Tackers

Tackers is a fun introductory, games-based sailing program designed for kids aged 7-12 yrs, delivered at recognised Tackers Centres, predominantly who are affiliated sailing clubs. Kids don’t need to have any sailing experience or club membership to participate. All the equipment, including the boats, is provided. 

The Tackers Program is delivered in small groups by an Australian Sailing qualified Instructor and Assistant Instructors.

There are three levels that kids can progress through:

Tackers 1 – Having Fun

Tackers 2 – Tricks & Techniques

Tackers 3 – Sailing Fast!

In Tackers 1 – Having Fun. Kids sail in pairs in small boats. It’s a great way to meet new friends and kids have the chance to sail with others in their group.

Tackers 2 – Tricks & Techniques. If kids are confident, they can sail a boat on their own with lots of support, supervision and encouragement from the Instructor and Assistant Instructors.

The final level is Tackers 3 – Sailing Fast! This is a chance for the kids to sail boats on their own, learning how to make the boat go faster and playing more games, all whilst still under the guidance and supervision of the Instructor and Assistant Instructors.

Each level involves 20 hours of participation structured as a 4-5 day holiday program or as a series of sessions over several weeks either on a Saturday/Sunday or after-school.

In between the Tackers levels some Tacker Centres provide practice sessions where kids can get together and work on improving their sailing skills. This is called ‘Tackers Fleet‘.

Tackers Intro is a special experience of Tackers, that allows you to sample the program before you make a decision about enrolling in a Tackers 1 – Having Fun course. It’s not a prerequisite to Tackers 1 but does give kids the chance to get out on the water and see the types of games and activities that Tackers offers.

The Tackers Intro includes a 2.5 hour session with a qualified Instructor and Assistant Instructor and a certificate of achievement and costs around $40-60. If kids enjoy the Tackers Intro, Tackers 1 – Having Fun is a great next step.

The fun doesn’t stop when kids finish Tackers 3. Most Tackers Centres have ‘Green Fleet’ programs for the kids to progress onto. Green Fleet is a type of introductory fun racing where kids learn how to go round a race course with kids of similar ability, where the main focus is on enjoyment. If kids want to do more racing they move from Green Fleet into club racing.

Kids receive a Tackers kit at the start of every level and a certificate of achievement at the end. *Tackers packs available at certain centres. Please enquire at your centre as to whether a pack will be provided.

Who should I contact to register for a Tackers Program or to find out more?

Each Tackers Centre has a designated Tackers Centre Leader who is there to organise the Program and answer any questions parents/guardians might have.

Click HERE to download an information brochure 

How can parents/guardians be involved?

Tackers programs are fully supervised by Australian Sailing qualified Instructors and Assistant Instructor employed by the club. They oversee the session planning, delivery, and make sure the kids have fun and develop their skills and confidence in a safe environment. If a parent or guardian would like to be involved in Tackers as a volunteer, there are many off-water roles available. You can talk to the Tackers Centre Leader about what opportunities are available at the centre.

Parents/guardians can:

• Volunteer at the centre for off-water roles like helping out with social activities
• Promote the Tackers program to their friends and family
• Help the Tackers Centre raise funds for new equipment and special events
• Talk through their child’s progress with the Tackers Centre Leader or Instructor
• Support ‘Play by the Rules’ making sport inclusive, safe, and fair
• Encourage and support kids as they learn new skills and meet new friends through Tackers

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to be a member of a club to participate in Tackers?

No, one of the great things about Tackers is you don’t have to be a member of a club to participate. In fact, kids receive an honorary club membership during their participation in the program and some clubs or centres extend this to their families.

Do kids need to be able to swim to participate in Tackers?

Some ability to swim would be preferable, however they will be wearing lifejackets at all times. In the first session, the instructors supervise the group in a 25m swim with their lifejackets on. Parents/guardians are encouraged to talk to the Tackers Centre Leader or the Tackers Instructor if they have any concerns.

What type of boats will the kids be sailing?

The Tackers program is only delivered in a boat called an Opti. This boat was specifically designed for the program and is an ideal introduction to dinghy sailing. The boats allow two kids to sail together and as they gain confidence and move up from Tackers 1 to Tackers 2 they are able to sail the boat alone. The boats have built-in buoyancy which means they provide extra stability.

Are the kids out sailing on their own?

When kids start sailing in Tackers 1 they will be sailing in pairs. There are usually 6-10 boats in a group and there will be an Instructor and an Assistant Instructor in a safety boat

There are three levels to the Tackers program that kids can progress through. When they finish Tackers 3 – Sailing Fast! they can progress to a program at a sailing club called OutThere Sailing.

OutThere Sailing gives participants the flexibility and variety they want in a fun-focused, non-competitive setting. Clubs can use a wide variety of boats in their program including Keelboats, Dinghies, Stand Up Paddle Boards, Windsurfers and Power Boat adventures, and all are delivered by qualified Australian Sailing Instructors.

Please see https://www.discoversailing.org.au/course/outthere/ for further information.

For those interested in more competitive sailing, they can progress to a program called Green Fleet. This is a program that introduces kids to racing in a fun environment.

To find out more about what happens after Tackers, contact the Tackers Leader at your local centre. To find your local Tackers centre use the Club Finder at https://www.sailing.org.au/club-finder/.

supervising the group. The safety boat stays on the water all the time the kids are sailing.

Do the kids need any special clothing to participate in Tackers?

No, there is no special clothing needed. We recommend kids wear clothes and shoes that they don’t mind getting wet and bring a towel and a change of clothes with them. Download the Tackers Checklist of What to Bring.

What can kids do when they finish Tackers?

There are three levels to the Tackers program that kids can progress through. When they finish Tackers 3 – Sailing Fast! they can progress to a program at a sailing club called OutThere Sailing.

OutThere Sailing gives participants the flexibility and variety they want in a fun-focused, non-competitive setting. Clubs can use a wide variety of boats in their program including Keelboats, Dinghies, Stand Up Paddle Boards, Windsurfers and Power Boat adventures, and all are delivered by qualified Australian Sailing Instructors.

Please see https://www.discoversailing.org.au/course/outthere/ for further information.

For those interested in more competitive sailing, they can progress to a program called Green Fleet. This is a program that introduces kids to racing in a fun environment.

To find out more about what happens after Tackers, contact the Tackers Leader at your local centre. To find your local Tackers centre use the Club Finder at https://www.sailing.org.au/club-finder/.