What Age Can Kids Learn to Sail? (The Youngest Age to Start)

Sailing can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities, and some people will say that the younger you can get into sailing the better. But, as a rule of thumb, we believe there is an age when kids can learn to sail that makes sense from both a physical and maturity level.

In our opinion this means that the age kids can learn to sail could range from 8 to 12 years old, depending on the child as an individual. There are sailing courses that kids can take, but this will depend on their age.

Sailing course for kids aged 8 to 12 and up

For example, the youngest age you can start sailing on an RYA course is 8 years old. This is on the Start Yachting Practical Course, which is a two-day course on a yacht intended to give you a very basic introduction to the world of sailing. We occasionally run this course, so please contact us for details.

RYA also also offer dinghy courses that kids can do even younger than eight, but it is unusual.

What we recommend for kids aged 12 and up, is the Competent Crew course. This is the minimum age limit for what is the best introduction to sailing you can find. For the full details on how to sign your child up, please view our Competent Crew page.

Overall, the best age to start sailing will depend on the child, as we explain below.

What is the youngest age to start sailing?

You can start to learn to sail at any age, but with children, it should be looked at on an individual case. But, if there was a generalisation, then between the ages of 8 and 9 can be a good time to start.

Whilst 8 or 9 years old can be considered the youngest age to start sailing, a child needs to have the ability to focus on instructions for a minimum of 15 minutes, possess some physical strength, and be able to swim. Children who come from sailing families and have been exposed to boats from a young age may be able to start at an earlier age than this.

Starting later is also an option as older children tend to have better concentration, physical strength, and coordination, and are less likely to become frightened when on the water.

For this reason, we are huge fans of introducing kids to sailing around the age of 12 with the Competent Crew course. This is the minimum age that children can take this RYA sailing course, but they will need to be accompanied by an adult.

When we have children signed up to the course, we try to ensure that together with their adult, they are on a boat with similar aged clients. Alternatively, it can be arranged for the child and adult to take a whole boat to themselves with the instructor. 

Here are details on the course…

Competent Crew Practical Course

The RYA Competent Crew course is a five-day introduction to sailing for complete beginners, providing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to sail on a yacht. We aim to explore different marinas and harbours each evening.

The course covers topics such as personal safety, seamanship, and helmsmanship, and all takes place onboard. For kids wanting to learn to sail, those aged under 18 need to be accompanied by a responsible adult, parent, or guardian.

Posted by: First Class Sailing