RYA Competent Crew; worth doing?
Discussion
Hello, I would like to get into sailing yachts. Is a competent crew course worth doing, or would I be better off getting experience on a yacht by volunteering? I have heard from one guy that it’s not a great course if you have some common sense.
I have been on a tall ship, and out in a dingy acouple of times.
I have been on a tall ship, and out in a dingy acouple of times.
Chainsaw Rebuild said:
Hello, I would like to get into sailing yachts. Is a competent crew course worth doing, or would I be better off getting experience on a yacht by volunteering? I have heard from one guy that it’s not a great course if you have some common sense.
I have been on a tall ship, and out in a dingy acouple of times.
If you can hitch a ride as crew, I would suggest a few weekends doing that, maybe get a couple of hundred miles under your belt, perhaps a few night hours, then to dayskipper theory at night school, then straight to dayskipper afloat.I have been on a tall ship, and out in a dingy acouple of times.
I think it depends who you do it with. I did my competent crew many years ago (25, eek!). it was two weeks around the South West coast of England, down to the Scillies, across to Guernsey and Sark, then back. 633 Nautical miles according to my log book including 15 hours at night. It was good fun, most of the time.
If you've never done any yachting/boating then I think it's a good course. I guess some if it is common sense, but it will give you the confidence to move around a boat safely, understand the terminology and know when and when not to pull things !!
If you know one end of a boat from the other, know a couple of knots, know some of the lingo, then get on some boats for some experience.
Think there is an online course called something like 'Essential Navigation' which you could look at.
You could do an I.C.C. course which is like a glorified competent crew course. Teachers you a few more things like mooring, dropping anchor, etc.
If you know one end of a boat from the other, know a couple of knots, know some of the lingo, then get on some boats for some experience.
Think there is an online course called something like 'Essential Navigation' which you could look at.
You could do an I.C.C. course which is like a glorified competent crew course. Teachers you a few more things like mooring, dropping anchor, etc.
Hi, not sure whether it is still relevant, however having gone through the rya scheme myself i would strongly recommend to do it. you get the basic knowledge in a systematic and professional way, and that will stay with you forever. then you can go on and crew on yachts to make practice and consolidate your abilities.
i have done my yachtmaster offshore preparation course in Croatia at White Wake Sailing
and i can only recommend them. Professional yet chilled. Mind you I should wait until I pass my exam before i lean over to make recommendations... jokes apart, I hope you find your way.
fair winds!
ETA
Links not allowed.
i have done my yachtmaster offshore preparation course in Croatia at White Wake Sailing
and i can only recommend them. Professional yet chilled. Mind you I should wait until I pass my exam before i lean over to make recommendations... jokes apart, I hope you find your way.fair winds!
ETA
Links not allowed.
Edited by Big Al. on Monday 18th March 18:15
Bit of a thread resurrection.
I have thought about doing a CC course, purely because although I have been sailing for years I've never actually learnt to sail and also I have no certificates. I guess its a bit like being able to drive a car ok but never had any lessons or passed a test.
My eldest son is learning at my dad's club and I want to take him out but in order to hire boats you need to demonstrate a recognised level of competence, which this is. I may look into dayskipper though instead having read the above.
I have thought about doing a CC course, purely because although I have been sailing for years I've never actually learnt to sail and also I have no certificates. I guess its a bit like being able to drive a car ok but never had any lessons or passed a test.
My eldest son is learning at my dad's club and I want to take him out but in order to hire boats you need to demonstrate a recognised level of competence, which this is. I may look into dayskipper though instead having read the above.
SimonTheSailor said:
You could do an I.C.C. course which is like a glorified competent crew course. Teachers you a few more things like mooring, dropping anchor, etc.
This would be my suggestion to someone with no/limited experience looking to get into yachts. The RYA Comp. Crew delivers exactly what it suggests - basic seamanship so you can be on a yacht with someone else as skipper. The ICC gets you that plus useful extras. I did Comp. Crew years and years ago so it may have changed, but then it was very much 'how to prepare a mooring line, how to step off the boat onto a pontoon when someone tells you and how to secure the other end of the line to a cleat." ICC, being aimed more at skippers, teaches you the actual mooring techniques, like to how approach a berth from various directions off the wind, how to warp the boat off/on/round/along obstacles etc. I think you get better value from an ICC course and it's a good sample of what would be required for Day/Coastal Skipper. I did comp crew. I found it quite an interesting course. I had sailed dingos rya level 1 and 2 prior though and although the size is bigger the fundamentals are the same.
You learn about safety equipment, basic knots, parts of a boat. Handling under sail and power. Things like prop walk for example can be very helpful or hindrance depending on what you want the yacht to do. Man overboard drills. Basic radio stuff.
You learn about safety equipment, basic knots, parts of a boat. Handling under sail and power. Things like prop walk for example can be very helpful or hindrance depending on what you want the yacht to do. Man overboard drills. Basic radio stuff.
duckwhistle said:
CC is worth it ,if only for the 'man overboard drill.' Especially in the Sound of Mull in rough weather. More so when the real thing happens a day later.
Did that as part of dinghy course. What method did you use?
The approved RYA drill has its drawbacks at sea, particularly if there are heavy swells or at night. The MOB drill I was told to use on the various Fastnet races I did (never had to, fortunately) was just an instant and violent crash tack.
I did CC about 10 years ago. I think it depends who you do it with as mine went way beyond the curriculum requirements and although I only gained a CC certificate I felt I'd learnt a lot more than that which really helped when I went onto Day Skipper.
Southampton based was good too as it's a lot more to think about than learning in the Canaries or Greece.
Don't sail anymore sadly, as my wife hates it.
Southampton based was good too as it's a lot more to think about than learning in the Canaries or Greece.
Don't sail anymore sadly, as my wife hates it.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff