Day Skipper theory: attend course or do online?
Discussion
I'm looking at organising my Day Skipper Theory. Quite fancy doing a classroom course as it's more social, but I'd be driving 45 mins to and from it minimum so considering doing an online course via Sunsail/Navathome.com for the reduced faff factor. I'm mathsy/sciency/engineery by training so I'm not too worried about learning the nav side - I've been through the examples on here (http://www.navathome.com/free-trial/rya_online.aspx) and it doesn't seem too bad.
Anyone done the online one? Would you recommend it?
Anyone done the online one? Would you recommend it?
I did the online Navathome Day Skipper course last year. I was lucky enough to have various classroom courses fairly close by too, but due to traveling a fair bit for work at the time I knew I'd end up missing quite a few evenings. The Navathome course was quite fun to be honest, I'd do a couple of hours one or two evenings in the week, and a bit more if I got the chance at the weekend. I took a few months to work through it all, but it was all simple to follow and clearly laid out.
I didn't use the services of the instructors much, as the course was pretty straightforward to follow along with, but they did send a few encouraging emails on the way.
When I did the Practical course later in the year a couple of the other attendees had also taken the Navathome theory course and were very complimentary about the rapid response and feedback they'd got when they did have problems.
I think a class-based course would definitely be better for the social aspect and getting to know other boat owners and potential boat owners locally, but I'd certainly say that the online courses are a good option if you can't spare the time for a class-based course.
I didn't use the services of the instructors much, as the course was pretty straightforward to follow along with, but they did send a few encouraging emails on the way.
When I did the Practical course later in the year a couple of the other attendees had also taken the Navathome theory course and were very complimentary about the rapid response and feedback they'd got when they did have problems.
I think a class-based course would definitely be better for the social aspect and getting to know other boat owners and potential boat owners locally, but I'd certainly say that the online courses are a good option if you can't spare the time for a class-based course.
I would recommend attending the course in person. I did my Coast Skipper theory last year in Edinburgh and really enjoyed it. You get a lot more info from the instructor, easier to ask questions, lots of good sailing stories.
Nice to do it along with others at the same time as you all share your sailing experiences. I think you'd miss all of that in the online course.
The bank I used to work for used to send us on training courses, but these were often more for the networking side than the actual training.
Nice to do it along with others at the same time as you all share your sailing experiences. I think you'd miss all of that in the online course.
The bank I used to work for used to send us on training courses, but these were often more for the networking side than the actual training.
I really wanted to do mine as a classroom course, but due to work commitments (despite being in London each week) etc, that wasn't possible. Ended up doing the Splash online course (via First Class Sailing) and found it relatively straightforward. Each year I do a level of self-study for professional certifications, so was in the habit anyway of studying some evenings.
In saying that, my methodology towards CTS was fundamentally wrong and I didn't pick up on it until the exam results came in. In a classroom I don't think I'd have made that error. Did my VHF license in the classroom, and was so glad I did. Using the gear for the first time can be awkward.
In saying that, my methodology towards CTS was fundamentally wrong and I didn't pick up on it until the exam results came in. In a classroom I don't think I'd have made that error. Did my VHF license in the classroom, and was so glad I did. Using the gear for the first time can be awkward.
ecsrobin said:
What is your sailing background?
My early sailing history goes:
Never sailed
Comp crew course (held in Solent)
1 week sail around Solent
Day skipper practical (in Solent)
Weekend Topper sailing in Cowes in 1995My early sailing history goes:
Never sailed
Comp crew course (held in Solent)
1 week sail around Solent
Day skipper practical (in Solent)
Long weekend on a Victoria 34 in 2003 in the Solent
Day on Lion New Zealand in 2014 in Bay of Islands
Comp Crew in the Solent last few weeks (1 weekend left)
TODO:
Day Skipper Theory
Day Skipper Practical
VHF
I did all my sail training on Vic34's. If it was me I'd jump straight into the practical course it's aimed at you being a safe sailor who can plot a route and tell a crew to do a few tasks. However I do reccomend the coastal/yachtmaster theory course prior to any further advanced training.
If you have a reasonable mathematical brain you can shortcut. I have sailed alot but didn't ever need a ticket until I wanted to charter something.
I did the one week day skipper in the BVI with sunsail, from memory it was about £600 each. we were in 56(?) foot beneteau or similar. Instructor well aware I hadn't done the theory, he set me a few theoretical tasks that frankly anyone with basic maths could do and I got my ticket.
The BVI course was brilliant, two couples plus a singleton and the instructor/skipper
we had a slush fund we put $250 each into and bought booze and food, every evening we would be in a different bay either on an anchor or buoy, within reach of a bar/restaurant. One memorable evening coming back in the dinghy at about 2:00am every boat looked the same and we spent a good 20 minutes trying to find where we lived. Went round Necker island and stopped at the local the Bitter End Bar
Well worth it, if you are going to do this its worth spending a few days beforehand getting a bit of a tan as you don't want to be on a boat with a UK pallor and get burnt to a crisp, also worth having 36 hours in an hotel/resort having spent a week cheek by jowl with strangers, nice to have a real bed and proper shower etc before the flight back
I did the one week day skipper in the BVI with sunsail, from memory it was about £600 each. we were in 56(?) foot beneteau or similar. Instructor well aware I hadn't done the theory, he set me a few theoretical tasks that frankly anyone with basic maths could do and I got my ticket.
The BVI course was brilliant, two couples plus a singleton and the instructor/skipper
we had a slush fund we put $250 each into and bought booze and food, every evening we would be in a different bay either on an anchor or buoy, within reach of a bar/restaurant. One memorable evening coming back in the dinghy at about 2:00am every boat looked the same and we spent a good 20 minutes trying to find where we lived. Went round Necker island and stopped at the local the Bitter End Bar
Well worth it, if you are going to do this its worth spending a few days beforehand getting a bit of a tan as you don't want to be on a boat with a UK pallor and get burnt to a crisp, also worth having 36 hours in an hotel/resort having spent a week cheek by jowl with strangers, nice to have a real bed and proper shower etc before the flight back
Thought I'd give a bit of an update on this. I chose to do the Day Skipper theory course remotely with Navathome. Overall I was very pleased. Seemed good value and the flexibility of studying when I wanted (esp as we have a young toddler who my other half would have had to look after on her own for 2+ weekends if I'd done the classroom based course). Support for the course is good, instructors are just an email of phone call away and they reply very quickly. Only thing I'd change is that it was difficult to tell how far through the course you were at any given point. Although there were 8 sections or so, some took a long time (chartwork/tides) and some could be whipped through very quickly (safety gear), so it'd be useful to have a percentage complete based on time, but it's not critical.
Overall I reckon I spent 35 hours or so doing it, the first third in November, then a few months break before doing the rest over a 2 week period in March to get t done before my practical course. Although I think I could have reduced this if I'd done it in bigger chunks, say 6 hours at a time rather than the average of probably 3 hours at a time I ended up doing as you end up having to get yourself back up to speed or say 15-20 mins or so every time you start a new session.
Navathome course comes with a licence for the RYA chart plotter app for your computer which allows you to practice planning passages on electronic charts which is useful which not all online courses provide so useful to have as a differentiator in terms of checking value for money of the online course you're looking at.
Online exam is very good, has same look and feel as the course. They say you should allow up 8 hours to do it, but off the record they say 4 should be enough and I think I got through it in 3 and a bit with a couple of redos of questions. Feedback during the course from them is via email and pretty much realtime which is nice - they know when you're taking the exam and you get the impression an instructor is assigned to sit by their computer that day to monitor your progress, and there's lots of encouragement.
My advice would be to read all the books/material etc they give you as some things you're required to know aren't spoon fed to you, so I did get caught out a couple of times in the exam, but nothing major.
Anyway, would highly recommend if a classroom course does not fit in with your needs.
Overall I reckon I spent 35 hours or so doing it, the first third in November, then a few months break before doing the rest over a 2 week period in March to get t done before my practical course. Although I think I could have reduced this if I'd done it in bigger chunks, say 6 hours at a time rather than the average of probably 3 hours at a time I ended up doing as you end up having to get yourself back up to speed or say 15-20 mins or so every time you start a new session.
Navathome course comes with a licence for the RYA chart plotter app for your computer which allows you to practice planning passages on electronic charts which is useful which not all online courses provide so useful to have as a differentiator in terms of checking value for money of the online course you're looking at.
Online exam is very good, has same look and feel as the course. They say you should allow up 8 hours to do it, but off the record they say 4 should be enough and I think I got through it in 3 and a bit with a couple of redos of questions. Feedback during the course from them is via email and pretty much realtime which is nice - they know when you're taking the exam and you get the impression an instructor is assigned to sit by their computer that day to monitor your progress, and there's lots of encouragement.
My advice would be to read all the books/material etc they give you as some things you're required to know aren't spoon fed to you, so I did get caught out a couple of times in the exam, but nothing major.
Anyway, would highly recommend if a classroom course does not fit in with your needs.
A friend of mine has just done Power Day Skipper with: https://www.solentboatevents.co.uk/rya-training-co...
'I can highly recommend the company... run by boaters for boaters... generally the cheapest..... but certainly also one of the best. Largest fleet of training boats in the Solent. They put you up overnight at no cost on multi day courses. Do a practical course and get a free VHF course!!! Its just a win -win.'
'I can highly recommend the company... run by boaters for boaters... generally the cheapest..... but certainly also one of the best. Largest fleet of training boats in the Solent. They put you up overnight at no cost on multi day courses. Do a practical course and get a free VHF course!!! Its just a win -win.'
I think the number of people who don't complete the home based theory courses is pretty high, due to (lack of) self motivation. Whereas it is easier to complete it in the structured classroom set up.
When is your practical booked for? Best to get it done sooner rather than later before you forget all that theory!
When is your practical booked for? Best to get it done sooner rather than later before you forget all that theory!
alfabeat said:
I think the number of people who don't complete the home based theory courses is pretty high, due to (lack of) self motivation. Whereas it is easier to complete it in the structured classroom set up.
When is your practical booked for? Best to get it done sooner rather than later before you forget all that theory!
This.When is your practical booked for? Best to get it done sooner rather than later before you forget all that theory!
I went from no paper qualifications at all to Yachtmaster theory level in one jump which is a bit of a big ask so I did mine in the classroom for the same reason.
Some of the material went way over my head first time round and having a instructor who'd happily spend time going back over or trying a different explanation for the same problem really helped.
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