The following documents courtesy of sailingtutor.co.uk detail the practical and theory elements that form the essential features of the RYA Level 1 & 2 Dinghy Course.
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Beam Reach to Beam Reach
A Beam Ream is when the wind hits the boat at its widest point – its beam. This document describes how to change the direction of the boat so that the wind hits the boat on one side and then on the other. |
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Tacking
Tacking is the name given to turning the boat by passing her bow (the front) of the boat through the wind. |
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Basic Boat Control
There are various methods of bringing the boat to a standstill. This document describes the “Lying-to” and “Hove-to” techniques. |
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Beam Reach to Close Hauled – One-Man
This document describes how to adjust the angle of the boat to the wind in a one-man dinghy. |
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Beam Reach to Close Hauled – Two-Man
This document describes how to adjust the angle of the boat to the wind in a two-man dinghy. |
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Bear Off and Luff Up
Turning the boat away from the wind, or bearing away, and luffing-up, meaning to turn the bow of the boat towards the wind so that the vertical part of the sail, the luff, begins to flap. |
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Gybe – One-Man
Gybing is the name given to turning the boat by passing her stern (the rear) of the boat through the wind. |
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Triangular Course
A triangular course will take the boat through all the various points of sail. |
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Points of Sailing
Different names are given to the different angles at which a boat is in relation to the wind. |
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5 Essentials
These are five basic points that are important to get right when sailing a dinghy; sail trim, boat trim, boat balance, daggerboard positiion and course steered. |
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Basic Aerodynamics
An explanation of the forces that propel a boat. |
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Apparent Wind
Apparent wind is the wind flow across a sail that’s created by the combination of true (or prevailing) wind and the forward movement of a vessel. |