Competent Crew Courses

[Mazzyh]

Please can any of you good peeps out there guide me in the right direction, I am new to sailing and my partner and I are renovating Evasion32 slow process!
My aim is to go on a competent crew course so I can be of help when the boat goes back into the water.
Problem is am not sure where to get the info on the courses and which would be suitable for a total novice.. I don't just want to be a spare part.
I want to be the hands on helper. have been reading a fantastic book by Joyce Sleightholme The Cruising Mates Hand Book. problem is I feel I should be looking to getting my sea legs on!

I hope some-one can point me in the right direction for this

Many Thanks
Mazzyh /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[rhinorhino]

When do you want to do your course?
Where do you want to do your course?
How much do you want to pay?
Competant crew is aimed at novices - so that should not be a problem.
I can recomend a number of good schools along the south coast or the RYA web site has a listing of schools.
Southern Sailing (Southampton), Go Sail (Cowes) are both good.

 

[simon501]

Information at www.rya.org in the training section.

If you want a personal recommendation, and you can afford to do the course abroad, try Canarysail (www.canarysail.com).

 

[starboard]

Come up to the Clyde and enjoy the spectacular sailing and scenery here. Have a look at Second Wind sailing , or Gael Sail based here at Troon. I have no conection but I know they do a good job.

Best wishes

Paul.

 

[dedwards]

All of the competant crew courses offer the tuition that you are looking for.

When choosing courses the (not so obvious) things that you can consider are:
The boat you will be taught on.
The student:teacher ratio.
Is food included?
is it any good?
mooring fees included?
clothing hire included?

I learnt at Four-winds in buckers hard and they scored highly on all accounts.. especially the food spread - we were dining on red wine and pate in newtown creek one evening!!

 

[Mazzyh]

Re: Competant Crew Courses

Thank you for your reply Rhino,
Ideally the best time would be in the late summer I guess.
Had not thought of where yet, just wanted to find the ideal place to go the boat used to be moored at Gosport, but is now inland for easier access for us to work on her.

Are there different pricings for the courses? had not yet given that much thought or how long they run for. I will check out the sites you have suggested.
once again many thanks for you help.
Cheers
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifMazzyh

 

[Mazzyh]

Thanks Simon,
Don't think Canary Islands are an option at the moment.( would Love it to be) I am sure it would be fantastic, but resources are being kept for boat renovation.
We love her, she has real character and we want to make her look good too. though I am sure it is going to take time.

Cheers
Mazzyh

 

[Mazzyh]

>>Come up to the Clyde and enjoy the spectacular sailing and scenery here. Have a look at Second Wind sailing , or Gael Sail based here at Troon. I have no conection but I know they do a good job.<<

Hi Paul,
Thanks for the info, what a truely idyllic place to learn to sail.
I will check out the sites you have listed.
Thank you for your help
Cheers
Mazzyh
xx

 

[Mazzyh]

Re: Competant Crew Courses

Thank you for the advice Dedwards,
I will print your reply off and look for the points you have listed,
Sounds like you got a really fantastic deal there.
I feel like I have so much to learn and reading has been good to find out about alot of things.
But I feel like I need to progress and feel the wind in my face and the excitement of being on the waves.
Cheers
Mazzyh

 

[IanPoole2]

It may be useful to do a course in the area you want to keep your boat. Most areas of the UK differ in the sailing they offer.

It is useful to pick up tips whilst on the course covering the type of conditions you'll meet -
Fast tides - large tidal ranges
Mooring setups - piles, bouys as well as marina's and anchoring
Mud banks and shallow water v rocky coast but deep water etc

 

[Rowana]

I would agree with the Clyde as a place to learn to sail. One of the good points is that there is usually somewhere to go and play in reasonably sheltered water. The instructor will know the best bits to go depending on the weather forecast.

Can I also suggest you go to your local library and see which books they have on the subject. Get something basic to start with so that at least you'll know the names of all the bits of string. Our local library website has the facility to order books on line, so if yours is the same, you could have a look and see what you'd like before ever going there.

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[Mazzyh]

>>It may be useful to do a course in the area you want to keep your boat. Most areas of the UK differ in the sailing they offer.

It is useful to pick up tips whilst on the course covering the type of conditions you'll meet -
Fast tides - large tidal ranges
Mooring setups - piles, bouys as well as marina's and anchoring
Mud banks and shallow water v rocky coast but deep water etc<<

Thanks for the good advice here Ian,

I will look to getting a course sorted in the area we choose for her moorings.
I am sure we will be a while getting her shipshape and Bristol fashion
but want to get so practical knowledge for myself on sailing.

I appreciate your replying and advice.

Cheers
Mazzyh

 

[Mazzyh]

>> I would agree with the Clyde as a place to learn to sail. One of the good points is that there is usually somewhere to go and play in reasonably sheltered water. The instructor will know the best bits to go depending on the weather forecast.

Can I also suggest you go to your local library and see which books they have on the subject. Get something basic to start with so that at least you'll know the names of all the bits of string. Our local library website has the facility to order books on line, so if yours is the same, you could have a look and see what you'd like before ever going there.<<

Thank you so much for the Good Advice here,
I will certainly take in all the pointers everyone has given today.
May I say what a fantastic website this is, with such a great lot of people.

I have been to the library and got books out, learning something new everyday, good that I was a guide leader and am ok on knots, hitches and bends etc, but have to learn all the terms for the rigging, ropes etc.
Well best to learn new things everyday I say.

Many Thanks once again

Cheers
Mazzyh
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jimi]

One thing I'd recommend is to learn to sail a dinghy , this will help very much with sail trim, wind awareness etc, etc. You might find your local sailing club helpful .. plus its great fun as well

 

[Mazzyh]

Hi Jimi,
Thanks for this advice, I had thought maybe this should be on my list of
to do's, I will look out the local sailing club and find out what they can do for this Nauty Novice<grin>

Thanks again

Cheers
Mazzyh
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[GazzaUK]

PM sent

 

[ubuysa]

Re: Competant Crew Courses

[ QUOTE ]

Are there different pricings for the courses? had not yet given that much thought or how long they run for.

[/ QUOTE ]

As you'll discover when you talk to sailing schools, most of them do CC as either a 5-day package or over three weekends. My advice would be to do the 5-days, it's more intensive and you usually get to go somewhere, on the weekends you'll spend half of the Saturday refreshing stuff you did last week and you're usually just going in and out of the same place.

 

[Mazzyh]

Re: Competant Crew Courses

As you'll discover when you talk to sailing schools, most of them do CC as either a 5-day package or over three weekends. My advice would be to do the 5-days, it's more intensive and you usually get to go somewhere, on the weekends you'll spend half of the Saturday refreshing stuff you did last week and you're usually just going in and out of the same place.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for replying, I have just seen on one website that the courses run through several weekends and also 5 days as you say the 5 day course looks to be more the intensive and better value.
I will take that option when I go, as the more hands on seems more appealing and will be more what I am looking for.

Cheers
Mazzyh
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[paulskent]

I have to concur with Jimi.

If you have never sailed before than a few outings in a dinghy would be of enormous value.

I have come up through the sizes in 4 steps and the basic skills remain the same.

Started in a Topper (you can when you are 5ft 3 ins.) anything single handed -single sail would do for this stage.

Did a bit of racing as crew in Flying 15's.

22 ft day/boat in the med for 8 years. (Did the competent crew course about here)

And currently cruising benny.

All the techniques and skills that I learned sailing the Topper still apply to the bigger boats as well.

Other than the capsize technique of course..


PK.

 

[Mazzyh]

>>I have to concur with Jimi.
If you have never sailed before than a few outings in a dinghy would be of enormous value.I have come up through the sizes in 4 steps and the basic skills remain the same.
Started in a Topper (you can when you are 5ft 3 ins.) anything single handed -single sail would do for this stage.
Did a bit of racing as crew in Flying 15's.
22 ft day/boat in the med for 8 years. (Did the competent crew course about here)
And currently cruising benny.
All the techniques and skills that I learned sailing the Topper still apply to the bigger boats as well.
Other than the capsize technique of course..<<

Hi Paul,
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction here, I think that finding a local sailing club looks like a must. At least I will have some knowledge
when I come to do my C.C.C, I have a fantastic book I am reading at the moment and have learned lots technical things but do need the practical start.
Many Thanks

Cheers
Mazzyh
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