Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre (WOEC) is situated on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. It benefits from easy access to a variety of high-quality watersports and climbing venues. Within 8 miles you'll find:
- sheltered harbours and bays
- the fleet tidal lagoon
- tidal races
- Portland crags
- sea caves
Our experienced coaches and tutors are on hand to provide a safe, enjoyable and exhilarating experience, be it your first time at the sport or desire to enhance a specific skill.
We offer a range of taster sessions, guided paddles, and courses to meet your desired outcomes, including bespoke tuition for individuals or small groups.
Social seafarers
Monday mornings
9:30am to 12:30pm
£90 for a block of six morning sessions
Spring Kayaking - April 8, 15, 22 and 29, May 13 and 20
Summer Sailing – June 3, 10, 17 & 24, July 8 and 15
Autumn Nautical Theory - September 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14 and 21
Learn how to kayak a range of boats from sit-on tops, creek boats and sea kayaks during the spring term and work towards a mini-journey. You might even get your British Canoeing Discover or Explore award.
Later in summer the focus turns to sailing, where you will learn the ropes and can control your own little sailing dinghy at sea. The instructors will provide coaching from a safety boat or from within the small keel boat, called a Hawk 20, on a group voyage. You will have the opportunity to buy a Royal Yachting Association Logbook and work towards, or even gain your Level 1 in dinghy sailing.
During autumn we will head into the classroom and enhance the practical knowledge with nautical theory, looking at weather forecasting, knot tying, use of charts, passage planning and pilotage.
SUP club
Thursday evenings
6pm to 9pm (includes minibus transport and changing room use, or you might decide to meet us at location beach ready for 6:30 pm and leave form there at 8:30 pm).
June 6 to July 11
£90 for a block of six evening sessions
Begin you stand up paddleboarding (SUP) journey or improve your skills with our SUP Coaches over a series of six summer evenings at the beach. We will work towards a mini journey, and explore paddle strokes, turns and possibly even a little racing along the way.
Paddleboards and buoyancy aids provided, or you can bring your own board if you have insurance.
Sea Kayaking award
Two-day course running on selected Tuesdays & Wednesdays
April 30 and May 1
July 9 and 10
August 6 and 7
October 1 and 2
9:30am to 4:30pm both days
£231 per person for two days, includes certification fee
Expand your sea kayaking experience and improve your personal paddling. Learn how to plan a successful journey on the sea from equipment choice through to venue and conditions. Upon completion of the course, your coach will either provide you with certification or advise you on further training opportunities to develop your skills appropriately.
Coastal navigation and tidal planning
One day course 9am to 5pm
March 9, June 1, November 16
or
Three Monday evenings 6pm to 9pm
March 4, 11 and 18
November 4, 11 and 18
£110.25 per person, includes certification fee.
This classroom-based theory course will cover the basics of how to plan a journey at sea. You will look at navigation charts and explore the charted features as well as working out how to fix your position and create a simple passage plan. The theory of tides and the interpretation of tide tables and tidal flow diagrams will also be explored. The aim of the course is to improve your confidence to plan a sea kayaking journey.
Upon completion of the course, your coach will either provide you with certification or advise you on further training opportunities to develop your skills appropriately.
Introduction to real rock
Join the team for a three-hour session on the crags of Portland for either your first ever climbing experience or a transition from indoor walls to real rock.
The course is:
- age 16+ (no upper age)
- 9am to 12:30pm
- on Friday 7 June, Saturday 6 July or Saturday 3 August
- £55 per person, per session
- available to book one or multiple sessions
Enjoy being fully immersed in nature as you climb the sea cliffs of Portland and listen to the waves below. Some of the crags (cliffs) are an adventure just to get to them, with the climb approaches requiring steady footing and being confident on uneven or exposed terrain. Once at the crag and climbing, you might even be watched by a nosy seal or capture a sighting of a dolphin in the bay from a very different perspective.
Transport and equipment are all provided; however, we will suggest you bring your own climbing shoes if you have them.
Small group size with a maximum of three participants per instructor.
