BOOKINGS  OPEN. 

Mon 17  to Friday 21st August 2026 – 5 days
Exclusive MEMBERS ONLY booking open until July 14th (Open to public/non-members from July 15th onwards)
Improving your seamanship skill, become a better Topper Sailor/Racer
This course will help you to improve your sailing skills round the racecourse.

Course dates are perfectly timed as excellent preparation in advance of the Topper Northern Championships, RYA NI Youth Championships and the last 2 Topper Traveller events of the year.

Performance race coaching by DAN McGAUGHEY

FLEETS:
Based on their individual skill level, all sailors will be divided into two fleets, Gold & Silver.
This will enable the coaches to provide a more sailor specific instruction, tailored to better suit each participant; thus the individual sailor will get maximum personal benefit.

• Silver Fleet:
  This is your opportunity to get some practice and build your confidence ready for club sailing and travelling events. Sailors will receive refreshers on de/rigging, launching/retrieval, race start sequence and various points of sail. Most of all, time on the water will be of most benefit and sailors will gain confidence on the water.
• Gold Fleet:
  The programme is suited to those who have racing experience, are comfortable dealing with on the water incidents, and aim improve their race skills and increase their start, boat speed etc. This fleet is aimed at those already at regional/national eventing level. It will look at the theory of performance sailing and applying it in a practical series of on water exercises, which will build confidence and sailing techniques

Arrive 9am sharp, finish 4pm.

If the weather is poor we will do theory and boat preparation and set –up.
Dan will oversee the managment and course content of both fleets. On the water coaching of the gold and silver fleet will be split between Dan and RYA Race Coach Harvey McKnight.

Read about Dan –> INSTA and WEBSITE

Dan learned to sail at DSC, (you can still find his original race topper in the rear yard!) before moving to BYC where he races in the ILCA class. These clubs led him to have a promising youth career.

• 2025 – RYA NI Race Coach of the Year
• 2024 – Irish National senior champion
• 2019 – British National Youth champion on Radial
• 2x Northern Irish youth champion
• 2017 – Irish youth sailor of the year
• 2017 – 3rd Topper World Championships

Entry Requirements/Further details:
· Exclusive MEMBERS ONLY booking open until July 14th (Open to general public/non-members from July 15th onwards)
· Drop off 9am, pick up 4pm. Bring a packed lunch.
· You can use your own Topper, a club ‘Training Topper’ free of charge. Or club ‘Race Toppers’ are available for a small rental fee; please just ask.
· This course content is for those who wish to improve their boat handling, sailing and race skills. (The silver fleet is perfect for newly qualified Stage 4 sailors wishing to progress to regular club sailing)
· If you wish for your child to be ready for this course, please encourage them to attend regular club racing on Wednesday, (BNS) Fridays and Sundays as often as possible. (Repeating Stage 4 would be a great way to fast-track your child’s sailing skills. Also keep an eye on the junior parents WhatsApp for impromptu Wed/Sun coaching sessions.)
· This not an RYA course, so no certification is available. It is intended to provide a weeks’ worth of coaching/time on the water to elevate your child’s sailing/race skills.

Any questions please email us at:  DSC Training

First Aid / Emergency Medical Treatment:
By booking this course, you are hereby giving permission for DSC staff who are trained in first aid to administer basic first aid treatment to your child, for minor injuries sustained during club hours / activities.
In the event of a more serious injury or medical emergency, you understand that every effort will be made to contact you or your designated emergency contact immediately. If you cannot be reached, you hereby authorize the club to take whatever emergency medical measures are deemed necessary by attending emergency services or medical personnel, including the transport of your child to the nearest hospital or medical facility.
You agree to meet any financial costs or expenses incurred for such emergency medical treatment and transport.
If you do not want your child to receive such first aid and/or emergency medical treatment, please advise of this by adding this instruction under ‘Medical Information’ section at time of booking.