RYA Day Skipper - $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 Day Skipper certificate after five days of continual assessment. We recommend this course for anyone who has recently started skippering sailing boats or who has been sailing for a while and would like to begin being a skipper.
You will learn pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in waters where you are familiar. The minimum age for the award of the certificate is 16.
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. We start at 10am on the Monday and sail through 'till 3pm on the Friday with 1 night sail and usually live on board for the whole week.
Pre-course experience: 5 days, 100 miles, 4 night hours on board a sailing yacht
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. Preparation for sea
- preparing a yacht for sea, including engine checks, selection of sails, securing and stowage of all gear on deck and below
2. Deck Work
- reefing, shaking out reefs and changing sails to suit conditions
- preparing an anchor, mooring warps and taking charge on deck when mooring alongside, coming to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping from a buoy or alongside berth
3. Navigation
- chartwork and navigational duties on passage (Taking and plotting visual fixes; use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing etc)
- use of waypoints
- working up to DR and EP
- estimating tidal heights and tidal streams
- working out course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift
- IALA buoyage
- keeping a log
- using of echo sounder
4. Pilotage
- preparing and executing a pilotage plan for entry into, or departure from, harbour
- understanding the use of leading and clearing lines
- transits and aids to pilotage
5. Meteorology
- sources of forecast information
- understanding weather forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid
6. Rule of the road
- beginnings of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
7. Maintenance and repair work
- some maintenance tasks
- properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes
8. Engines
- changing fuel and water filters, pump impeller and bleeding the fuel system
9. Victualling
- how to victual a yacht
10. Emergency situations
- recovery of man overboard
- distress flares and how to use a liferaft
- operate the radio in an emergency and sending a distress message
- securing a tow
- rescue procedures including helicopter rescue
11. Yacht handling under power
- alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchoring under various conditions of wind and tide
- steering and trimming sails on all points of sailing
12. Passage making
- planning and making a coastal passage, taking account of relevant navigational hazards and limitations imposed by the type of boat and the strength of the crew
13. Night cruising
- sail cruising at night, including leaving and entering a harbour
- special consideration for pilotage plans, keeping a lookout and identifying marks by night.
14. Seasickness
- Working efficiency when affected by seasickness
15. Helmsmanship and sailing
- basic principles of sailing, steering and trimming sails on all points of sail
- steering a compass course, under sail and power
16. General duties
- on deck and below decks duties 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 Day Skipper Handbook Sail 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.
