Hooker Skills Course

This practical course is aimed at beginners who have a love of adventure & general interest in boating, or seasoned sailors who wish to learn more about Galway’s traditional sail/workboats. The course covers the history, construction and restoration of the Galway Hooker, Hooker familiarization such as rigging. It will cover general maritime knowledge of tides, weather and charts and you will learn the skills needed to become part of a sailing crew, as well as discover the unique maritime history of these exceptionally beautiful traditional sailboats.

Learning to rig a Galway Hooker at Claddagh Quay

This course also gives you a good insight into our club, its members and how we maintain and sail our Hookers. Please note: If you are interested in joining our club, you must complete this course first.

Course Content

The course is broken into both theoretical and practical modules, with time taken to explore the history and cultural elements of Galway’s maritime history. The final session is a water based, on one of our motor boats.

What you will learn;

  • The History of the Galway Hooker

  • Traditional Hooker Customs

  • Nautical Theory

  • Knowledge of sea terms & parts of the boat

  • Navigation & Meteorology (Weather / Tides)

  • Ropework and using Sea Log Books

  • Rigging and sail handling

  • General Seamanship / Seawomanship duties

  • Helmsmanship

  • Personal safety & fire precautions

  • Man-overboard & emergency equipment

Course notes, articles & learning materials are supplied during the course (digital versions only).

Course Dates & Times

Our next course is as follows; (all sessions are part of the course)

Session 1: April 22nd 18:30-21:00

Session 2: April 29th 18:30-21:00

Session 3: May 3rd 09:00-13:00

Cost of Course

€70 Youth (18-25 years)

€100 (Adults 26 years and over )

Note: All proceeds from the course are re-invested back into our club to fund boat-restoration, training & community projects.

Course Location

For the first session we will meet at Galway Bay Seafoods, New Docks H91 NFH6.

While this session is classroom based, please dress for outdoors as we may go outside during break. At this session you will also be guided as to what to wear or to bring for the subsequent sessions.

How to Book

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL as we have a maximum limit.

Before you book, make sure the course dates suit you as attendance at the first session is mandatory. Click the Book Now button to take you to our Online Shop where payment is taken. Choose the rate that suits based on your age group. Please enter the email address and the number you wish us to contact you on. Choose Click & Collect to avoid shipping costs as all course material is supplied during the course. Once payment is received we will email you to confirm your place.

Please note: We need a minimum of 6 people to run the course. It is rare that we need to reschedule (we usually sell out!!), but if it happens we will contact you as soon as we can, at least 24 hours before the course start date to reschedule a new date or to arrange a refund.

Not sure yet about doing this course?

You can add your name to our Expression of Interest form, and we will contact you when the next course dates are announced.