Voyage Number	GV-090704
Voyage price	£525
Voyage Dates	04/07/2009 - 13:00 - 10/07/2009 - 13:00
Depart from	Brixham
Finishing Port	Brixham
Voyage area	Cornwall , Devon
Voyage type
Vessel	Golden Vanity
Availability	Past Voyage
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Voyage Description

Golden Vanity RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper Practical Course

Introduction to the principle of the voyage
These courses are combined on 6 day voyages giving longer sea time and less pressure than those schools which offer a 5 day course. The joint course offers advantages to every one. Those studying for Competent Crew can if they have the ability complete sections of the Day Skipper practical syllabus and see what they need to do for the next step up the ladder. Whilst those doing the Day Skipper practical have an enthusiastic crew to work with and gain command experience.
A four hour night passage is a compulsory part of the course but it is very often also the highlight of the voyage. It’s a great team effort with pilotage, communication, lookout duty and command skills.

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 course, we will teach you the seamanship skills of steering, setting sails, reefing, and tying knots with conviction ! The 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 skills 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. ( 6 day course. Maximum 5 students to one instructor on any RYA course, fully inclusive prices)

RYA Day Skipper

Skippering a boat is fun, and this RYA day skipper course is about taking your first steps towards taking charge, with the safety net of an instructor on board. Everyone will be given a chance to navigate and take control of "Golden Vanity" on short coastal passages. You will also have plenty of practice at coordinating manoeuvres under sail and power, and learning how to cope with emergencies. Learn big boat watch leader skills on deck, and navigational techniques below with GPS and radar and a large chart table. Successful completion of the RYA day skipper course means you should feel confident enough to tackle short day passages as skipper in tidal waters. 

See also our RYA courses on Pilot Cutter 'Eve of St Mawes' located that bit further west, based in St Mawes in Cornwall.
 

Golden Vanity RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper Practical Itinerary

Competent Crew Notes

Competent Crew courses are aimed at complete novices to sailing. The syllabus however covers a huge amount of practical skills, so it is also the best course if you have already tried sailing on a yacht or tall ship but simply want to learn more and gain confidence in a supportive environment. Experienced dinghy sailors will find this a great hands-on course to adapt their skills to larger boats.

We want you to develop a love of sailing - the best way to make a start on any boat is to feel you are a vital and competent part of the crew. There is a whole new language to learn. You will be fully involved in hoisting, handing and trimming the sails, steering and learning how to use the wind and tides. The instructor will plan the voyage to give you a range of experiences – sailing along the coast, entering different ports, anchoring off beaches, mooring to buoys in sheltered rivers and coming alongside marinas and historic quays and sailing under the stars at night.

This is learning by doing course with a maximum of 5 students. If you successfully complete the whole syllabus the skipper will award you a nationally recognised RYA Competent Crew Certificate.

Competent Crew Syllabus
Knowledge of sea terms and parts of the boat: 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 winches.
Rope-work: Handling ropes and warps, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats and bollards. Tying knots and 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, preventative methods, and action to take in the event of fire.
Personal safety equipment: Understands how and when to wear safety harnesses, lifejackets etc.
Man overboard: Understands the action to be taken to recover a man overboard.
Emergency equipment How and when to use distress flares. How to launch and board a liferaft.
Manners and customs: Understands flag etiquette, courtesies to other craft in harbour, protecting 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
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.

Where do I go Next?
We hope this will be the beginning of an addictive new interest. Once you have gained either of these certificates you can set foot on a sailing boat knowing you’re not going to make a fool of yourself. It will be easier for you to become part of any boats team and skippers will be keener on having you on board. This will help get you more sailing time and give you experience to go up to the next RYA Course level Day Skipper Practical or Theory.
 

Day Skipper Practical

RYA Day Skipper practical courses are an introduction to skippering and the practical application of navigational skills. The suggested minimum experience before this course is 5 days on a yacht, 100 miles sailing, with 4 hours sailing at night. You should know how to trim sails, tack and gybe and have some basic navigation knowledge. Ideally you should have completed an RYA Shorebased Theory course, but it is not compulsory. A good starting point is to understand how to work out tidal heights and streams, fix positions by visual landmarks, and know some of the basic rules of the road. There will not be time to teach all these from scratch during the course, since the whole purpose of the course is to learn how to apply navigation techniques at sea whilst also keeping the boat sailing properly and the crew happy ! If you are not quite up to the pre-requisites, please talk to us as we may be able to suggest ways in which you can gain some extra experience before your course commences.

Day Skipper on a Gaff Cutter
Golden Vanity is one a very few gaff rigged vessels you can sail on for an RYA Course. So if you want to learn old sailing skills as well as new – we are the experts. Golden Vanity is surprisingly easy to manoeuvre under engine and you can play with lots of sails to improve your leadership skills, or reduce sail to keep it simple. Skippering a boat is fun - this course is about taking your first steps towards taking charge, with the safety net of an instructor on board. Everyone is given the chance to navigate and take control of Golden Vanity on short coastal passages. You will also have plenty of practice at co-ordinating manoeuvres under sail and power and learning how to cope with emergencies.

The aim of the course is to achieve a level where you should feel confident enough to tackle short passages as skipper– in daylight – on a boat (7-13m LOA) you know in tidal waters with which you are familiar. The instructor will de-brief you throughout the course, and, if you complete all aspects of the syllabus successfully they will issue you with a nationally recognised RYA Day Skipper Certificate (Tidal).

Day Skipper Syllabus
Preparation for Sea: Is able to prepare a yacht for sea, including engine checks, selection of sails, securing and stowage of all gear on deck and below.
Deck Work: Can reef, shake out reefs and change sails to suit prevailing conditions. Can prepare an anchor, mooring warps and take charge on deck when mooring alongside, coming up to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor, and slipping from a buoy or alongside berth.
Navigation: Is proficient in chart work and routine navigational duties on passage including:
Taking and plotting visual fixes
Use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing. Use of waypoints
Working up DR and EP
Estimating tidal heights and tidal streams
Working out course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift.
Knowledge of IALA Bouyage
Maintenance of navigational records
Use of echo sounder and lead line
Pilotage
Can prepare and execute a pilotage plan for entry into or departure from harbour.
Understands the use of leading and clearing lines. Use of transits and soundings as aids to pilotage.
Meteorology: Sources of forecast information, can interpret shipping forecasts, use barometer as a forecasting aid.
Rules of the Road: Has a working knowledge of the International Regulations for the Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Maintenance and repair work: Can carry out maintenance tasks. Knows the properties and uses of ropes.
Engines: Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and bleed fuel system.
Victualling: Understands how to victual a yacht.
Emergency Situation: Is able to take correct action as skipper for recovery of a man overboard. Understands distress flares and how to use a liferaft. Can operate a radio telephone in an emergency and send a distress message. Understands how to secure a tow. Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue.
Yacht handling under power: Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide.
Yacht handling under sail: Can bring a boat safely to and from a mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide. Can steer and trim sails effectively on all points of sailing.
Passage Planning: Can plan and make a coastal passage, taking account of relevant navigational hazards and limitations imposed by the type of boat and strength of the crew.

What’s the Next Step
Gaining your RY Day Skipper is the first run in the command ladder. You will be able to charter boats and get that first important voyage where you are in command. For the next RYA Course level you will need to build up your sea time and log up some 60 mile passages where you have been the skipper. See Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Courses.
 

Itinerary

Day one
Join at 1pm on the Event Pontoon in Brixham Harbour for a light lunch. See Brixham port details.
After a thorough safety briefing and introduction to the Golden Vanity you will set off out to sea. The idea on the first day is to just to show you what’s what and begin to get familiar with her.
Depending on the weather Golden vanity can go either north to Torquay or south around Berry Head towards Dartmouth and points south west.

Day two and three.
The skipper will be devising short passages suitable for the RYA Day Skipper candidates to get there teeth into. Included in this will be boat handling under sail and engine. Coming alongside quays, pontoons, picking up moorings and anchoring.
At the same time as all this sailing activity there will be practical navigation to do with courses to steer, pilotage and command experience for the day skippers.
Competent Crew will get plenty of opportunities to put the sails up and down, tack reef and steer. Prepare ropes for mooring etc.

Day four and five
The tasks will get tougher as the week goes on and every bodies experience improves. It is a compulsory part of the course that you do four hours of sailing in the dark. It is often the highlight of the voyage as it requires good team effort, a clear command structure and the chance to see how things looks at sea by night. The course is called day skipper because it sets out to make it safe for a suitably qualified skipper to be in charge for a typical days passage. But as we all know the best laid plans can go awry and even days skippers may need to operate at night.

Day Six
Still some sailing to do and maybe just one more exercise in man overboard recovery just to check every one can achieve it satisfactorily. Then its back to Brixham for a light lunch and departure at 1pm.

A wet but happy crew on Golden Vanity
 

Brixham

Joining or leaving point.

Assemble towards the end of the Events Pontoon Blue Point above. Zoom in to your ship! 

Getting to or from your port.

Train to Paignton and then Bus to Brixham or Taxi to Brixham Marina

Train

Paignton is the end of a Branch Line from Exeter St Davids (Main Station). Trains come to Exeter from many parts of the UK. http://www.raileasy.co.uk 

Bus and Coach

Paignton Bus Station is beside the Railway Station and there buses (No 15) and coaches going to Brixham.  National Express Coaches got to Paignton and Brixham. http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/index.cfm

For Local services http://www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnlistr.asp?L1=PAI003&op=D 

Car and Parking

From the North
On the M5, continue past Exeter. The road becomes the A38 shortly thereafter.
Keep left and fork LEFT onto the A380, signposted for Torquay. Continue on that road to the end of the dual carriageway, straight over the large roundabout at Newton Abbot and through Kingskerswell.
Then turn RIGHT at the next roundabout onto the Ring Road, signposted for Paignton and Brixham.
Carry on past the end of the dual carriageway and through the outskirts of Paignton. Go straight over at a large crossroads following signs for Brixham, past Booker, Sainsbury’s and Bookham on the right. Turn right at the next T-junction on the A3022, signposted Brixham and Dartmouth.
Stay on that road, keeping to the left-hand lane at the traffic lights on the outskirts of Brixham. At the traffic lights in the centre of the town, by Brixham Theatre, turn left into Market Street and follow signs for the harbour. Turn right into The Strand, leaving the harbour on the left. The road turns away from the harbour then hard left up King Street. You will see the harbour below you on the left.
About 600 yards further on there are signs for a car park on the left, by the water’s edge. Go down the ramp, turn left and drive past the lifeboat station to the unloading bay by the marina building. You are allowed time to put your belongings in a trolley and bring them to the pontoon where the boat will be moored, which is about 200 yards past the marina office.

Parking
After checking in, take your car to the long-stay car park on the opposite side of the main road. The entrance is about 50 yards past the entrance to the waterside car park and marina area. Pay in advance at the marina office. You will be given a pass to display on your windscreen. The price is £7 per car per day. See Red Point in map above.

From the East, on the A303 the road becomes the A30 and joins the M5 just North of Exeter. Follow instructions as above.

From the West, stay on the A38 past Plymouth, exit at junction signposted to Totnes and Paignton by a shell garage. Follow the road into Totnes; turn Left at the first set of traffic lights down a hill, and then right at the T-junction. Go straight over the two roundabouts following signs to Paignton, and out of Totnes. As you enter Paignton turn right towards Brixham at the large junction, and follow directions as above.
 

Plane

Exeter Airport (EXT)  is about 50 miles away and Plymouth (PLH) is about 30 miles away but only UK Flights are from Gatwick, Newquay and Bristol.

Exeter UK Flights currently from Aberdeen, Belfast City, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guernsey, Jersey, Leeds – Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle and Norwich. See www.flightmapping.com/maps/UKIreland 

Taxi - Torbay Taxi 01803 213 521 www.torbaycabcompany.co.uk

History

Brixham has been a fishing port for many centuries and is still one of the biggest fishing ports in England.

The last invasion of England.

On 5th November 1688 Prince William of Orange landed in Brixham. Before moving on to Exeter and later to London, his army camped on the high ground around Brixham, whilst William ‘went down the hill unto the Fishermen's little house; one of which he made into a Palace for that time‘. He later went on to be crowned King William III of England.

Attractions

Brixham has a great little museum called Brixham Heritage Museum and is well worth a visit. www.brixhamheritage.org.uk
Berry Head is a large dramatic headland a short walk out of Town and there are lots of good coastal walks.

There are many facilities’ in the Torbay area, cinemas, theatre galleries etc. www.englishriviera.co.uk

Annual Events

Brixham Heritage Festival and the Pirate and Shanty Festival both happen in May.
www.brixham.uk.com/Pages/Events.htm

High Quality Accommodation

Imperial Hotel Torquay  www.barcelo-hotels.co.uk/hotels/southern-england/barcelo-torquay-imperial-hotel

Mid Range Accommodation

Ranscombe House Hotel www.ranscombehousehotel.co.uk/Hotel/

Standard Accommodation

Anchorage Guest House Brixham www.brixham-anchorage.co.uk
 

We are keen to keep this information accurate and we welcome your comments skippers@classic-sailing.co.uk.

Brixham

Joining or leaving point.

Assemble towards the end of the Events Pontoon Blue Point above. Zoom in to your ship! 

Getting to or from your port.

Train to Paignton and then Bus to Brixham or Taxi to Brixham Marina

Train

Paignton is the end of a Branch Line from Exeter St Davids (Main Station). Trains come to Exeter from many parts of the UK. http://www.raileasy.co.uk 

Bus and Coach

Paignton Bus Station is beside the Railway Station and there buses (No 15) and coaches going to Brixham.  National Express Coaches got to Paignton and Brixham. http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/index.cfm

For Local services http://www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnlistr.asp?L1=PAI003&op=D 

Car and Parking

From the North
On the M5, continue past Exeter. The road becomes the A38 shortly thereafter.
Keep left and fork LEFT onto the A380, signposted for Torquay. Continue on that road to the end of the dual carriageway, straight over the large roundabout at Newton Abbot and through Kingskerswell.
Then turn RIGHT at the next roundabout onto the Ring Road, signposted for Paignton and Brixham.
Carry on past the end of the dual carriageway and through the outskirts of Paignton. Go straight over at a large crossroads following signs for Brixham, past Booker, Sainsbury’s and Bookham on the right. Turn right at the next T-junction on the A3022, signposted Brixham and Dartmouth.
Stay on that road, keeping to the left-hand lane at the traffic lights on the outskirts of Brixham. At the traffic lights in the centre of the town, by Brixham Theatre, turn left into Market Street and follow signs for the harbour. Turn right into The Strand, leaving the harbour on the left. The road turns away from the harbour then hard left up King Street. You will see the harbour below you on the left.
About 600 yards further on there are signs for a car park on the left, by the water’s edge. Go down the ramp, turn left and drive past the lifeboat station to the unloading bay by the marina building. You are allowed time to put your belongings in a trolley and bring them to the pontoon where the boat will be moored, which is about 200 yards past the marina office.

Parking
After checking in, take your car to the long-stay car park on the opposite side of the main road. The entrance is about 50 yards past the entrance to the waterside car park and marina area. Pay in advance at the marina office. You will be given a pass to display on your windscreen. The price is £7 per car per day. See Red Point in map above.

From the East, on the A303 the road becomes the A30 and joins the M5 just North of Exeter. Follow instructions as above.

From the West, stay on the A38 past Plymouth, exit at junction signposted to Totnes and Paignton by a shell garage. Follow the road into Totnes; turn Left at the first set of traffic lights down a hill, and then right at the T-junction. Go straight over the two roundabouts following signs to Paignton, and out of Totnes. As you enter Paignton turn right towards Brixham at the large junction, and follow directions as above.
 

Plane

Exeter Airport (EXT)  is about 50 miles away and Plymouth (PLH) is about 30 miles away but only UK Flights are from Gatwick, Newquay and Bristol.

Exeter UK Flights currently from Aberdeen, Belfast City, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guernsey, Jersey, Leeds – Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle and Norwich. See www.flightmapping.com/maps/UKIreland 

Taxi - Torbay Taxi 01803 213 521 www.torbaycabcompany.co.uk

History

Brixham has been a fishing port for many centuries and is still one of the biggest fishing ports in England.

The last invasion of England.

On 5th November 1688 Prince William of Orange landed in Brixham. Before moving on to Exeter and later to London, his army camped on the high ground around Brixham, whilst William ‘went down the hill unto the Fishermen's little house; one of which he made into a Palace for that time‘. He later went on to be crowned King William III of England.

Attractions

Brixham has a great little museum called Brixham Heritage Museum and is well worth a visit. www.brixhamheritage.org.uk
Berry Head is a large dramatic headland a short walk out of Town and there are lots of good coastal walks.

There are many facilities’ in the Torbay area, cinemas, theatre galleries etc. www.englishriviera.co.uk

Annual Events

Brixham Heritage Festival and the Pirate and Shanty Festival both happen in May.
www.brixham.uk.com/Pages/Events.htm

High Quality Accommodation

Imperial Hotel Torquay  www.barcelo-hotels.co.uk/hotels/southern-england/barcelo-torquay-imperial-hotel

Mid Range Accommodation

Ranscombe House Hotel www.ranscombehousehotel.co.uk/Hotel/

Standard Accommodation

Anchorage Guest House Brixham www.brixham-anchorage.co.uk
 

We are keen to keep this information accurate and we welcome your comments skippers@classic-sailing.co.uk.

Golden Vanity – Makes learning to sail so much fun!

Golden Vanity is 53 feet long overall and 20 tonnes. Getting to grips with a yacht this size is not difficult with the expert tuition you will receive. The real bonus is that your confidence will saw and after Golden Vanity modern yachts will feel like mere toys.

Golden Vanity was built as a yacht for local artist Arthur Briscoe in 1908, at A.W.Gibbs' yard at Galmpton on the Dart, in the same yard as Leader and Provident. She followed almost exactly the same design of the traditional working boats of the day and was fully renovated in the 1980's.

Golden Vanity’s long and exciting history involves a variety of owners who used her for cruising far and wide, including several transatlantic crossings.

She has wooden decks and a characterful interior. Her 20 tonnes makes for a good stable platform when you are beginning to learn about sailing.

For the availability please Click on the Voyage No.

What to Bring

N.B. BOATS HAVE LIMITED STORAGE SPACE SO PLEASE LIMIT YOURSELF TO ONE SOFT BAG OR RUCKSACK (not suitcases).

Offshore waterproof jackets and trousers can be hired at £5.00 per day of you can bring your own. Please contact us if you wish to hire waterproofs 01872 580022
Hats for sun and cold weather.
At least two sets of warm clothes - layers e.g. tracksuit bottoms, shirts, fleece jacket, wool jumpers, thick socks, and neck scarf. It can get cold at sea even in mid summer.
Swim suit, towel, and suntan lotion.
Flat shoes with a good grip e.g. trainers or sailing deck shoes. Sailing boots or wellies as the sea can come over deck if rough.
(An alterative to boots in summer is to bring another pair of flat shoes with a good grip in case the first pair get wet).
All terrain type Sandals are great for dinghy trips ashore – but you do need shoes which protect your toes for sailing.
Camera, binoculars, sketchbook, a relaxing read.
Passport for French Voyages, (an E111 Form from Post Office - Reciprocal Free Health Care in Europe) E111 New Edition
Any medication, spare spectacles. Seasick tablets - check with your Doctor, which brand if you suffer asthma or are on medication.
RYA Cruising Logbook for RYA Courses.
Musical instruments are always welcome.

Arthur Briscoe sketches shows Brixham Trawlers at anchor drying sails and the second shows men hauling on the fishing net, that was real hard work.