Significant birthday coming .. want to learn to sail a yacht

[Jonny TVR]

I can sail a dinghy .. so sailing a yacht is the same but a bit bigger, right?!

Don't worry I know its very different. My birthday is in November next year and want to learn to sail a yacht somewhere warm and pleasant with my other half. Its something I have wanted to do for many years. Where should I go? any good companies and what qualifications will I have after a week or 10 days? I understand the sea a little as I have a powerboat which I use in the sea and have level 2 license. My objective is to bareboat charter in Europe and UK, then eventually buying one. My partner also wants the same or so she tells me!

[Ayahuasca]

I went from dingies to yachts.

The sailing is just the same, the crucial difference is departing / arriving at the dock. Arrive too fast in a Laser and you can just stick out your foot. In a yacht, not so much.

You won't need the Competent Crew RYA course - any dinghy person should be able to tie a knot and coil a line, etc.

You will probably need your Day Skipper. Shore based theory (lots of navigation and identifying various buoys and lights), and onboard practical asssesment. Not difficult.

To charter bareboat your could do with the Certificate of Competence. You can apply for that after your Day Skipper.

[NickCQ]

When you come to do your Day Skipper course, it is worth considering doing it somewhere tidal rather than the Med. Doesn't Gib count as tidal for these purposes? Then it will be a lot less daunting if you want to cruise in the UK, Channel Islands, North Brittany etc.

[rossb]

If we are heading for an Indian Summer here in UK - you might squeeze a day skipper course in before your birthday in UK? Did day skipper with Polka Sailing in Solent - certainly tidal enough! No commercial affiliation - although would recommend from personal experience - done on a First 34.7 which he actively races - which was more fun to sail than doing a course on the usual floating caravan

[ecsrobin]

Just a note. To charter in Europe most places take day skipper, in the UK most places ask for Coastal skipper (think it’s now called Yachtmaster coastal)

[NickCQ]

ecsrobin said:

Just a note. To charter in Europe most places take day skipper, in the UK most places ask for Coastal skipper (think it’s now called Yachtmaster coastal)

I didn't know that. Obviously it depends who you talk to - Sunsail seem to charter the 40's to just about anyone (or they did when I was a student anyway).

[P924]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

NickCQ said:

Doesn't Gib count as tidal for these purposes? .

Yes. Hence the schools there and my ticket was Tidal endorsed.

Upto Duquesa is classed as tidal, so including Sotogrande.

[ecsrobin]

NickCQ said:

ecsrobin said:

Just a note. To charter in Europe most places take day skipper, in the UK most places ask for Coastal skipper (think it’s now called Yachtmaster coastal)

I didn't know that. Obviously it depends who you talk to - Sunsail seem to charter the 40's to just about anyone (or they did when I was a student anyway).

[rolster]

Hi there, I did my day skippers course earlier this year in Portugal, as I wanted tidal experience. As I live in the Med area its not really feasable here. I also wanted somewhere that was warm and not to cold for my old bones.
I used Faro sailing school and found them to be a good small company to go with. I had done my day skippers theory before doing the practical course, but i believe they do offer a shore course followed by the practical course for those who want to combine everything in one hit.

[e-mail]

[pequod]

Bear in mind November is too late for sailing charters in the Med, as they stop at the end of October, in the Ionian at least, so you will need to travel further afield (Caribbean/Thailand/etc.) if you want sun as well as sailing!

November in the UK certainly won't fit the bill with your experience if you want to bareboat charter either, sorry.

Why not do as Her Majesty and celebrate your birthday on an earlier date then you will have more options and I would recommend a flotilla in the Ionian?

[Jonny TVR]

Thank you all ... going to show my partner the thread at the weekend and do some research based on what you have suggested. Tidal and somewhere hot I think. Gib sounds good.