Leeds sailing and activity centre

 

The summer holiday programme is available to download in PDF format from the right handside of this page.

Outdoor activities

The Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre is situated at Tarnfield Park, Yeadon, about 8 miles from Leeds City centre, close to Leeds Bradford Airport.  The centre provides a range of outdoor activity courses catering for most ages and abilities.  Enjoy learning new skills in a safe but stimulating environment.

Junior courses are open to those aged from 8 – 16 years and Adult courses for 16 years and over (unless otherwise stated).

A wide range of practical National Governing Body Award courses from beginner to the more advanced are offered in:

  • Sailing
  • Powerboating
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Off road biking (juniors)

Other activities include:

  • Bell boating
  • Orienteering
  • Climbing/Abseiling
  • Problem Solving/Team Building
  • Tailored packages/courses for school, youth and community groups
  • Birthday parties
  • Conference facilities/Room hire

A programme of activities is available to download in pdf format on the right hand side of this page.

The centre is a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Centre and is licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA ref No. R0949)

Specialised water and shore based courses include:

  • RYA Youth and Adult Dinghy sailing
  • RYA Powerboating
  • RYA First Aid
  • RYA Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper Shorebased Theory
  • British Canoe Union (BCU) 1 – 3 Star Proficiency Tests
  • BCU Foundation Safety and Rescue Test
  • British Off Road Biking Youth Scheme
  • British Cycling Go-Ride Scheme


 

sailing

  • Junior sailing taster sessions
    A two hour session in which children can begin to experience the joys of sailing for the first time.
  • RYA youth sailing scheme (8 – 16 years)
    This scheme comprises of four stages and provides an enjoyable and progressive way to learn to sail.  Each certificated course provides an opportunity to recognise your achievements.
  • Junior sailing club
    Open to anyone aged 8 to 16 years who has completed a stage 2 youth sailing course.  Practice and develop skills and progress through the next stages.
  • Adult sailing taster sessions
    A two hour evening session in which adults can begin to experience the joys of sailing for the first time.
  • RYA national sailing scheme (16 years +)
    The centre offers levels 1 and 2 which cover all the skills necessary to prepare and sail a dinghy in light winds.  Two day seamanship skills courses are available on request.  More advanced sailing techniques are covered including reefing afloat, towing, man over board, anchoring and sailing in adverse circumstances.
    A two hour Seamanship Taster is also available on request.
  • Sailing with spinnakers
    These courses are two days and are available on request.  Learn how to sail a dinghy rigged with an asymmetric or symmetric spinnaker.
    A two hour taster is also available on request.
  • Single hander course
    This eight hour course is for those with some experience of double handers (level 2 or equivalent)  who want to try their hand at sailing a singlehander.
  • RYA powerboat scheme
    The centre offers the two day level 2 National Powerboat course.  Candidates are taught boat handling and seamanship in powerboats.  This course is the basis of the International Certificate of Competence.

RYA shorebased courses

  • 1 Day First Aid
  • Basic Navigation and Safety Course
  • Day Skipper Theory
  • Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory

Details of the above RYA courses can be obtained from the centre by telephoning 0113 250 3616 or visit www.rya.org.uk

Pay and play
Boats are available for hire contact the centre for details.

  • BCU Paddlepower scheme (age 8 – 14 years)
    Includes Paddlepower Start, Passport and Discover and provides a progression through safety awareness, various skills and experiences and develops a supporting knowledge of canoeing.
  • Canoeing and kayaking junior club
    A new session aimed at providing regular water based activity for 8 to 16 year olds who want to continue developing their skills on a weekly basis during term times.
  • Adult canoeing and kayaking taster sessions
    One hour sessions to try out canoeing or kayaking.
  • BCU 1 and 2 star
    These awards are a generic “any boat” personal proficiency award.  The course uses different types of craft to introduce and develop various paddling techniques, equipment, safety and environmental issues.
  • BCU 3 star
    The 3 Star award is a discipline specific award using either a kayak or a canoe.  More advanced skills are developed to enable participants to paddle on moving water.
  • The foundation safety and rescue course
    This course aims to provide the participant with the key safety and rescue skills required to operate safely and to be able to deal with common emergencies.  Participants should hold BCU 2 star or equivalent.

parties

Parties for young and old, the centre offers both adult and child (minimum age 8 years) sessions in the following activities:

  • Canoeing (maximum 8 per instructor per hour)
  • Kayaking (maximum 8 per instructor per hour)
  • Raft building (maximum 12 per instructor per hour)
  • Sailing (maximum 4 per instructor per hour)
  • Off road biking (maximum 10 per instructor per hour)
  • Climbing (maximum 8 per instructor per hour)

For more information see our brochure at the side, room hire is also available if required, please contact the centre for details.

 

develop

Team building/staff development
Qualified staff provide tailor made sessions including canoeing, kayaking, sailing, raft building, off road biking and land based  problem solving activities.  Practical challenges include the tarn challenge, where teams have to work out how to move each other safely across the tarn.  Contact the centre for further information, for dates and to book.

customer info

Facilities

  • Yeadon Tarn
  • Changing rooms
  • Drying rooms
  • Activity/teaching space
  • Traversing wall – climbing
  • Conference/meeting rooms
  • Kitchen
  • Disabled facilities
  • Reserved parking for disabled drivers
  • Level entrance
  • Automatic entrance doors
  • Lift to first floor
  • Accessible shower, toilet and changing facilities
  • Adjustable height changing bed
  • Adapted equipment

Location

Situated off Cemetery Road in Yeadon.  Please see map attached to this page for further directions

Public transport 
For public transport details please visit the Metro website

We are always pleased to hear from our customers, you can contact us at:

Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre,
Cemetery Road,
Yeadon,
Leeds
LS19 7UR

Telephone: 0113 2503616
Email: sailingcentre@leeds.gov.uk

Manager:  Gill Newman
Senior Coach:  Miles Ward


 

Further Activities:  All our activities are run by qualified staff giving you the chance to acquire formal qualifications in sailing, canoeing and associated skills

School and Community:  Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre offers opportunities away from the water for school and community use.  It includes local youth service provision and meeting rooms for community groups and training, conferences and courses.

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