02394 350505

5 Day RYA Competent Crew Course

What we say…

What it says on the tin! At the end of five days you won’t believe how much you’ve learned. You don’t need any previous experience, although people sometimes find it helpful to have looked at the Competent Crew Handbook prior to joining. However you approach it your instructor will show you the ropes (quite literally) and get you sailing, maneuvering, handling lines and rowing a dinghy. You will learn to helm (steer) the boat on all points of sail (wherever the wind is coming from) and you will be tacking (nothing to do with sewing) and gybing (not to be confused with gibing) and running before the wind (which doesn’t actually require you to run) so that you have the confidence to go on to the next stage.

What’s Included

  • 5 nights onboard your yacht 
  • Instructor 
  • Breakfast  
  • Lunch 
  • Soft drinks and snacks 
  • Wet weather gear 
  • Fuel, gas and engine hours
  • RYA Competent Certificate upon successful completion of the course 

Cost

5 Day courses

Off-peak (1st December – 31st March): £599

Peak Season (1st April – 30th November): £659

Split weekend 2+3 courses

Off-peak (1st December – 31st March): £639

Peak Season (1st April – 30th November): £699

Courses start at 19.00hrs and finishing on your last day at 17.00hrs. 

Facts and figures

  • Recommended Pre Course Experience

    None

  • Prior Days at Sea Required

    0

  • Night Hours

    0

  • Prior Sailing Miles Required

    0

  • Prior Days as Skipper Required

    0

  • Minimum Age

    12

  • Days on board

    5

  • Maximum Ratio

    5:1

Syllabus

  • Knowledge of Sea Terms & Parts of a Boat
    • Sufficient knowledge to understand orders given concerning the sailing & day-to-day running of the boat
  • Sail Handling
    • Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails
    • Use of sheets & halyards & their associated winches
  • Ropework
    • Handling ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats & single & double bollards
    • Handling warps
    • Ability to tie the following knots and to know their correct use: figures-of-eight, clove hitch, rolling hitch, bowline, round turn & two half hitches, single & double sheet bend, reef knot
  • Fire Precautions & Fighting
    • Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fire
    • Knowledge of the action to be taken in event of fire
  • Personal Safety Equipment
    • Understands & complies with rules for the wearing of safety harnesses, lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids
  • Man Overboard
    • Understands the action to be taken to recover a man overboard
  • Emergency Equipment
    • Can operate distress flares & knows when they should be used
    • Understands how to launch & board a liferaft
  • Manners & Customs
    • Understands accepted practice with regard to: use of burgees & ensigns, prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesies to other craft berthed
    • Aware of the responsibility of yacht skippers to protect the environment
  • Rules of the Road
    • Is able to keep an efficient lookout at sea
  • Dinghies
    • Understands & complies with the loading rules
    • Is able to handle a dinghy under oars