Galway Bay Sailing Club

Irish Sailing Advanced Kites & Wires Course

Take your sailing to the next level with this exciting advanced performance sailing course focused on asymmetric spinnakers (“kites”), trapeze sailing (“wires”), advanced rigging, and high-performance boat handling.

Designed for sailors looking to progress beyond the basics, this course develops the practical skills, confidence, teamwork, and boat speed needed for modern performance dinghies and racing environments.

Course Content

• Advanced sail trim and boat balance
• Introduction to kites / asymmetric spinnakers
• Hoists, gybes and recoveries
• Trapeze (“wire”) techniques
• Advanced rigging and tuning
• Crew communication and coordination
• High-performance tacking and gybing
• Heavy weather handling
• Safety and recovery procedures

Suitable For

• Improver and advanced sailors
• Teen and adult racers
• Sailors progressing into performance boats
• Club racers and race teams

Recommended Experience

Participants should already be comfortable sailing independently and have completed Intermediate / Improving Skills level sailing or equivalent experience.

What to Bring

• Wetsuit or suitable sailing gear
• Buoyancy aid
• Sailing boots/shoes
• Change of clothes
• Packed lunch/snacks

Course Aim

To build confidence and competence in advanced dinghy sailing techniques while introducing sailors to the exciting world of performance sailing.

Assessment

Assessment is continuous throughout the course. However, your instructor may also choose to use a formal practical assessment of boat handling skills and a short written paper or oral interview in assessing your level of background knowledge

Progress will be documented through 1:1 updates with the Instructor and will be recorded in the Checklick  online system"

Previous knowledge or experience

Participants should have completed the Irish Sailing Level 3 .

Medical Conditions

You must inform in advance if the participant has any know medical conditions, special needs and or behavior considerations that we should be aware of and or that would impact there ability to participate safely in all the activities.

Equipment

Buoyancy aids are provided by GBSC. Wetsuits are available however if sailors have their own wetsuits and boots, that is preferable for their own comfort.

Footwear

Sandals, Flip Flops, Crocs or other similar open shoes are NOT recommended.

We recommend Runners, Aqua Shoes or Wetsuit Boots.

On the Day

Please bring:

• Your own wetsuit (if you have one) booties or old runners
• Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses.
• Towel, change of socks / underwear.
• Warm dry clothing for when you come out of the water.
• A notebook and pen/pencil (for coursework).
• Lunch each day (if your course runs for the full day), water, hot drink.

Jewellery

We advise against wearing of jewellery, rings, necklaces etc. during courses as they can be either lost, become entangled and/or lead to injury.

Lost, found or stolen

Items left behind will be kept for a period of two week and if not claimed may be disposed of or repurposed thereafter.

​The GBSC cannot accept responsibility for any items lost, stolen or damaged.

Terms and Conditions

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