FAQ's: All About The RYA Multihull Performance Sailing Course

How much does the RYA Multihull Performance Sailing course cost?

Expect to pay prices of up to £200 / $300 / 260 EUROS depending on the time of year you take it, and the country you do it in.

What will you learn?

One of the chief reasons people sail multihulls is because they can be blisteringly quick. The Performance Sailing course will teach you how to get that extra knot or two out of the boat and get the best out of your cat or trimaran. If you’re even 0.01 of a knot faster than your competitor at the line, winner takes all!

Completing the course will enable you to not embarrass yourself in club racing. You will keep up with the fleet and could potentially win a race or two.

Is the Multihull Performance Sailing course shorebased theory, practical or a combination of both?

The course is a combination of theory and practical learning.

Onshore (theory) you will learn how to set up your rig for the conditions and race, but offshore (practical) you will learn about trimming, and sailing at the optimum course for a given leg of a race course.

Where can you take it?

You can take the Multihull Performance Sailing course anywhere around the world that offers it. This could be at your club reservoir or on the Caribbean!

What level of experience do you need before you begin?

You should have as a minimum of the RYA Multihull Level 2 qualification and one season’s sailing before you do this course.

How long does it take?

The Performance Sailing course takes two days to complete, meaning that you can do it over a weekend.

What does the course involve?

In the RYA beginner’s courses, you will have learned the basics of how to launch, helm and trim your sails. Here, on a boat with a minimum of two sails, you will learn how to hone those skills to a much higher level.

You may learn for instance that it is faster to sail off the wind on a longer route when going on a downwind leg than the shorter distance.

You will learn how to fly and trim a spinnaker well, and also the best rig set up for the boat for stronger or lighter conditions.

You will cover these disciplines both as skipper and as crew, so you know both roles and can make judgements as part of the team and while leading it.

How do I progress after completing the RYA Multihull Performance Sailing?

Consider the RYA Racing syllabus, which will hone your racing skills to a much higher level. These will help refine your racing skills and equip you to start working your way through the fleet.

Does it give you international accreditation?

Not by governments, but the RYA is widely recognised as a world leading training organisation. This course will equip you to sail or race at clubs all over the world.

Where can I learn more?

Take a look at the official RYA webpage for more information about the course.