Complete newbie wanting ICC...

Tomaret

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The Day Skipper course is actually designed for those that have some sailing experience. Recommended is 100nm, 5 days at sea and 4 hours night sailing. Some do try and run before they walk but it's rarely successful. :)
A few schools seem to offer back to back CC and DS courses so that you can go from complete novice to chartering standard in ten days. I’m not sure how competent the graduates are but they get their tickets.
 

jon711

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Thanks for the replies everyone.
It sounds like id be better doing a competent crew course before the day skipper course.
There is a Swift 18ft for sale not far from me and I am thinking of just buying it and trying it out. I live in Warrington,UK and not far from Wales where there are tidal channels. Maybe this would be the best learning experience, or maybe some closed water like Windermere first.
I am a member of Shotwick Lake Sailing Club near Chester, and they are an RYA Approved Training Centre Shotwick Lake Sailing that could be a good starter for you?
 

Spirit (of Glenans)

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this opinion is nearly always held by people who started in small boats and therefore have no lived experience by which to evaluate the alternative. As such it seems hard to establish that it’s not a fallacy.
I have instructed (on 5.70m keelboats), alongside instructors who have started in dinghies, and those that have started in keelboats. The difference in sail-trimming skills is palpable. I am, unhappily among the latter category.
 

creeks

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I have instructed (on 5.70m keelboats), alongside instructors who have started in dinghies, and those that have started in keelboats. The difference in sail-trimming skills is palpable. I am, unhappily among the latter category.
To extend that theory - if you can trim a model yacht to compete with the best model yacht racers you will have sail-trimming skills second to none.
 

Refueler

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Hi everyone,
I am a completely novice sailor. I have owned a small speedboat 15 years ago and know a little basic sailing theory. Im after information on the best way to go about getting some qualifications.
The first goal is to get an ICC so I can sail around the med.
After some research I realise I most likely will need to get a RYA Day Skipper first.
After more research I realise I may need to do a starter course before the Day Skipper, as I really am very green!

I'm surprised by replies ... they have concentrated on gaining experience rather than answering first the ICC the question.

First : A novice can obtain an ICC by joining RYA. But it will be a small powerboat ICC only ... Sail / CEVNI will not be included.

Second : OP is saying he wants to sail around Med .... that then indicates he will need to look at satisfying RYA reqts to add Sail to the ICC. To add CEVNI is as most of us know is a simple paper exam ... only needing reading the CEVNI books and ticking exam boxes.

So the Med bit and getting other Qualifications follows on from the ICC ....

Nothing wrong with all the posts, just felt the ICC bit was ignored.
 

Hacker

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You can’t just get an ICC by joining the RYA, unless you already have Day Skipper practical certificate. You can obtain an ICC without doing the full Day Skipper course, but it still requires an assessment.
 

Skylark

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There is a Swift 18ft for sale not far from me and I am thinking of just buying it and trying it out. I live in Warrington,UK and not far from Wales where there are tidal channels.
Excellent little boat ?. I bought one as my first sea boat after a couple of dinghies. I wintered it in a caravan park near High Legh, just off the A50 near to you.

I trailered it and day-sailed out of Liverpool marina a few times and also berthed it in The Menai Straits.

There have been a lot of (mixed) responses to your questions and you now have to sort the wheat from the chaff.

My experience is that the younger people start sailing, the more learning is intuitive. The older we get, the more we have to work at learning something new.

The CC course is a very good foundation, don’t under estimate its value from comments received. There is little duplication between CC and DS. The good advice has already been given to look at course syllabuses on the RYA website, and/or buy yourself a G158 Logbook.

Personally, I think CC, DS Shorebased and DS practical is a sound progression of learning but I also agree that it’s not the only route. Keep in mind that paying a course fee does not guarantee a Course Completion Certificate. It is possible to leave the course, probably disappointed but after receiving regular debriefs and an action plan on areas to improve.

There are a number of ways to acquire an ICC. One way is to book an Examiner and take an assessment. Especially the inexperienced and those of a nervous disposition ? may find this a stressful experience. We rarely perform well when under pressure of an exam situation.

Another route to obtaining an ICC is to simply apply for the certificate citing a DS Practical Course Completion Certificate as
evidence of competence. The DS Practical is not conducted as an exam, hence a better environment to demonstrate your skills to the instructor.
 

glynd

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As a RYA instructor you can do a two day RYA Powerboat 2 course then you can apply for an ICC certificate plus its free if you are a RYA member and covers for boats up to 10m

yes - but that ICC is not valid for sailing, only powerboats to 10m

You can qualify for an ICC with an individual assessment, but if you haven't had experience then this is not recommended.
Having 'failed' my first attempt at day skipper (had never really been on a yacht before, but done theory!) I would recommend doing Comp Crew then Day Skipper.

Classroom DS theory is a better experience than distance learning, due to all the interaction and people asking questions., however if distance learning is your thing...
 

Advent3207

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So much information is given here, some of it conflicting, some not, but honestly it is all appreciated. I am taking aboard (pun intended) most of this and researching it. Its nice to see so many opinions - I didnt have any opinions before I posted.
So the CC and DS theory and practical is by far means the normal way to go by the sounds of it. Im more leaning towards reading the RYA books that are on the way, actually trying to sail on a boat, then doing the DS theory and practical when I feel competent.

I reckon once you have your head around the theory its not all that hard- wide open to comments there!

Again thanks for the insight.
Chris.
 

Advent3207

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Excellent little boat ?. I bought one as my first sea boat after a couple of dinghies. I wintered it in a caravan park near High Legh, just off the A50 near to you.

I trailered it and day-sailed out of Liverpool marina a few times and also berthed it in The Menai Straits.

There have been a lot of (mixed) responses to your questions and you now have to sort the wheat from the chaff.

My experience is that the younger people start sailing, the more learning is intuitive. The older we get, the more we have to work at learning something new.

The CC course is a very good foundation, don’t under estimate its value from comments received. There is little duplication between CC and DS. The good advice has already been given to look at course syllabuses on the RYA website, and/or buy yourself a G158 Logbook.

Personally, I think CC, DS Shorebased and DS practical is a sound progression of learning but I also agree that it’s not the only route. Keep in mind that paying a course fee does not guarantee a Course Completion Certificate. It is possible to leave the course, probably disappointed but after receiving regular debriefs and an action plan on areas to improve.

There are a number of ways to acquire an ICC. One way is to book an Examiner and take an assessment. Especially the inexperienced and those of a nervous disposition ? may find this a stressful experience. We rarely perform well when under pressure of an exam situation.

Another route to obtaining an ICC is to simply apply for the certificate citing a DS Practical Course Completion Certificate as
evidence of competence. The DS Practical is not conducted as an exam, hence a better environment to demonstrate your skills to the instructor.

Yet to view the boat, work got in the way, maybe tomorrow.

High Legh is 10 min drive from me!

Thanks for the info.
Chris .
 

Refueler

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You can’t just get an ICC by joining the RYA, unless you already have Day Skipper practical certificate. You can obtain an ICC without doing the full Day Skipper course, but it still requires an assessment.

Thank you for correction ...

Its interesting .... about 10 yrs ago ... the Latvian certificate I had was cancelled. I then had no Yachting certificate to cover my boat use here, I knew a guy who was part of RYA staff and talked about ICC .... which led to my receiving ICC certificate .... I can only assume now that he must have accepted my MN Ships service of many years before. The ICC was the basic limited power only ... not much use to me. Further discussion and it was upgraded to include sail based on my having Endorsements as Lifeboat Cox'n for both Power and Sail L/boats. Cevni was included after completing the online test.

My friend has since retired - but it led onto my providing various information / details about LPG / Gasoline / Diesel fuels to RYA committees, along with Micro-Bio data.

Interesting - I stand corrected.
 

Refueler

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For experience and to get to 'grips' with boating ... I always think best way is to join a Club and crew for members. Its less stressful, no examiner looking over shoulder etc.
There's always the chance a few 'bad' practices are learnt, but once fundamental grasped - then take an RYA course to 'correct those' and to put a paper in hand for submitting to validate Sail ICC.
 

ylop

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So the CC and DS theory and practical is by far means the normal way to go by the sounds of it. Im more leaning towards reading the RYA books that are on the way, actually trying to sail on a boat, then doing the DS theory and practical when I feel competent.

I reckon once you have your head around the theory its not all that hard- wide open to comments there!

let me try to put this politely…the route you are planning is daft.

you run a real risk of damaging yourself or the boat by not learning things properly in the first place. It’s much easier to learn good habbits than unlearn bad ones. You are also far more likely to scare yourself or others so you never go sailing again if you don’t learn stuff right.

if there’s a book out there that I can read and will make me a good sailer with nobody to show me in practice please let me know. Especially if it can teach me how to do the critical skill exactly at the moment I need it (as the boat rolls around and you are trying to work out how to take the tension off a jammed sheet whilst mentally doing the tide calculation for the shore you are running towards). You’ll learn a lot quicker with a good instructor who can tell you what you are doing wrong than simply repeating it.

a lot of the ds theory is essential for anyone planning to take a boat out - you probably know some of it from motor boats but they tend to go in the direction you point them, hang less under the water and usually have enough grunt to win a fight with the current.

crewing in a club might be an ok way to learn but I’d just caution that not every owner is a good person to learn from. You May end up just doing the same task every time or frantically following orders as they are barked at you. It’s also much easier for the skipper if he can ask the crew to do something and be confident it will be understood.
 

Chiara’s slave

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Congratulations ?

I owned mine about 25 years ago but still have fond memories.

My only note of caution is to always keep an eye on the trailer. I once lost a wheel and tyre at one of the traffic islands on the north Wales bound A55. Not a pleasant experience.
Everyone will have a lost wheel experience to recount, if the trailer is used for salt water launching. Mine, I was picking up a boat for a friend, from just outside Genoa. It was July, and distinctly over average local temperature. Made it to France, along the coast motorway, off at Aix, and onto the N road. My wheel failure occurred going round the amphitheatre in Orange, in heavy traffic. 4 wheel trailer luckily, but fairly horrendous.
Keep your bearings greased and brakes checked. I was due a hub temp check stop, which no doubt would have seen it coming, but there was too much traffic to stop.
 

Uricanejack

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No the plan is not daft.
It’s quite reasonable, has been done by lots of people. And will be done by lots more.
Personally, I would suggest taking a course to get started would be a better plan. But each to our own, I’ve learned a lot of things by just getting out there and having a go. After having read up a bit about it.
I used to teach Albertans how to sail, to a CYA basic cruising standard in 5 days. Most of them had never even smelt the sea let alone seen it. To be able to skipper a small cruising yacht in familiar waters by day. Sound familiar.
would they remember everything? , of course not. Theoretically about 30%. Those who had taken the theory class ahead of time pr the power squadron navigation class. Or read a few good books. Would be further ahead and probably retain more.
A little bit of expierience messing about in some kind of water craft would certainly help.

The sailing school, I worked for held course‘s at many levels. The stats showed by far the majority of students would sign up for and attend only one practical course, most often the basic course, Those who wished to charter would also be required to complete a classroom coastal navigation course. Ither through the school or power squadron.

Which shows the RYA system, brand is very much more successful at having people sign up for the much more advanced YM course’s

The advice to take a CC course and follow it up with a DS course is probably good sound advice, which will include twice the travel, twice the cost and probably for many people the hardest commodity of all, twice the time.
The OP wants a simple route to get the ICC, presumably to charter a boat in the med.

he has a plan to mess about in his own boat, do some reading probably take a theory course. And then take the DS.

Sounds reasonable.
Im sure a reasonable experienced instructor at a good sailing school with a good well structured course should be able to help Even a moderately bellow mediocre Albertan how to sail to the required standard in the time allowed. Particularly if they have done some work on their own in advance. Even if it was only doing an on line course or reading a few books.

I personally believe getting some basic practical experience sailing on a small boat as soon as possible after having taken a basic sailing course of some kind or other, is the best way to retain the knowledge provided by the course and build on it.
The advantage of having been shown how to do something correctly in the first place is a big advantage. Books internet ect just can’t quite replicate.
 
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