RYA Competent Crew and Start Sailing Practical Courses
Andy's Description:
This is the course for the beginner. You don’t need previous experience. We will teach you basic boat handling skills including helming, sail handling and ropework. The aim is to make you a useful crew member.
Start Sailing is a two day introductory course that counts towards the full five day Competent Crew course.
RYA Stated Aim
To introduce the complete beginner to cruising and to teach personal safety, seamanship and helmsmanship to the level required to be a useful member of the crew of a cruising yacht.
| Subject |
Knowledge Gained |
| Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails. |
Sufficient knowledge to understand orders given concerning the sailing and day-to-day running of the boat.
|
| Sail Handling |
Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails. Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches.
|
| Ropework |
Handling ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats and single and double bollards. Handling warps.
Ability to tie the following knots and to know their correct use:
- figure of eight
- clove hitch
- rolling hitch
- bowline
- round turn and two half hitches
- single sheet bend
- double sheet bend
- reef knot
|
| Fire precautions and fighting |
Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fire.
Knowledge of action to be taken in event of fire.
|
| Personal safety equipment |
Understands and complies with rules for wearing of safety harnesses, life jackets and personal buoyancy aids.
|
| Man overboard |
Understands action to be taken to recover a man overboard. |
| Distress Signals |
Can operate distress flares and knows when they should be used. |
| Manners and customs |
Understands the ordinary practice of seamen and yachtsmen with regard to use of burgees and ensigns,
prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesies to other craft berthed alongside.
|
| Rules of the road |
Is able to keep an efficient lookout at sea. |
| Dinghies |
Understands and complies with loading rules. Is able to handle a dinghy under oars. |
| Meterology |
Awareness of forecasting services and knowledge of Beaufort scale. |
| Seasickness |
Rating of how working efficiency is affected by seasickness. |
| Helmsmanship and sailing |
Understands the basic principles of sailing and can steer and trim sails on all points of sail.
Can steer a compass course, under sail and power. |
| General duties |
Has carried out general duties satisfactory on deck and below decks
in connection with the daily routine of vessel. |
Click here for our current course schedules.
Click here to download a printer friendly PDF datasheet.
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