Cymraeg Welcome
Pwllheli and District Youth Sailing Club - CHIPAC - Clwb Hwylio Ieuenctid Pwllheli A'r Cylch
CHIPAC is a fun and friendly junior sailing club for children who live in the vicinity of Pwllheli, North Wales. CHIPAC offers an affordable introduction to a lifetime of sailing enjoyment and a whole host of adventures and new friendships.
Take full advantage of a life by the sea, by venturing out onto the water in one of our club’s sailing dinghies, under the supervision, and in the safety, of our team of qualified instructors. Join in the fun of our weekly Friday evening training sessions for novice sailors and for the more advanced sailors who are already able to sail a triangular course.
These Friday evening sessions will provide an opportunity to explore the beauty of Pwllheli Bay and learn to race and compete for prizes with your friends.
RYA Approved Training Centre
Pwllheli Sailing Club is an RYA approved Training Centre and every instructor in CHIPAC’s team is qualified to RYA standards. CHIPAC therefore not only offers the highest quality in sailing tuition but also the added peace of mind that your child is learning to sail in an environment where safety is of paramount importance to each and every member of our team.
CHIPAC offers a comprehensive programme of sailing tuition for sailors aged 8 to 17 years old, and whether you are a complete novice taking to the water for the first time, or a champion junior or youth sailor, looking for some advanced racing tips to improve your results at your next championship event, CHIPAC offers a training programme which caters for your needs.
The club owns a fleet of boats ideally suited for juniors, including those who aspire to join the Welsh sailing squads: Optibats, Toppers, double-handed Fevas and Lasers.
Racing
Once a sailor has completed CHIPAC’s Learn To Race Course, you can drop-in to any of our Friday evening junior racing sessions, and compete with your friends for prizes in CHIPAC’s junior racing series.
On-the-water coaches are available to offer race tips and advice to help improve your boat-handling skills, starting or race tactics for better results.
CHIPAC’s junior members include a number of GBR and Welsh squad champion sailors. This, together with the world-class waters of both Pwllheli Bay and the more challenging waters beyond the breakwater, means that you will never be in short supply of some interesting and challenging racing competition whatever your level of sailing ability.
Winter Training Programme
The Summer sailing season runs from early April to the end of October each year. However, for the keen young sailor wishing to maintain or progress their sailing and racing skills throughout the winter season, Pwllheli Sailing Club participates in the North Wales Winter Open Training Programme in conjunction with RYA Cymru Wales.
Six race training days are offered to junior and youth sailors at Pwllheli Sailing Club spanning the winter season for just £15 per session.
Junior Regattas
The Summer sailing season culminates in a celebration, with a Summer Junior Regatta. During this fun event, sailors compete for prizes in a one-day junior racing series, followed by a prize-giving ceremony and BBQ. Throughout the Summer season, CHIPAC members can represent TEAM CHIPAC, at the regional junior sailing competitions (The CYRC Series: Club Youth Racing Circuit) or at the North Wales On-Board Festival at Bala during the first weekend in September. In December, Pwllheli SC plays host to the Christmas Regatta where junior sailors from around the North Wales’ region come together to celebrate the festive season, by donning Santa hats, decorating their boats with tinsel and a party celebration.
Training Courses
Which is the right course for me?
Learn to Sail RYA Stage 1 & 2 10 week course
This course will teach the complete beginner how to sail a triangular course single-handedly in good weather conditions.
Course syllabus includes: Rigging, Steering, Basic Boat Handling, Tacking, Gybing, Controlling boat speed, Follow-my-Leader, Ropework, Collision avoidance, Launching & Recovery, Capsize Recovery & Sailing Theory
Friday Evenings 5.00pm-7.30pm
April-June or July-Sept
Learn to Race 20+ week course
This course aims to build sailing confidence, escorting sailors further around the bay, as well as introducing more advanced boat handling skills and an introduction to club racing.
Course syllabus includes: tacking, gybing, mark rounding, hiking & kiting downwind. Maximising boat speed using the 5 essentials of sailing. Starting practise, an introduction to race flags, race rules and collision avoidance and understanding the race course.
Friday Evenings 5.00pm-7.30pm
April-Oct
Advanced Racing 20+ week
A pre-dominantly practical course which builds on sailors’ basic racing skills to improve the key principles of starting, boat-handling, boat speed, strategy and tactics. On-the-water coaches offer tips and advice around the race course to develop race tactics to enable the junior sailor to confidently compete in junior club racing, open meetings, and regional/national junior competitions.
Syllabus includes: 5 essentials of sailing plus roll-tacking and bailing upwind.
Friday Evenings 5.00pm-7.30pm A
April - October
Prices Spring / Summer
Membership Fee - £20
CHIPAC- Learn to Sail (10 Weeks) - £50
20 weeks of CHIPAC Training or Racing £85
20 weeks of CHIPAC sessions (with your own boat) £65
CHIPAC Training & Racing Sessions (price per session) £5
Prices Autumn/ Winter
Winter Open Training (price per session) £15
Junior Christmas Regatta & Party £15
This page was updated 29th December 2022
