RYA Competent Crew - $1595 per person - 3 spaces per course
This five day course meets the requirements of the RYA so that the participant can be awarded an RYA Competent Crew certificate after five days of continual assessment. We recommend this course for anyone who hasn't sailed yet or who has recently taken up sailing.
You will learn about personal safety, seamanship and helmsmanship to the level required to be a useful member of the crew of a cruising yacht.
This is a jam packed 5 day course based onboard Sirens' Song and sailing within the sheltered waters near Hobart and Kettering in southern Tasmania. . Starting at 9 am on most days and finishing at 5pm, we'll cover topics as listed below.
Pre-course experience: None needed!
Itinerary
You should arrive at the boat at 10am ready to head out and sail. The curriculum is jam packed, so make sure you're well rested and full of energy. We'll work every day from 9am to 5pm, with a 10am start on day 1 and a 3pm finish on day 5. We'll try to get out for a night sail (usually on Thursday evening) where we'll finish at 9.30pm. The course will cover:
1. Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails
- Sufficient knowledge to understand orders given concerning the sailing and day to day running of the boat.
2. Sail Handling
- Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails
- Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches
3. Ropework
- Handling ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats and single and double bollards
- Handling warps
- knot tying and to their correct use: figure-of-eight, clove hitch, rolling hitch, bowline, round turn and two half hitches, single and double sheet bend, reef knot
4. Fire precautions and fighting
- the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fire.
- action to be taken in the event of fire
5. Personal safety equipment
- wearing of safety harnesses, lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids
6. Man overboard
- action to be taken to recover a man overboard
7. Emergency equipment
- operating distress flares and when they should be used
- how to launch and board a liferaft
8. Manners and customs
- use of burgees and ensigns, prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesies to others
- the responsibility of yacht skippers to protect the environment
9. Rules of the road
- basics of and keeping a lookout at sea
10. Dinghies
- Understanding the loading rules
- handling a dinghy under oars
11. Meteorology
- forecasting and the Beaufort scale
12. Seasickness
- how to work with it and maybe avoid it
13. Helmsmanship and sailing
- the basic principles of sailing and steering and sail trimming on all points of sailing
- steering a compass course, under sail and power
14. General duties
- general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel
Travel Arrangements
Make your way to the end of the pier at the bottom of Derwent Lane in Hobart for 10 am sharp and the first day and 9 am on subsequent days. We will be finished at 5pm each day except Thursday (9:30pm) and Friday (3 pm).
What to bring?
- Tasmania is fairly chilly so bring the following each day
- Waterproofs
- Warm clothes (use the layer principle)
- Warm hat
- Non marking Wellies to keep your feet dry
- Gloves
- Be well rested and keen to join in so that you will get the most out of your course
What's Included?
- RYA Competent Crew book
- Assessment
- Food and drink during the day
- Use of a Lifejacket
- Use of tethers
What's not Included?
- Transport to and from your course
Q: Why should you come to us?
We are a fully accredited sailing school operating under the guidelines and audit procedures of both the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) and Australian Sailing. This means that Jason is fully qualified and remains up to date in his training and the latest developments in teaching, learning and equipment. Jason is an excellent instructor and he understands how to form excellent relationships with you.
Q: How do we teach?
Jason understand that teaching is an art and a science at the same time. He has spent time developing his pedagogical skills, and is fully qualified to teach the material he is delivering. Jason has 20 years of experience delivering RYA material and syllabus content.
Jason always uses a collaborative learning model and employs experiential teaching and learning techniques to ensure that you get the most out of your courses.
