RYA Competent Crew Course

Very much a hands on course for complete beginners, and those with some experience of dinghies or yachts.

This is the most popular course, taught on our eye catching pilot cutter 'Eve of St Mawes.' We only run a couple of Competent Crew sailing courses a month, as we have lots of other themed sailing short breaks and adventures on offer too. Where better to achieve your competent crew, Cornwall offers fantastic sailing waters, friendly ports and secluded locations to explore. Additionally, gaff cutter Golden Vanity is offering competent crew Devon sailing courses, exploring the south Devon coastline or step aboard Annabel J, offering this course in the Solent new this year.

All our holiday voyages on Eve, Golden Vanity or Annabel J are open to novices too. This course is designed to be the sailing how to for yachts.

See our RYA Competent Crew Practical Course Dates

If you are really keen on learning to sail, or improving your skills, but are uncertain what sailing experience to go for, please do ring us as we take great pleasure in helping you find a voyage which ticks all the right boxes for you.

Classic Sailing Cornwall Office - Ring Adam, Debbie, or Georgia on 01872 580022

RYA Competent Crew

We want you to develop a love of sailing, and the best way to make a start on any boat is to feel you are a vital and competent part of the crew. On the RYA Competent crew sailing course, we will teach you the seamanship skills of steering, setting sails, reefing, and tying knots with conviction ! The competent crew course is about going places, so you can experience a wide range of sailing experiences:- anchoring in remote bays, mooring in sheltered rivers, coming alongside harbour walls or pontoons, night sailing. The sailing how to you learn will be relevant for modern yachts, but after the rya competent crew course you should also feel at home on traditional boats and tall ships with blocks and tackles. (5 or 6 day course. Maximum 5 students to one instructor on any RYA course, fully inclusive prices)

" Thank you! After only one week on I feel more like a proper sailor!" Mel 

RYA Competent Crew Syllabus (Practical Course)
Aim: To introduce the complete beginner to cruising and to teach personal safety, seamanship, and helmsmanship to the level required to be a useful member of the crew of a cruising yacht.

Knowledge of sea terms and parts of the boat, her rigging and sails.
Sufficient knowledge to understand orders concerning the sailing and day to day running of the boat.

Sail handling
Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails. Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches.

Ropework
Handling ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats and single and double bollards. Handling warps. Ability to tie the following knots and know their correct use: figure of eight, clove hitch, rolling hitch, bowline, round turn and two half hitches, single and double sheet bend, reef knot.

Fire precautions and fighting.
Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fire. Knowledge of the action taken in the event of fire.

Personal safety equipment
Understands and complies with the rules for wearing of safety harnesses, lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids.

Man overboard
Understands the action to be taken to recover a man overboard.

Emergency equipment
Can operate distress flares and knows how they should be used. Understands how to launch and board a liferaft.

Manners and customs
Understands the accepted practice with regard to: use of burgees and ensigns, prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesies to other craft berthed alongside. Aware of the responsibility of yacht skippers to protect the environment.

Rules of the Road
Is able to keep an efficient lookout at sea.

Dinghies
Understands and complies with loading rules. Is able to handle a dinghy under oars.

Meteorology
Awareness of forecasting and the Beaufort Scale.

Seasickness
Working efficiency unaffected/ partially affected / severely affected by seasickness (delete as applicable).

Helmsmanship and Sailing.
Understands the basic principles of sailing and can steer and trim sails on all points of sailing. Can steer a compass course, under sail and motor.

General duties
Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel.