Waka Confidence
About Waka Confidence
Waka Confidence is Wakatere's beginner junior sailing programme for the 8-11yr age group. Sailed in Optimist dinghies, kids are given the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of sailing while in a safe and social environment.
This programme is designed to balance learning with fun & games while introducing kids and families to Wakatere and what we are all about.
Boats are provided by the club for Learn to Sail and Confidence 1 & 2 courses. Optimist boat ownership is encouraged beyond that.
UPCOMING COURSES (8-11yrs)
JANUARY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2025
Junior Learn to Sail is returning to Wakatere for another exciting fun-filled summer with three courses during the January school holidays. These courses will be conducted as 'block courses' over a span of 5 consecutive days.
SIGN UP TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST, and we'll reach out to you soon with the dates and times.
JUNIOR LTS - JANUARY 2025
Details of dates & times to be confirmed
Cost: $400 (incl LTS Invit Membership)
Club Opti provided
YNZ LTS Level 1
Qualified coaches
Certificate course
*Refer to the LTS Information Notes at the bottom of this page for what to bring
About
Junior Learn to Sail is an introduction to sailing for 8-11yrs.
Holiday courses are run as a block course over 5 consecutive mornings or afternoons. Term courses are run after school on Wednesdays.
Sailed in Optimist dinghies provided by the club, children will learn the fundamentals of sailing in a safe and social environment.
Courses at Wakatere are led by qualified Learn to Sail instructors and follow the Yachting New Zealand Learn to Sail curriculum.
A Learn to Sail course is required before moving on to other club coaching programs such as C1 and C2.
CONFIDENCE 1 and CONFIDENCE 2
BACK FOR TERM 1 2025
When you have completed a Learn to Sail course you are ready to move on to weekly coaching in Confidence 1. The next step after Confidence 1 is Confidence 2.
To book Confidence courses: Members must log in and go to the club's Hello Club calendar. Find the next date of your course on the calendar and book once.
Any questions about which level is right for your sailor, contact us at coaching@wakatere.org.nz
C1 (TERM 1 2025)
Details available Jan 2025
Dates: to be confirmed
Cost: to be confirmed
Club Opti provided
Qualified coaches
Full membership required
CONFIDENCE 2
C2 (TERM 1 2025)
Details available Jan 2025
Time: to be confirmed
Dates: to be confirmed
Cost: to be confirmed
Club Opti provided
Qualified coaches
Full membership required
What are all the courses in the Waka Confidence Programme?
Step 1
JUNIOR LEARN TO SAIL
LTS is an introduction to sailing for beginners run during school holidays or term time. Sailed in Optimists provided by the club, sailors will learn the basics of how the wind works, parts of the boat, and how to set up and control their boat while working as a team. This is a YNZ certified Level 1 course and a step up from NZ school Waterwise.
LEARN TO SAIL INFORMATION
Who should sign up for a LTS course?
To sail in Junior LTS, you must be:
8yrs old at the start of the course
able to swim 50 metres unaided wearing a PFD (personal floating device) and sailing gear
English language proficiency required
On the boats sailed:
we give 8-11yrs as a general guide, but the weight range for an Optimist dinghy is about 30-55kgs
What will my sailor need?
Note that some of the gear listed below is optional and depends on the weather and how much sailors feel the cold. For instance, a wetsuit can provide warmth, or alternatively, thermals and a rain jacket can be used instead.
Wetsuit
Lifejacket (the club has some available to borrow)
Polyprop top/rash vest top or similar (thermals)
Togs
Light wind jacket or spray top (goes over the top to keep the wind out)
Beach shoes or similar (please make sure they do not have a slippery bottom)
Warm beanie
Sun hat (cap)
Sunscreen
Towel
Change of clothes for after sailing including a jumper
Water bottle
Snacks or bring some cash for the cafe next door
Do I need to be a member?
Yes, you need to be a member to join a LTS course but... a LTS Invitational Membership is already included in the LTS fee.
This is a temporary membership to cover the period of your course.
If you want to continue sailing after your LTS course has finished you can upgrade. The LTS Membership ($100) will be credited to a full membership if upgrading in the same season.
The annual club season is 1 Sept - 31 Aug. Refer to Membership
Contact wakatere@gmail.com to have the upgrade sorted for you when the time is right.
Parent help?
Whilst we have all the instructors and student help we need on the water, we appreciate parent help each day to bring the equipment up from the beach, hosing down and putting away
Join us another time?
If you are not available for any of the dates on offer, please leave your details with us and we'll let you know when the next courses are scheduled
