Advice on training needed please

[prv]

I am not sure of the exact dates, but it is likely you will need to do the VHF course (half a day) to get a Short Range DSC licence.

you do not need a vhf Op licence to get a call sign. the ships licence is now foc

Who said anything about a callsign. He's asking about the operator's certificate.

I'm fairly sure that in 1995 it would have been the voice-only SRC. If the boat now has a DSC radio, then according to the rules he would need to do the DSC version (in theory he could do a conversion course, but I don't think anyone runs them any more and they're probably no cheaper or easier than doing the full course). Of course, he could ignore the rules with no real risk of getting caught, but that's a separate question.

Pete

 

[temptress]

You already have a reasonable amount of knowledge and some experience.

Get the Centaur commissioned and enjoy your coastal cruising this summer (hoping we have one). Build up your knowledge, experience and confidence that way.

I have little time for courses except to get qualifications where they are mandatory. The courses cram so much into so little time it's almost impossible to remember it all.

I think it's just a way of getting money out of people.

If you were complete novice I would suggest you crew for someone first but you are not.

Enjoy your cruising.

++++1

Get the boat in the water and get out there. take a refresher course later if you feel you can't handle it. Sailing is a practical activity so go and do it..

 

[Tam Lin]

Thanks everyone, lots to think about! As regards VHF I took the straight VHF course and only have an old, but working, VHF radio so presume my licence is still valid. I don't know what the boat's call sign is or how to go about getting one. A pointer in the right direction would be helpful. (I have googled it and just found the info confusing).

 

[sailorman]

I spent 15 weeks in French waters & my wife counted 14 different customs officers on board. On the isle de groix the boat next to us even had to unpack their liferaft for customs. In ostend i have had partial searches on a number of times. Threatened with a €2000 fine for not having my name on the stern
In this country i have had my boat stripped of just about everything(1970's)
I have crossed the channel circa 130 times so a few visits have to be expected

we have done similar amount of crossings, perhaps i have been lucky.

 

[Searush]

Ignore me if I am wrong, but your post implies a certain "uncertainty" or a slight lack of confidence. Why not join a local club & do a bit of cruising in company? That way you can passage plan in parallel to the rest of the group to get your hand in & build up confidence.

You can also discuss the chosen route, timing & destination with the other skippers & will soon be able to place yourself between the "I don't give a toss" & the "anally perfect" passage planners.

It isn't hard to plan a passage, do it & then review what you may have done better, what worked & what didin't. That is a very powerful technique for learning & every trip becomes a useful lesson. If you had no prior experience to build on this could be a risky plan, but your history suggests you will be able to self-teach quite well.

Spend the course money on a nice upgrade to the boat.

 

[prv]

As regards VHF I took the straight VHF course and only have an old, but working, VHF radio so presume my licence is still valid. I don't know what the boat's call sign is or how to go about getting one. A pointer in the right direction would be helpful.

Yep, the old operator's certificate is still valid as long as you have the old radio.

The "Ship Station License", which includes the callsign, is free if you sign up for it online. You do that here: https://services.ofcom.org.uk/ . You'll need to register as a new user. When you've done that, and logged in, click on "Apply for a license" on the left hand side. You want "Ship Radio License". You then have to fill in a lot of boxes, many of which will not apply and can be left blank (the license procedure is the same whether you're a Centaur or the QEII). When you get to the end it will say your license has been granted, and bring you back to the main page which will now have an entry in the list of licenses.

Click on "View / print (PDF)" to see your new license; you are supposed to then print it out (two pages) together with another ten pages from https://services.ofcom.org.uk/terms - officially the license is the full 12-page set, not just the two with your specific details on. You are supposed to keep it on board unless completely impractical (eg a handheld on a jetski).

More info about it all here: http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/ships-radio/

Pete

 

[Skylark]

I also sense a (heathy) degree of caution contained within the OP. That's a sign of wisdom in my view.

There's an anecdotal story around my parts of someone buying a boat based upon his confidence of dinghy sailing and yacht crewing many moons ago. Good job that he bought insurance as he crashed it while parking and touched the bottom with the keel on separate occassions. His family subsequently refused to sail with him and he then sold the boat.

Asking the question of a school "do you think I need some refresher training" is akin to opening their cash tills (albeit that would be my prefered route). Joining a sailing club and learning from others is another way, providing that you're not learning from the guy above (which actualy is true story, by the way).

Good luck, happy, safe and responsible sailing.

 

[alant]

I also sense a (heathy) degree of caution contained within the OP. That's a sign of wisdom in my view.

There's an anecdotal story around my parts of someone buying a boat based upon his confidence of dinghy sailing and yacht crewing many moons ago. Good job that he bought insurance as he crashed it while parking and touched the bottom with the keel on separate occassions. His family subsequently refused to sail with him and he then sold the boat.

Asking the question of a school "do you think I need some refresher training" is akin to opening their cash tills (albeit that would be my prefered route). Joining a sailing club and learning from others is another way, providing that you're not learning from the guy above (which actualy is true story, by the way).

Good luck, happy, safe and responsible sailing.

Whilst schools exist by earning money, most operators are reasonable & sensitive to the requirements of people who approach them for help. There are few that would 'screw' customers. Most would advise, without any monetory compensation.

If you have to ask "do you think I need some refresher training", then you already know the answer!
Its a bit like asking "should I put a reef in".

 

[maxi77]

I also sense a (heathy) degree of caution contained within the OP. That's a sign of wisdom in my view.

There's an anecdotal story around my parts of someone buying a boat based upon his confidence of dinghy sailing and yacht crewing many moons ago. Good job that he bought insurance as he crashed it while parking and touched the bottom with the keel on separate occassions. His family subsequently refused to sail with him and he then sold the boat.

Asking the question of a school "do you think I need some refresher training" is akin to opening their cash tills (albeit that would be my prefered route). Joining a sailing club and learning from others is another way, providing that you're not learning from the guy above (which actualy is true story, by the way).

Good luck, happy, safe and responsible sailing.

To be fair first I suspect there are very few who could not benefit from some refresher stuff, the big question really is what training hence the suggestion to talk to a school. Some I know would even do a tailored course alongside some standard training. Of course if the school suggests a series of courses costing thousands you know they are pulling your plonker. I suspect what is needed is a weeks practical pitched at the right level which should give the guy the confidence to indulge in local pottering and at the same time show where he may indulge in further training in the future be it by self study or a more formal route to expand his sailing.

 

[Skylark]

If you have to ask "do you think I need some refresher training", then you already know the answer!

Hi Alan,

What's the difference between your response and mine......except mine is a little more explicit

I added that it would be my preferred route. The anecdote tried to serve to show the value of using qualified instructors versus someone well meaning but...........I'm just digging a hole here, aren't I

 

[ghostlymoron]

I think you would find the skipper syllabus has changed a lot since 1995. Whilst im not a ticket collector, i think you would benefit from doing coastal skipper so you can learn about chart plotters and dsc which weren't on the syllabus in 1995. Best thing would be to discuss with the tutor at your local learning establishment who will advise you.

 

[prv]

i think you would benefit from doing coastal skipper so you can learn about chart plotters and dsc which weren't on the syllabus in 1995.

Is DSC on the Coastal Skipper syllabus now?

Pete

 

[gasdave]

Is DSC on the Coastal Skipper syllabus now?

Pete

Yes - a short mention.