COMPETENT CREW
NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

DURATION
This course is 5 days; our courses can include a weekend. During the course you are
accommodated onboard one of our sailing yachts.

CONTENT
The RYA competent crew course is designed for the complete beginner to learn the basics and enjoy sailing onboard a cruising yacht. Experienced powerboat crews will benefit from this course if they are contemplating taking up sailing cruising yachts.
At the end of the 5 days you will have become a confident and competent crew member, some of your new skills will include helming, rope work, sail handling and learning to live on a cruising yacht.
During your time on board you will also get an insight as to what is required to progress up the ladder and take command of a sailing yacht.
Your course itinerary will vary depending on wind and tide conditions, all five days are spent
onboard the yacht visiting the many harbours and ports in and around the Solent. Sometimes longer passages are taken to the Channel Islands and Brittany.
All our skippers are qualified instructors and will help you develop your skills onboard the yacht.
Safety is paramount on all our courses and you will be taught how to operate lifejackets, flares, liferafts, what to do in the event of emergencies such as man overboard and how to summon assistance if required.
Night sailing will be on the agenda and we will sail for at least 4 hours in the dark, we will also aim to travel at least 100 nautical miles during the course. Course dates are available on request and are published on our website.
To book this course or any other course please contact us for a booking form. Group booking of 4/5 can choose their own dates for their course.

COMPETENT CREW PRACTICAL COURSE SYLLABUS

AIM
The aim of this course is 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

KNOWLEDGE
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 and 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 and complies with rules for the wearing of safety harnesses, lifejackets and
personal buoyancy aids

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR WORK
Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks
Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes

MAN OVERBOARD
Understands the action to be taken to recover a man overboard

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
Can operate distress flares and knows when they should be used
Understands how to launch and board a liferaft

MANNERS &CUSTOMS
Understands accepted practice with regard to: use of burgees and ensigns, prevention of
unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesies to other craft berthed
alongside
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 and complies with the loading rules
Is able to handle a dinghy under oars

METEOROLOGY
Awareness of forecasting services and knowledge of the Beaufort scale

SEASICKNESS
Working efficiency is unaffected/partially affected/severely affected by seasickness

HELMSMANSHIP & SAILING
Understands the basic principles of sailing and can steer and trim sails on all points
of sailing
Can steer a compass course under sail and power

GENERAL DUTIES
Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with
the daily routine of the vessel

HOW TO CONTACT US
COMMODORE YACHTING LTD
Gosport Marina,
Mumby Road,
Gosport,
PO12 1AX

Tel: 023 9250 4443
learntosail@sailing.co.uk