KALAMAZOO

Clyde & West Coast Cruising

RYA Course: Day Skipper (Tidal).

Once you have reached the level of Competent Crew, you can start learning to skipper a boat.

Aim

The aim of this course is to teach pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day, in tidal waters with which the student is familiar.

This is the second RYA practical course. At the end of it the student will be able to develop the skills that he or she has learned by taking charge of a small yacht in relatively easy conditions, i.e. in familiar waters by day.

Previous Experience and Knowledge

It is recommended that as a minimum the student will have spent 5 days on board a yacht at sea, and have completed 100 miles and 4 night hours. The student is expected to have basic navigation and sailing ability. It will be an advantage if he or she has attended the Competent Crew practical and Day Skipper shorebased courses. Please contact us to discuss your knowledge and experience if you are unsure which course to go on.

What Happens on the Course?

We go sailing, visiting a number of different ports and anchorages and making a variety of passages during the course. During this we will cover all the topics on the RYA's Day Skipper syllabus, the usual pattern being a demonstration by the instructor followed by an opportunity for everyone to practice until they are happy with the exercise.

The course is flexible, and we work around the weather conditions. We also try to concentrate on the areas where individual students need most practice, and to ensure that everyone enjoys the cruising (after all, this is your holiday).

The Syllabus

This is detailed in your logbook, and includes the following topics:

The Course and Logistics

The course is usually run over five days, Sunday night through Friday, although other arrangements (e.g. 3 weekends) are possible. We meet on board on the Sunday night, and after an initial course briefing go ashore for a meal. On Monday morning we set off, returning on Friday afternoon. During the week we will generally eat on board, with one or two meals ashore. The price of the course includes food, gas and fuel used on-board. It excludes any meals ashore, and any harbour dues or berthing fees for visiting other ports are split between the crew (we generally run a "kitty").

Your instructor will be a qualified Yachtmaster Instructor. There are usually four students on board, and the others may be doing different courses: combining different levels of skill on the five day course works well, because everyone can learn at their own level of expertise and experience.

The Next Stage

You now need to practise skippering - and this may be the first time you are fully in charge of a yacht. It's a wonderful experience - most experienced skippers can still remember the first time they took a boat out as skipper, without an instructor. Choose a familiar boat and an able crew, in familiar waters. Prepare well and don't try to be too adventurous at first - be cautious! In this way gradually - and safely - build up your skippering experience.

The next RYA practical course is Coastal Skipper . By this stage you are learning to take charge of a yacht in more challenging conditions, and you may not be ready for this course until you have built up a bit of skippering and more sea-going experience , and attended the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory Course.

The best thing is to discuss your particular knowledge/experience with us and decide whether you are ready for the next practical course.