising Instructors need to be aware of any medical problems for your safety.

4. Has read and agrees to the Code of Conduct for the WOSC Sailing School.

5. Has read and understands the RYA general guidance on the risk of Weil's disease when taking part in water-based sports found here: Leptospirosis and Weil's Disease.

For details of training offered, please refer to 'Sailing School Courses' and for the dates of courses see below:

Click here for course dates.