• Course Details
  • Course Itinerary
  • Course Syllabus

RYA Competent Crew

RYA Competent Crew introduces the delights of sailing to both the novice and those who have been aboard a yacht before but wish to learn the safe way of becoming more involved and a useful member of crew.


With Solent Sailing you will be taught the fundamentals of crewing such as knots, nautical terms, sail handling and helming, as well as how to live in a yacht.


At the end of the 6 days you will be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in the day to day routines onboard.

 

You will have become, as the name suggests, a competent (and confident) member of the crew.


With a maximum of 4 students per course, your fully qualified instructors devote plenty of time to your individual needs.


Fee's for Competent Crew:

£495 Low season - November to March
£650 High Season - April to October

 

At Solent Sailing our fee's include: An extra day (6 not the usual 5), meals, waterproofs, moorings, fuel and all incidental expenses except water taxi's and meals & drinks taken ashore by choice.


The course is designed to provide as much fun and enjoyment as possible in a safe and reassuring environment.

 

You will spend all 6 days aboard the yacht visiting many of the beautiful harbours and anchorages of the Solent and if the weather allows, complete a longer coastal passage.


Safety is paramount in all RYA courses and you will learn how to operate flares, life jackets, safety harnesses, life rafts, how to assist the recovery of a man overboard and participate in at least four hours of night time sailing during the course.

 

Email us for more information

 

Competent Crew Course - Provisional Itinerary

Friday

  • 1830h Arrive at Yacht and check.
  • Meet the instructor, collect food and move onto the yacht to settle in. Receive wet weather gear if required.
  • Stow away all provisioning and personal kit
  • Instructor's safety briefing and yacht familiarisation talk.
  • Go for a sail if weather & crew experience permits, if not go ashore for an evening meal. Either way a good chance to break the ice and have a relaxing evening & chat to the instructor about what you want to achieve from the week.

    • Saturday

  • 0730 Listen to weather forecast.
  • 0800 Showers at marina facilities, breakfast and clean up.
  • Recap safety procedures on deck. Introduction to deck gear, ropes and rigging and various parts of the yacht.
  • Engine start controls and rigging/slipping of mooring lines and fenders.
  • Slip mooring and motor giving everyone a chance to steer the yacht under power.
  • Practice coming alongside and leaving various pontoons with everyone rotating jobs
  • Short sail to an anchorage or mooring buoy giving everyone the chance to raise sails and control them using the sheets.
  • 1300 Lunch at a mooring buoy or anchorage. Discuss the use of life rafts.
  • Practice the basic points of sail with each person having the opportunity to helm or control sheets.
  • Practice putting in and shaking out reefs.
  • Practice headsail changes or furling.
  • Sail to overnight destination practicing what a crew member should do in the event of a Man Overboard situation.
  • 1830 Enter a new harbour in the Solent and moor up. Stow sails and tidy up on and below deck.
  • 1900 Debrief on day's events whilst dinner is cooking in oven.
  • 2000 Supper followed by a trip ashore to a local pub.


    • Sunday

  • 0730 Listen to weather forecast.
  • 0800 Showers at marina facilities, breakfast and clean up.
  • 0900 Prepare the yacht for sea and undertake a passage to an anchorage for lunch. On route each crew member will experience helming the yacht on different points of sail
  • Learn how to tie the basic 6 knots used by sailors and when they are used.
  • Prepare to enter anchorage. Learn how to prepare the anchor and foredeck in anticipation of arrival.
  • 1400 Lunch at anchor.
  • Set sail for evening destination learning the basic collision regulations on route.
  • 1730 Arrive at a new harbour in the Solent and prepare supper.
  • Debrief the day's events.
  • 1900 Depart for night sail exercise which will familiarise each crew member with light characteristics of buoyage and ships and additional safety. procedures needed at night.
  • 2300 Arrive at destination.


    • Monday

  • 0730 Listen to weather forecast.
  • 0800 Showers at marina facilities, breakfast and clean up.
  • 1030 Carry out some more manoeuvring under power using pontoons and mooring buoys.
  • 1200 Lunch at nearby mooring buoy.
  • 1300 Depart mooring buoy for sail to evening destination. Practice tacking, gybing and general sail trim on route.
  • Practice steering a compass course and maintaining a lookout.
  • 1700 Arrive at new harbour and learn how to secure to a town wall. General discussion about emergency procedures.
  • 1830 Dinghy rowing drills followed by debrief on the days events.
  • 1930 Supper followed by a trip ashore.


    • Tuesday

  • 0730 Listen to weather forecast.
  • 0800 Showers at marina facilities, breakfast and clean up.
  • 1000 Practice pile moorings in harbour.
  • 1130 Set sail for lunch time destination practicing Man Overboard on route. Practice taking sights with the hand bearing compass and keeping a look out.
  • 1330 Lunch at anchor.
  • 1500 Depart for evening destination with discussion on route about weather and some more information on collision regulations.
  • 1900 Arrive at destination and anchor for the night.
  • Debrief the day's events.
  • Supper followed by row ashore.


    • Wednesday

  • 0730 Listen to weather forecast.

  • 0800 Showers at marina facilities, breakfast and clean up.

  • 1000 Sail back to Hamble practicing all aspects in particular those you want to try again.

  • 1200 Early lunch on mooring buoy or at anchor.
  • 1500 Arrive back at Base.
  • Clean up yacht, return wet weather gear followed by debrief and issue of certificates.
  • 1600 Depart.

    • Email us for more information

    RYA Competent Crew practical sailing course syllabus
    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 of sea terms and parts of the boat, her rigging and sails

  • Sufficient knowledge to understand orders 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 know their correct use: figure of eight, clove hitch, rolling hitch, bowline, round term and two half hitches, single and double sheet bend, reek knot

    Fire precautions and fighting

  • Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fire
  • Knowledge of the action taken in the event of fire

    Personal safety equipment

  • Understands and complies with the rules for wearing of safety harnesses, life jackets and personal buoyancy aids

    Man overboard

  • Understands the action to be taken to recover a man overboard
    		•   

    Emergency equipment

  • Can operate distress flares and knows how they should be used
  • Understands hoe to launch and board a life raft

    Manners and customs

  • Understands the 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 loading rules
  • Is able to handle a dinghy under oars.

    Meteorology

  • Awareness of forecasting and the Beaufort scale
    Helmsmanship and 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.
    		•

    Telephone: 07860 546007
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