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The Holiday Programmes at Nelson Yacht Club have become a ‘must-do’ for local tamariki and rangatahi, and we even see families coming from places further afield like Christchurch and Auckland to take part 🙂

During the Spring, Summer and Autumn school holidays we run holiday programmes. They are normally run over 5 days, but occasionally shorter courses are scheduled. Each week will have groups for different ages and ability levels – see the schedule below.

Instructors & coaches will work through the Yachting New Zealand Learn to Sail syllabus as appropriate to the level of sailors in the group, ticking things off as they are achieved.

We always try to fit in an adventure of some sort, such as picnic lunches on Haulashore Island, climbing the iconic Nelson Lighthouse, scavenger hunts on the Boulder Bank, sailing to Tahunanui beach or up to the Maitai river.

See below for the schedule, pricing information, and the registration form.

Please get in touch with any questions. Contact;

Our team’s priorities are safety, fun, and learning.

Schedule

Please note that these proposed groups may change and be updated depending on demand / viability and instructor availability. If you have a particular request, please get in touch and we’ll see if we can make it happen.

Courses are 5-days unless specified. See “Course Details & Pricing” for more information.

Spring School Holiday Programmes

  • Availability as at 14th September
  • Optimist Beginners – 3-days (25th – 27th) – 4 spaces
  • Optimist Improvers – 2-days (28th – 29th) – 5 spaces
    • can be added to the beginner group to make a 5-day course*
  • Optimist Intermediates – 5-days (25th – 29th) – 2 spaces
  • Topaz Beginners – 5-days (25th – 29th) – 3 spaces
  • Topaz Intermediates – 5-days (25th – 29th) – FULL
  • RS Fevas (advanced) – 5 days (25th – 29th) – 1 space
  • ***NEW – Opti Squad Camp – 3-Days (27th – 29th) – 4 spaces

*make a note on the registration and we’ll amend the fee to the 5-day price

  • Optimist Beginners – 3-days (2nd – 4th) – 5 spaces
  • Optimist Improvers – 2-days (5th – 6th) – 6 spaces
    • can be added to the beginner group as a 5-day course*.
  • Optimist Improvers – 3-days (2nd – 4th) – FULL
  • Optimist Intermediates – 2-days (5th – 6th) – FULL
    • can be added to the improver group as a 5-day course*.
  • Optimist Intermediates – 5-days (2nd – 6th) – 3 spaces
  • Topaz Beginners – 5-days (2nd – 6th) – 3 spaces
  • Topaz Intermediates – 5-days (2nd – 6th) – FULL
  • RS Fevas (advanced) – 5 days (2nd – 6th) – FULL

*make a note on the registration form and we’ll adjust the fee to the 5-day price

Summer School Holiday Programmes

  • Topaz Beginners – 5-days (11th – 15th)
  • Topaz Improvers / Intermediates – 5-days (11th – 15th)
  • RS Fevas (advanced) – 5 days (11th – 15th)
  • Windsurfing Beginners – 5 days (11th – 15th)
  • Windsurfing Improvers / Intermediates – 5-days (11th – 15th)
  • Optimist Beginners 1 – 3-days 20th – 22nd Dec
  • Optimist Beginners 2 – 3-days 20th – 22nd Dec
  • Optimist Improvers
  • Topaz Beginners
  • Topaz Improvers / Intermediates
  • RS Fevas (advanced)
  • Windsurfing Beginners
  • Windsurfing Improvers / Intermediates
  • Optimist Beginners 1
  • Optimist Beginners 2
  • Optimist Improvers
  • Topaz Beginners
  • Topaz Improvers / Intermediates
  • RS Fevas (advanced)
  • Windsurfing Beginners
  • Optimist Beginners 1
  • Optimist Beginners 2
  • Optimist Improvers / Intermediates
  • Topaz Beginners
  • Topaz Improvers / Intermediates
  • RS Fevas (advanced)
  • Windsurfing Beginners
  • Windsurfing Improvers / Intermediates
  • Optimist Beginners 1
  • Optimist Beginners 2
  • Optimist Improvers / Intermediates
  • Topaz Beginners
  • Topaz Improvers / Intermediates
  • RS Fevas (advanced)
  • Windsurfing Beginners
  • Windsurfing Improvers / Intermediates
  • Optimist Beginners 1
  • Optimist Beginners 2
  • Optimist Improvers / Intermediates
  • Topaz Beginners
  • Topaz Improvers / Intermediates
  • RS Fevas (advanced)
  • Windsurfing Beginners
  • Windsurfing Improvers / Intermediates
  • Optimist Beginners 1
  • Optimist Beginners 2
  • Optimist Improvers / Intermediates
  • Topaz Beginners
  • Topaz Improvers / Intermediates
  • RS Fevas (advanced)
  • Windsurfing Beginners
  • Windsurfing Improvers / Intermediates

Autumn School Holiday Programmes

  • Optimist – Beginners (typically 8-11yrs)
  • Optimist – Improvers (typically 8-11yrs)
  • Optimist – Intermediates (typically 8-11yrs)
  • Topaz – Beginners (typically 12-16yrs)
  • Fusion – Intermediates (typically 12-16yrs)
  • RS Fevas – Advanced
  • Optimist – Beginners
  • Optimist – Improvers
  • Optimist – Intermediates
  • Topaz – Beginners
  • Fusion – Intermediates
  • RS Fevas – Advanced

Course Details & Pricing:

Timings

  • All courses run from 9am – 4pm each day.
  • There is a drop-off window from 8.30 – 9am, and a pick-up window from 4 – 4.30pm.
  • Timings can vary due to the weather and session plans. However, a typical day might look like this:
    • 9 – 10.30am – Ashore – theory, rigging, changing, morning tea.
    • 10.30am – 12.30pm – On water session.
    • 12.30 – 1.15pm – Lunch
    • 1.15 – 3.15pm – On water session.
    • 3.15 – 4pm – Ashore – derigging, debriefing, changing.
    • Groups will aim to stagger going afloat or coming ashore in order to maintain efficiency on the ramp.

Pricing

  • 5-day Course – $410 ($350 for NYC members)
  • 4-day Course* – $360 ($300 for NYC members)
  • 3-day Course* – $290 ($240 for NYC members)
  • 2-day Course* – $210 ($180 for NYC members)
  • Drop In Day – $120 ($100 for NYC members)

*on a scheduled course of this length.

As we run small ratios of instructor to students, only one or two sailors makes the difference between a viable and a full course. So, we have to give priority to people booking the full course.

If you’d like your son/daughter to join a few days of a longer course, then the Drop-In Day rate will apply. Please note that this can’t be booked in advance and is subject to availability nearer the time.

Registration form for new sailors at the bottom of the page

The end of the week skits and shared lunch are always a highlight!

Registrations

If your son/daughter has already done a course with us and you have a club profile, you must:

  1. LOG IN to your profile and complete registrations there – a good opportunity to update any details too 🙂
  2. Hit the “Register Now” button
  3. Select the relevant registration form (E.g. Spring/Autumn Holiday Programmes),
  4. update/complete and required fields and then select the relevant GROUP.

If your son/daughter has not done a course with us before, and you do not have a club profile, please click the relevant button.