OutThere Sailing for Teenagers

For teenagers who have outgrown Tackers and are not ready for an adult course.

Photo — OutThere Sailing for Teenagers

OutThere Sailing is aimed primarily at teenagers and provides a more social introduction to sailing than a traditional junior racing pathway.

Australian Sailing currently lists OutThere courses for both dinghies and keelboats, including Experience, Levels 1, 2 and 3 and combined programs.

OutThere Sailing Experience

Short introductory experience.

Introduces sailing while retaining a strong social focus.

Develops skills acquired at Level 1.

Moves participants toward greater sailing independence.

Allows different skill levels to participate in one broader program while progressing individually.

This can suit teenagers who may feel too old for Tackers but are not yet looking for a formal adult qualification.

Who it suits: Teenagers who want to sail socially with people their own age.
What it is not: Not a racing pathway, though it often leads to one.

Where it sits

Australian Sailing’s junior program, built around fun and water confidence first and sailing technique second.

The rest of the scheme

Australian Sailing’s junior program, built around fun and water confidence first and sailing technique second.

The most widely available learn-to-sail route in the country, and the fastest way to real wind awareness.

Start Crewing, Start Helming, Start Skippering — a stable boat and a natural bridge toward yachts.

Two days on what to do when it goes seriously wrong offshore, including a liferaft session in the pool.

More relevant to sailors than the name suggests: nearly all rescue and support work happens from a powerboat.

The domestic route into teaching, and where most Australian sailing instructors begin.

Three questions — your experience, the boat you want to sail, and your goal — give you a starting course and the schools that teach it near you.