Kids Camps

Children's RYA Windsurfing & Sailing Lessons & Courses - Children's Kitesurfing Lessons at Rye Watersports, Camber Sands, Rye , East Sussex

Click here for Kids Camps – Two days of watersports fun for 7 – 13 yrs

At Rye Watersports we have been teaching children and school groups to windsurf and sail since 1986. We are committed to encouraging children into all our watersports. We have equipment suitable for children as young as seven. Windsurfing and Sailing courses are run on our safe inland lake on the South East Coast, just on the Kent and Sussex border, and only minutes away from Camber Sands. Our children’s dinghy sailing and windsurfing lessons are perfect for families living in South London as we’re only a one hour drive away, and it’s easily accessible by road from Surrey and the South Coast.

Rye Watersports is a family run centre. All my instructors are personally known to me, and have considerable experience teaching children of all ages. As well as being a Royal Yachting Association Centre we also hold an ‘Adventure Activities’ licence.

*Windsurfing Lessons for 7 – 15 yr olds
All courses are run over two consecutive days from 10.00a.m – 2.00p.m

Windsurfing RYA Stage 1 - Price £110.00

A great introduction to this exciting sport that children will love. The lesson starts on a dry land simulator where the basics are learnt without getting wet! Once on the water the course progresses to sailing across the wind, and tacking and gybing. The instructor is always close at hand on the water to give constant guidance, and to instil pupils with confidence.

Windsurfing RYA Stage 2 - Price £110.00

Progression to faster tacks and gybes, stance, and upwind sailing are all elements of the level 2 course. Beach starts, and techniques that make sailing in stronger winds easier are an important part of the level 2 course. All lessons have a short theory session, so children understand about wind direction and safety.

Windsurfing RYA Stage 3 - Price £120.00

Learn to use a harness, and get into the footstraps. We improve your stance and control when using more advanced equipment. We get you on a funboard simulator to help with your tacks and gybes. We teach lots of freestyle tricks, and get our pupils blasting in stronger winds. Nose sinks, helicopter tacks, and some top tips on race techniques are all covered. After this course you will have enough knowledge and skill to progress to whichever discipline of windsurfing that appeals to you.

Windsurfing RYA Stage 4 - Price £120.00

This lesson improves on all the techniques you have learnt over the previous courses: how to get planing and into the footstraps with ease and get you doing that perfect carve gybe and waterstart, using your harness to maximum effect. Advanced skills can take a lot of practice, but after your two day course you’ll be well on the way to achieving these goals.

*Dinghy Sailing Courses for 8 to 15 yr olds
All courses are run over two consecutive days from 10.00a.m. – 2.00p.m.

Start Dinghy Sailing Stage 1 - Price £110.00

This sailing course is for children who have never sailed before but are keen to get into a boat and learn the basics. Part of the course content covers launching and recovery, steering, sailing across the wind, and upwind sailing. The children will be two up in a boat . At the end of the course a certificate is awarded.

Dinghy Sailing Stage 2 - Price £110.00

The aim of this course is to become confident and self sufficient in a small boat in light to moderate winds. Ropework and collision avoidance are covered. Basic sailing skills are improved on aiming towards sailing round a triangular course unassisted. This is the benchmark certificate for all budding sailors as it allows you to hire a boat in RYA centres throughout the world!

Dinghy Sailing Stage 3 - Price £120.00

Introduction to the 'five essentials' tacking and gybing in stronger winds, and helming a boat on your own are covered in this next stage. Course content also includes: rigging, launching, and capsize recovery plus more advanced sailing techniques and manoeuvres. You will now be helming a boat on your own and can go on to be the next British champion!

Dinghy Sailing Stage 4 - Price £120.00

The course content of stage 4 covers improving on all techniques in the previous stages + setting up a boat according to weather conditions and using sail and rig controls e.g. mast rake, reefing. You will become competent at ropework, knowing how to do reef knots, a bowline, clove hitch, rolling hitch, sheet bend. Effective use of the 5 essentials by helm and crew afloat must now be perfected. Returning to a beach jetty or mooring safely in any wind direction, and you will be shown how to recover a man overboard.

RYA Youth Sailing Seamanship Skills - Price £125.00

It is essential to practice the skills you have learnt on the previous courses before progressing to advanced sailing. We will now introduce you to different types of sailing and by the end of the course expect you to be able to – heave to – reef afloat – recover MOB – be towed – anchor – sail backwards – sail in adverse circumstances. All aspects of ropework should now be perfected. We will teach you how to use an asymmetric spinnaker and race. This course will give you the confidence and skills to progress to any field of sailing you choose.

Kids Camps

Two day Summer Holiday Kids Camps - Price £110.00
(includes lunch)

These two day fun camps are for children aged 7 – 14 years. They are run over the school summer holidays and geared towards giving youngsters not only water confidence, but an introduction into windsurfing and sailing with an emphasis on FUN!!
Raft building, races, and team activities teach the children to communicate and work together in a happy relaxed environment. Food and refreshments are included in the price of the two day camp.
These Camps are very popular so booking well in advance, if you require specific dates, is advised.

Qualified RYA instructors, experienced with teaching children, are with the groups throughout the day. Camps are run from 10.00a.m. to 3.00pm on consecutive days.

*Kids Camps – 7 to 14 yr olds

FOR ALL COURSE DATES AND TIMES CLICK ON 'BOOK ONLINE' and then 'BOOK COURSE'.

Children's Windsurfing - Sailing Parties

Have a party at the lake to celebrate your child's birthday. We have been running children's parties for several years now and they are enormously popular. The children can participate in all our lake based watersports activites.

Call us on 01797 225238 for more information or to discuss ideas for the day.