Annabel J - RYA Watchleader or Competent Crew - 7 days - £695 Now only 495

Annabel J RYA Watch Leader or Competent Crew Course

Introduction to the principle of the voyage
This course is taken over 7 days and is based on the Solent, from Annabel J's home of Warsash. This cruising ground is one of the busiest stretches of water along the south coast, which is perfect for both of these courses, and will test your new knowledge and skills.

RYA Watchleader Course

The purpose of this course is to teach watch keeping, seamanship and navigation up to the standards required for taking charge of a watch on deck, at sea or in harbour, under supervision of a deck officer. There are 11 areas to cover:

• Preparation for sea
• Deck Work
• Navigation
• Pilotage
• Meteorology
• Rule of the road
• Maintenance and repair work
• Victualling
• Tender
• Emergency situations
• General watchkeeping

This course is a good stepping stone between Competent Crew and Day Skipper.

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. ( 7 day course. Maximum 5 students to one instructor on any RYA course, fully inclusive prices)

Read what 'Cornwall Today' Magazine editor Nikki Van de Bij had to say about her Competent Crew course on Eve on the last voyage of the year in 2005.

"Learning the Ropes" - full article on an Eve's Sailing School RYA Course PDF

Here is the Full RYA Syllabus

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 term and two half hitches, single and double sheet bend, reek 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 hoe 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.