Class Training
Club Training and Coaching
Our coaching philosophy is to create a training environment for athletes to take their sailing to any level they choose whether it be at Club, Inter-Club, State, National or International level. The On-Water Group together with the contract coaches provides structure and professionalism to individual programs to achieve set goals. The training is scheduled by the Head Coach together with the contract coaches, fleet captains, and sailors’ feedback. The Club has Summer and Winter training programs.
The Club offers regular training sessions for members in the following classes:
The 125 is a 12.5 foot (3.83 m) two person sailing dinghy complete with spinnaker and trapeze, a boat for everyone. It has a design that appeals to the person want to experience double-handed sailing action without going overboard on costs.
Racing is generally dominated by teenage skipper-crew combinations, though it is not uncommon to find sailors anywhere between 8 and 60 having a ball in their 125. The nature of the class is family orientated; this means an ideal class that is great for 2 adults or Father-Mother/Son-Daughter combinations.
Type
A casual double-handed class, great for club racing.
Age and Weight
Useful Link
Fleet Representative
Racing is generally dominated by teenage skipper-crew combinations, though it is not uncommon to find sailors anywhere between 8 and 60 having a ball in their 125. The nature of the class is family orientated; this means an ideal class that is great for 2 adults or Father-Mother/Son-Daughter combinations.
Type
A casual double-handed class, great for club racing.
Age and Weight
- 13+ year olds
- 100-140kg (skipper & crew combined)
Useful Link
Fleet Representative
- Mitch Stone
The 29er is a double-handed youth skiff designed for speed. Their light streamlined hull, asymmetric spinnaker, carbon mast and trapeze make them a racing weapon and they are sailed internationally. The 29er can be sailed by boys and girls and is the youth pathway class for the Olympic 49er and 49erFX.
Type
The 29er is sailed by youth sailors keen to sail in a team of two and potentially pursue a high performance sailing pathway in the 49erFX or 49er.
Age and Weight
Useful Links
Fleet Representative
Type
The 29er is sailed by youth sailors keen to sail in a team of two and potentially pursue a high performance sailing pathway in the 49erFX or 49er.
Age and Weight
- 14-17 year olds
- 110-140kg (skipper & crew combined)
Useful Links
Fleet Representative
- Steve Randall
The South of Perth Yacht Club boasts a large fleet of Flying 15 sailboats, known for their competitive sailing. The fleet includes accomplished sailors with State, Australian, and World Titles, offering valuable tuning tips and knowledge. The club’s sociable nature is highlighted by frequent post-sailing social events and various functions.
Type
The international Flying 15 is a light-weight, planning keelboat crewed by two people. The Flying 15 has stood the test of time, providing exciting, ‘close to the water’ racing for sailors of all ages from juniors to seniors.
Age and Weight
Useful Link
Fleet Representative
Type
The international Flying 15 is a light-weight, planning keelboat crewed by two people. The Flying 15 has stood the test of time, providing exciting, ‘close to the water’ racing for sailors of all ages from juniors to seniors.
Age and Weight
- 18+ year olds
- 145-185kg (skipper & crew combined)
Useful Link
- Flying Fifteen International Western Australia
- Flying Fifteen International Australia
- Flying Fifteen International
Fleet Representative
- Andrew Colquhoun
The (ICLA) Laser is a one-design, single-handed sailing dinghy. There are 3 rig set-ups for the Laser hull which can be seen below.
Useful Links:
Useful Links:
ILCA (Laser 4.7)
The 4.7 is the smallest of the three (ILCA 4), with 4.7 square meters of sail area.
The Laser is the largest international dinghy class, making the ILCA 4 an ideal youth class for sailors looking to develop their racing skills.
Type
The ILCA 4 is an ideal next step after the Optimist or Open Skiff for sailors wanting to develop single-handed skills. These skills can be later transferred into double-handed boats, or sailors can progress into the Laser Radial and pursue Laser class sailing.
Age and Weight
Fleet Representative
The 4.7 is the smallest of the three (ILCA 4), with 4.7 square meters of sail area.
The Laser is the largest international dinghy class, making the ILCA 4 an ideal youth class for sailors looking to develop their racing skills.
Type
The ILCA 4 is an ideal next step after the Optimist or Open Skiff for sailors wanting to develop single-handed skills. These skills can be later transferred into double-handed boats, or sailors can progress into the Laser Radial and pursue Laser class sailing.
Age and Weight
- 12-17 year olds
- 48-62kg (optimum weight 58kg)
Fleet Representative
- Craig Hansen
ILCA 6 (Laser_Radial)
The Radial is the middle of the three in size, with 5.7 square meters of sail area.
The Laser Radial is an Olympic Womens class and an international youth class for boys and girls.
Type
Being an Olympic and international youth class, the Laser Radial fits into our high performance training.
This doesn’t mean that more casual sailors can’t enjoy racing a Laser Radial at SoPYC too, it really is a boat for everyone!
Age and Weight
The Radial is the middle of the three in size, with 5.7 square meters of sail area.
The Laser Radial is an Olympic Womens class and an international youth class for boys and girls.
Type
Being an Olympic and international youth class, the Laser Radial fits into our high performance training.
This doesn’t mean that more casual sailors can’t enjoy racing a Laser Radial at SoPYC too, it really is a boat for everyone!
Age and Weight
- 16+ year olds
- 62-75kg (optimum weight 72kg)
ILCA 7 (Laser)
The Standard is the largest of the three, with 7 square meters of sail area.
The Laser Standard is an Olympic Mens class and is sailed widely around the world.
Type
Being an Olympic class, the Laser Standard fits into our high performance training.
This doesn’t mean that more casual sailors can’t enjoy racing a Laser at SoPYC too, it really is a boat for everyone!
Age and Weight
The Standard is the largest of the three, with 7 square meters of sail area.
The Laser Standard is an Olympic Mens class and is sailed widely around the world.
Type
Being an Olympic class, the Laser Standard fits into our high performance training.
This doesn’t mean that more casual sailors can’t enjoy racing a Laser at SoPYC too, it really is a boat for everyone!
Age and Weight
- 18+ year olds
- 75-90kg (optimum weight 83kg)
Designed specifically for juniors, this little dinghy has blown a big breath of fresh air through the sailing world, close to the new-generation skiff concept, very fast and very simple.
100% open, self-bailing, rapid and responsive, with an up-to-date versatile rig, the O’pen Skiff offers kids a machine that delivers maximum fun while helping them learn the skills and enjoy racing on current, high-performance equipment.
Hundreds of sailing clubs around the world have opted for the O’pen Skiff, for a new, fun way of teaching sailing to appeal to youngsters.
Type
A junior training class that has characteristics that teach important skills for transitioning to other classes.
Age and Weight
Useful Links
Fleet Representative
100% open, self-bailing, rapid and responsive, with an up-to-date versatile rig, the O’pen Skiff offers kids a machine that delivers maximum fun while helping them learn the skills and enjoy racing on current, high-performance equipment.
Hundreds of sailing clubs around the world have opted for the O’pen Skiff, for a new, fun way of teaching sailing to appeal to youngsters.
Type
A junior training class that has characteristics that teach important skills for transitioning to other classes.
Age and Weight
- 8-15 year olds
- 35-50kg
Useful Links
Fleet Representative
- Tim Beck
The Optimist is an Australian Sailing recommended class for junior sailors. Its size and forgiving nature make it a great boat for introducing sailing at an early age. It is technical enough to provide all of the challenges both physically and mentally for sailors to develop their skills to the highest level of competition.
The Optimist is sailed in over 110 countries and offers an extensive foundation for sailors to take their sailing to any level they choose.
Type
The Optimist is used as the primary pathway boat at SoPYC for:
Very stable and forgiving nature makes it a great boat for introducing sailing at an early age. The natural sitting position also allows for learning the correct posture that is very important in progressing to more advanced boats.
Age and Weight
Useful Links
The Optimist is sailed in over 110 countries and offers an extensive foundation for sailors to take their sailing to any level they choose.
Type
The Optimist is used as the primary pathway boat at SoPYC for:
-
Try Sail & Learn to Sail (Green Fleet) Programs – Using the plastic Ozi Opti modified optimist, which is more stable and stronger.
Its strength and stability make it a very safe introduction for sailors - Bronze Fleet (Or Transition Group) – Use Club owned fiberglass racing Optimists or their own
- Silver (Learn to Race) and Gold Fleet (Learn to Compete)– Sailors at this stage have their own boat and are very competent
Very stable and forgiving nature makes it a great boat for introducing sailing at an early age. The natural sitting position also allows for learning the correct posture that is very important in progressing to more advanced boats.
Age and Weight
- 7-14 year olds
- 30-53 kg
Useful Links
The Pelican is exclusive to WA and is 2.9 metres in length, constructed of either wood or fibreglass, with either aluminium or wooden spars. The gaff-rig sail configuration, combining mainsail and a small spinnaker, gives young sailors a boat that is easy to handle, whilst at the same time teaching some fundamentals of sailing.
Type
The Pelican can be sailed by junior sailors from 8 to 15 although the latter age group may be restricted by physical size rather than age. Pelicans can be a two-person option as a transition boat between Optimist Green Fleet and youth classes.
Age and Weight
Useful Links
Fleet Representative
Type
The Pelican can be sailed by junior sailors from 8 to 15 although the latter age group may be restricted by physical size rather than age. Pelicans can be a two-person option as a transition boat between Optimist Green Fleet and youth classes.
Age and Weight
- 8-15 year olds
- 65-85kg (skipper & crew combined)
Useful Links
Fleet Representative
- Tim Beck
One of the most recent additions to Olympic class sailing, the Windfoil made it’s Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 games.
Foiling is the future of sailing, and the Windfoil promises to deliver an exciting new challenge to experienced windsurfers, whether embarking on an Olympic campaign or having fun blasting around the Swan River.
Type
A high performance upgrade to the Windsurfer. A perfect craft for windsurfers wanting to step up to a new challenge for fun or future Olympic competition.
Age and Weight
Useful Links
Fleet Representative
Foiling is the future of sailing, and the Windfoil promises to deliver an exciting new challenge to experienced windsurfers, whether embarking on an Olympic campaign or having fun blasting around the Swan River.
Type
A high performance upgrade to the Windsurfer. A perfect craft for windsurfers wanting to step up to a new challenge for fun or future Olympic competition.
Age and Weight
- 15+ year olds
- 60-90kg
Useful Links
Fleet Representative
- Nick Robinson
The Windsurfer LT is the fastest-growing racing class in the World and maintains the ideals and traditions of the sailboarding pioneers – to provide a fun and inclusive platform for fair and friendly competition.
Windsurfers are engaged in racing and training activities at SoPYC.
Type
The Windsurfer primary focus is on having fun.
Whether you are learning, cruising or wanting to race the Windsurfer is a great platform.
Without a rudder the Windsurfer is also a fantastic tool for teaching “feel” in general sailing for the competitive sailor.
Age and Weight
Useful Links
Fleet Representative
Windsurfers are engaged in racing and training activities at SoPYC.
Type
The Windsurfer primary focus is on having fun.
Whether you are learning, cruising or wanting to race the Windsurfer is a great platform.
Without a rudder the Windsurfer is also a fantastic tool for teaching “feel” in general sailing for the competitive sailor.
Age and Weight
- 13+ year olds
- 50-100kg
Useful Links
Fleet Representative
- Nick Robinson
Wingfoiling is a new and versatile water sport that combines elements of sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and stand-up paddleboarding. It’s easy to learn, requiring minimal equipment—just a wing, foil board, and hydrofoil. Powered by the wind, wingfoiling offers a full-body workout, a connection with nature, and opportunities for skill progression and challenges. With low environmental impact and a supportive community, it provides an exhilarating way to enjoy water while prioritizing safety and responsible enjoyment.
The SoPYC has been embracing and instructing this emerging sport’s growth, which encompasses racing and cross-training activities.
Wingfoiling is included in the club’s fleet of activities alongside Windsurfing and Windfoiling and is represented as a “Board” fleet.
Type
Wingfoiling is a water sport that involves riding a hydrofoil board while being propelled by a handheld inflatable wing, utilizing wind power for movement. It’s a new sport that includes freeriding, racing and wave adventures.
Age and Weight
Fleet Representative
The SoPYC has been embracing and instructing this emerging sport’s growth, which encompasses racing and cross-training activities.
Wingfoiling is included in the club’s fleet of activities alongside Windsurfing and Windfoiling and is represented as a “Board” fleet.
Type
Wingfoiling is a water sport that involves riding a hydrofoil board while being propelled by a handheld inflatable wing, utilizing wind power for movement. It’s a new sport that includes freeriding, racing and wave adventures.
Age and Weight
- 13+ year olds
- Any weight range, but smaller and larger equipment is recommended to suite
Fleet Representative
- Nick Robinson
- Oliver Pabrewe
