Rya Syllabi for Practical courses
| Competent Crew | Day Skipper | Coastal Skipper |
| To contact us telephone 01445 781729 or richard@sail-scotland.com |
This
course is designed for those with little or no sailing experience
Over the 5 day course (or equivalent) we hope we will teach you:
| Syllabus |
Land terms of what we hope you will learn |
| Knowledge of sea terms and parts of the boat, her rigging and sails | What all the bits of the boat are and do, what the bits of rope and cloth do and how to use it all |
| Ropework | Different types of rope, its use and how to tie knots. Using ropes on board the yacht. |
| Sail Handling | How to put up the sails, use them, pull them down and tidy them away. |
| Fire Precautions and fighting | How to prevent it and what to do if it does happen |
| Personal safety equipment | use of equipment to keep you afloat and attached to the yacht |
| Man
overboard |
The actions taken by all the crew to recover someone in the water |
| Emergency
equipment |
How to call for help and how to react if you receive a call for help. Using liferafts. |
| Manners and customs |
How not to
annoy your neighbours in port |
| Rule of the road | The highway code of the sea |
| Dinghies | How to get safely to and from the yacht in a small rowboat or inflatable |
| Meteorology | Where you get the weather forecast at sea how it affects you and wind strength |
| Sea sickness | Not how to be sea sick, but how to cope with it and slow its onset |
| Helmsmanship
and sailing |
How
to drive the boat under sail (in various directions taking into account
the angle the wind hits the boat) and under engine. How to steer using a compass when you have nothing to steer at |
| General duties | How to work and live aboard the yacht with others |
This course is for people who have some sailing experience.
Ideally you would have had:
The Aim of
the course is to teach pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up
to a standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal
waters with which the student is familiar.
Syllabus
Outline of what we will cover during the 5 days and hopefully you will be able to do
Is able to prepare a yacht for sea including engine checks, selection of sails, securing and stowage if all gear on deck and below
Can reef, shake out reefs and change sails to suit the prevailing conditions. Can prepare an anchor, mooring warps and take charge on deck when mooring alongside, coming to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping from a buoy or an alongside berth
Is proficient at chart work and routine navigational duties on passage including
Can prepare and execute a passage plan for entry into and departure from harbour. Understands the use of Leading lines and clearing lines. Use of transits & soundings as aids to pilotage
Knows sources of forecast information, can interpret shipping forecast. Use of the barometer as a forecasting aid
Has a working knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Understands and
is able to carry out maintenance tasks.
Knows the properties and uses of synthetic fibre ropes
Understands how to victual a yacht. (Ships stores)
Is able to take correct action as helmsman for recovery of man overboard. Fully understands distress flares and how to use a liferaft. Can operate a radiotelephone in an emergency and can send a distress message. Understands how to secure a tow. Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue.
Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and bleed the fuel system.
Is able to take correct action as Skipper for recovery of man overboard
Understands Distress flares and how to use a liferaft
Can operate a radiotelephone in an emergency and send a distress message
Understands how to secure a tow
Understands rescue procedures in including helicopter rescue
Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide.
Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide. Can steer and trim sails effectively on all points of sailing
Can plan and make a coastal passage, taking into account of relevant navigational hazards and limitations imposed by the type of yacht and the strength of the crew.
A lot to cover in 5 days!!!!!
This is a training course to get you to the level of skill that will enable you to be assessed by an external examiner for the RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper Certificate. It is possible to organise the course so that towards the end, we are in an area reasonably accessible for an examiner to conduct an examination aboard. The examination fees are payable to the RYA.
Aim: To teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a yacht safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night.
| 1.
Passage planning Can plan a coastal passage including a consideration of the capability of the yacht, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights and tidal streams, publications required and strategy. Knows Customs procedures |
| 2.
Preparation for sea Is aware of safety equipment required for offshore passages. Can prepare a yacht for sea including stowage, safety briefing, watch keeping, delegating responsibilities and equipment and engine checks. |
|
3. Pilotage |
| 4.
Passage making and ability as skipper Can take charge of a yacht and direct the crew. Can organise the navigation, deckwork and domestic duties of a yacht on passage. Is aware of the significance of meteorological trends. Is aware of crew welfare on passage. Can use electronic navigation equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including the use of waypoints and routes |
| 5.
Yacht handling under power Can control the yacht effectively in a confined space under power. All berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide. |
| 6.
Yacht handling under sail Can use the sails to control the yacht in a confined space. Anchoring and mooring in various conditions of wind and tide. Can sail efficiently on all points of sailing. |
| 7.
Adverse weather conditions Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds. Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility. |
| 8.
Emergency situations Recovery of man overboard under power and sail. Understands action to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues. |
©
Richard Holmes
24 November, 2005