Competent Crew. France? Recommendations. Couple of Qs.
Discussion
Seems like a middle aged cliché but I want to gain my Day Skipper to charter on holiday.
Does anyone have experience with undertaking Competent crew, I like the look of "Solent Boat training" as I have used them in the past for training and they were very professional
But as this will probably be end Sept Mid Oct and I have spent many a grey day on the Solent, it might be nice to head down the Med? I get cheap trains so thinking south of France would be pretty good experience.
As an aside this will be my first "yacht" experience have spent a few days on tall ships and can sail dinghy's.
So probably ok going straight to competent crew?
Also five days, very small boat, strangers, might just be me... but how did that work out for you?
Does anyone have experience with undertaking Competent crew, I like the look of "Solent Boat training" as I have used them in the past for training and they were very professional
But as this will probably be end Sept Mid Oct and I have spent many a grey day on the Solent, it might be nice to head down the Med? I get cheap trains so thinking south of France would be pretty good experience.
As an aside this will be my first "yacht" experience have spent a few days on tall ships and can sail dinghy's.
So probably ok going straight to competent crew?
Also five days, very small boat, strangers, might just be me... but how did that work out for you?
hidetheelephants said:
If you want dazed kipper you might as well go straight for it; CC is for people who've not been on a boat really, if you can sail dinghies you're already past that although swotting up on the theory is probably advisable.
I agree with this. I did competent crew years ago when I sailed for the first time. It's pretty basic - if you're familiar with boats you could easily get away with spending £12 on the RYA book then go straight onto Day Skipper.Re the 5 days with strangers, a few times me and a mate joined a boat where we didn't know the others. It's pretty much pot luck how much fun you have, but a good skipper makes a big difference - and you can probably get a feel for that by looking at the online reviews.
Edited by Slowboathome on Saturday 12th August 14:43
It's a while since I got involved with this.
The RYA sets pre-requisites for its courses, for DS, you should have logged some miles and spent some hours on a boat, including at night.
A comp crew course is one way of ticking that box, but there are others.
You might find a cheaper or more convenient way of doing the hours.
Personally I would consider having a plan about how far up the ladder you want to go, then make a plan to get there.
I'm not sure it's necessary or right for everyone to do all the steps.
YM Offshore is the proper thing. It's not hard, it just needs some miles and a bit wider perspective.
Coastal is a halfway house.
A lot of people do the theory/shorebased stuff online, it suits some people to have time to read around the subject etc rather than a block of time in the classroom. I'd suggest doing the shorebased ASAP amd revising before the practical, there is stuff on the syllabus which it's easy to ignore in real sailing.
If you're thinking of working up the YM ladder, then you may be able to do the YM offshore shorebased from scratch.
Starting from a dinghy background with some sea sailing and appreciation of tide, it's not witchcraft.
Be aware that these things are not just about sailing skills, there is a 'management element' of being in charge of the boat and its crew.
More so for the higher levels.
I'm not sure which certs are tidal/non tidal, ie. a ticket gained in the Med won't cut it in Cornwall?
A great many of the actual instructors are freelance, the larger schools fish in the same pool for staff.
A smaller school may be one man and his boat.
I don't think UK weather should be too much of an issue, boats mostly have heaters and modern kit makes a difference.
Obviously the Solent is a lot less weather-dependent than e.g .Scotland.
The RYA sets pre-requisites for its courses, for DS, you should have logged some miles and spent some hours on a boat, including at night.
A comp crew course is one way of ticking that box, but there are others.
You might find a cheaper or more convenient way of doing the hours.
Personally I would consider having a plan about how far up the ladder you want to go, then make a plan to get there.
I'm not sure it's necessary or right for everyone to do all the steps.
YM Offshore is the proper thing. It's not hard, it just needs some miles and a bit wider perspective.
Coastal is a halfway house.
A lot of people do the theory/shorebased stuff online, it suits some people to have time to read around the subject etc rather than a block of time in the classroom. I'd suggest doing the shorebased ASAP amd revising before the practical, there is stuff on the syllabus which it's easy to ignore in real sailing.
If you're thinking of working up the YM ladder, then you may be able to do the YM offshore shorebased from scratch.
Starting from a dinghy background with some sea sailing and appreciation of tide, it's not witchcraft.
Be aware that these things are not just about sailing skills, there is a 'management element' of being in charge of the boat and its crew.
More so for the higher levels.
I'm not sure which certs are tidal/non tidal, ie. a ticket gained in the Med won't cut it in Cornwall?
A great many of the actual instructors are freelance, the larger schools fish in the same pool for staff.
A smaller school may be one man and his boat.
I don't think UK weather should be too much of an issue, boats mostly have heaters and modern kit makes a difference.
Obviously the Solent is a lot less weather-dependent than e.g .Scotland.
Thanks all, that's some.good info.
The few days sailing a tall ship (jubilee sailing trust) to France and back, was fairly hands on..and rough..but it did include nights...
I think I'll discuss straight to Skipper with the schools involved, worst case I guess is I fail and use that for my practice for next event....
Good shout regarding the Med and tides something that I didn't really think of.
Probably best to train hard and fight easy and practice with the tides I think.
Boat show coming up might pause untill then.
The few days sailing a tall ship (jubilee sailing trust) to France and back, was fairly hands on..and rough..but it did include nights...
I think I'll discuss straight to Skipper with the schools involved, worst case I guess is I fail and use that for my practice for next event....
Good shout regarding the Med and tides something that I didn't really think of.
Probably best to train hard and fight easy and practice with the tides I think.
Boat show coming up might pause untill then.
Bushi said:
Thanks all, that's some.good info.
The few days sailing a tall ship (jubilee sailing trust) to France and back, was fairly hands on..and rough..but it did include nights...
I think I'll discuss straight to Skipper with the schools involved, worst case I guess is I fail and use that for my practice for next event....
Good shout regarding the Med and tides something that I didn't really think of.
Probably best to train hard and fight easy and practice with the tides I think.
Boat show coming up might pause untill then.
The dazed kipper syllabus is the same regardless of where you do it, you will be asked questions about tide and its effect on navigation but the med does make for more guaranteed shades and sunscreen use. A friend did his yacht master in the canaries a while ago.The few days sailing a tall ship (jubilee sailing trust) to France and back, was fairly hands on..and rough..but it did include nights...
I think I'll discuss straight to Skipper with the schools involved, worst case I guess is I fail and use that for my practice for next event....
Good shout regarding the Med and tides something that I didn't really think of.
Probably best to train hard and fight easy and practice with the tides I think.
Boat show coming up might pause untill then.
Hi i live in the South of France and did things like my VHF and Motor 2 down here, as easily accessable locally.
I however, then went to Portugal for my day skippers practical elements, after completing an online course for the theory part.
I had an excellent time in Portugal in spring time, as was warm enough, but no tourists around and the boat just had a couple on it with myself and the skipper. So a highly enjoyable time had by all. Its all tidal there and there were rivers to explore, as well as open ocean and plenty to do ashore in the evenings at the different overnight halts.
I would agree on going straight to day skipper if you have experience already, although do expect to be called out on it.
I did my competant crew at school, over 35 years before doing my day skipper, but had spent most of my working life on ships and playing around in boats.
I however, then went to Portugal for my day skippers practical elements, after completing an online course for the theory part.
I had an excellent time in Portugal in spring time, as was warm enough, but no tourists around and the boat just had a couple on it with myself and the skipper. So a highly enjoyable time had by all. Its all tidal there and there were rivers to explore, as well as open ocean and plenty to do ashore in the evenings at the different overnight halts.
I would agree on going straight to day skipper if you have experience already, although do expect to be called out on it.
I did my competant crew at school, over 35 years before doing my day skipper, but had spent most of my working life on ships and playing around in boats.
Bushi said:
Thanks all, that's some.good info.
The few days sailing a tall ship (jubilee sailing trust) to France and back, was fairly hands on..and rough..but it did include nights...
I think I'll discuss straight to Skipper with the schools involved, worst case I guess is I fail and use that for my practice for next event....
Good shout regarding the Med and tides something that I didn't really think of.
Probably best to train hard and fight easy and practice with the tides I think.
Boat show coming up might pause untill then.
You should get some good advice at the Boat Show, especially on the RYA stand. I would recommend doing the course in tidal waters here or France (not med coast) and If you intend sailing in UK waters or coastal France then understanding tides is absolutely essential. It's not just tidal flows as some destinations have limited tidal access. The solent and further west down to Devon and Cornwall have some great sailing destinations. Normandy and Brittany coast also. The few days sailing a tall ship (jubilee sailing trust) to France and back, was fairly hands on..and rough..but it did include nights...
I think I'll discuss straight to Skipper with the schools involved, worst case I guess is I fail and use that for my practice for next event....
Good shout regarding the Med and tides something that I didn't really think of.
Probably best to train hard and fight easy and practice with the tides I think.
Boat show coming up might pause untill then.
There is also the ICC which is a recognised yacht charter qualification but as a life long RYA member I'm a bit prejudiced.
I did my Day Skipper with Sunsail many decades ago. I think they still do combined theory/practical. They are based in Port Solent, North Portsmouth Harbour area. There are plenty of others though that you will find at the show. You may even get a deal.
I now sail out of Chichester harbour which is also a great location.
hidetheelephants said:
The dazed kipper syllabus is the same regardless of where you do it, you will be asked questions about tide and its effect on navigation but the med does make for more guaranteed shades and sunscreen use. A friend did his yacht master in the canaries a while ago.
Yep, I (re)did my day skipper last year on the Ionian, I just checked and it (and the ICC) are both valid for tidal waters. Agree with the comments about actually doing the course on tidal (and busy!) water though - I've got dinghy experience on the Bristol channel (We've had 10m tide this evening!) but when I did my DS first time around on the solent it was a bit of an eye opener keeping on top of the chart work below whilst keeping my eye on Mrs Mave who was helming her Comp Crew upstairs.
The Solent is actually a good place to do courses, because there are so many ports so close together, a day's teaching can have the boat in and out of 4 places.
It's also good to go somewhere you don't know, because once you know a place you don't need to keep lookiing at the chart. For this reason, I didn't do my YM in the Solent, as I'd raced there for about ten years and knew the currents and shallow bits fairly well. I went to Dartmouth, which also has a fair few places you can get to in 5 days. You don't want somewhere where you will spend many hours going in a straight line.
It's also good to go somewhere you don't know, because once you know a place you don't need to keep lookiing at the chart. For this reason, I didn't do my YM in the Solent, as I'd raced there for about ten years and knew the currents and shallow bits fairly well. I went to Dartmouth, which also has a fair few places you can get to in 5 days. You don't want somewhere where you will spend many hours going in a straight line.
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