Three days that lay the foundation for all the sailing that follows. Choose whether you want to learn in a dinghy or on a steadier keelboat – both routes lead to the same knowledge.
Sailstar's basic course gives you a complete introduction to sailing – from knots and reading the wind to the rules of the road and real sailing out on the water. We alternate theory with practice, and you spend most of the course doing it for real, sails up and wind in your hair. The mid-size boat is a keelboat, so it can't capsize. We sail with 2–4 participants in these boats. Dinghy sailing means sailing a smaller boat that can capsize, but we learn how to right it and climb back in to keep sailing. We sail 1–2 people per dinghy. In a dinghy you learn the basics of sailing faster, but it is physically demanding. The mid-size boats, known as day sailers, give you a very good feel for sailing, but there are more of you sharing the tasks on board. When we sail, everyone gets a job – helming, trimming the mainsail, trimming the jib – and we swap often so that everyone gets to do everything.
No previous experience required. All we ask is that you can swim 200 metres in open water.
New for 2027: You choose whether you want to sail a dinghy (RS Zest) or a keelboat (Aira 22) – state your preference when you book. If you have no preference, you'll sail the Aira 22, our most popular boat for beginners. The dinghy courses start in June, when the water is a little warmer. For dinghy sailors we provide wetsuits, wetsuit boots and a helmet (which is compulsory). Life jackets are provided for everyone.
Sailing dinghy, RS Zest: Made from durable, unsinkable material. You sail alone or with a partner – nimble, with instant response to every gust and every movement of the tiller.
Mid-size keelboat, Aira 22: A modern and safe 22-foot day sailer. A more stable feel, room for more people on board and a natural step towards larger boats.
Whichever boat you choose, you get the same course content and the same foundation for Sailing Certificate 1. You choose a dinghy or a day sailer when you book, but Sailstar reserves the right to place you in a day sailer if the weather conditions are not suitable for dinghy sailing.
| Length | 3 days, 09:00–16:00 |
| Location | Viggbyholm, Täby |
| Boats | RS Zest (dinghy) or Aira 22 (keelboat) – your choice; Aira 22 is the default |
| Prior experience | None, but you must be able to swim 200 m in open water |
| Included | Course book "Seglingens grunder", digital theory package for Sailing Certificate 1, coffee and snacks |
| Prepares you for | Sailing Certificate 1 (exam fees extra: SEK 175 to Sailstar for conducting the exam and SEK 175 to NFB for the exam licence) |
| Language | Swedish or English |
After the basic course we offer evening training on both dinghies and the Aira 22 – perfect if you want to keep sailing and build on what you've learned.
Read more about the training sessions