courses

[Chris222]

Recommendations anyone???....

I've never sailed a yacht, but have sailed dinghy's since i was about 6. I'm completely self-taught, have never belonged to a sail club as we lived on a lake, so have no formal training of any kind.

I'm seriously considering buying a nice little 40 footer (or so) for a year out sailing around the world (not a complete circumnavigation - it's more the time off sailing around then where we actually end up)

My question is, I know nothing about radio, GPS, rigs on boats bigger than 18'. Should I take a competent crew course, or start with the Day Skipper course and then move on from there?

Cheers

Chris



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[Laurin]

How about going to one of the smaller sailing schools which do weekends sailing and sign off bits of Comp crew/ day skipper as you progress. These seem far more flexible than the sunsails of this world. Also they are more likely to tailor their courses to you. Buy some books now and start teaching yourself navigation. If it's easy enough do Yachtmaster theory in Sept. if not so easy do Dayskipper nightschool.

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[BlueSkyNick]

From my experience, when you go on the Day Skipper Practical course, you take turns to be the skipper for each 'passage' so when somebody else is in charge you are the crew. Hence you learn to be a competent crew in the process.

You need to do the Day Skipper Theory before Practical, so if you then don't feel comfortable going on the Practical next, you can decide to go on Competent Crew first.

Hope this helps




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[Twister_Ken]

Are you related?

Chris222, are you related to Steve101 by any chance?

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[webcraft]

Re: Are you related?

Do you sense a teensy windup, Ken?

- Nick

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[Twister_Ken]

Re: Are you related?

Moi?

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[Dominic]

Re: Courses - Don´t bother

Don´t bother with any courses, you´ll soon pick up the important bits as you go along.


Above all DO NOT take a radio.

If you cock it up don´t whinge and whine for help;solve the problem or drown quietly like a gentleman

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[Chris222]

No windup - it was a serious question. I'm just not sure where to start.



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[tcm]

Competent crew assumes you have never ever been on water before. Day skipper will be more your bag. imho. When you get the boat, then get more assistance on board that. Stick around here and you may even get offers of free help from others hereabouts. With a forty footer, you will definitely be in a position to offer unpaid crewing help for the longer passages say down to the med, tho i suppose that is a little way off yet. No harm in planning tho!

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[Twister_Ken]

Radical suggestion

Why not sign up for one of the Chay Blyth/Robin KJ type 'adventures' (but not necessarily one of the full-on round the world jobs). You'll get bags of tuition, loads of sea miles, a big boat to play with, lots of mates, and a pro-skipper to take the blame. I believe one or the other of them is doing a Round Britain race this autumn.

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[tcm]

Re: disagree

From others I have heard that these monster adventure things can simply teach you all about ONE aspect of the boat. So, if six boats set off, they'll race, however unofficially -or officially as you say. Two wil be helm, two on grinders etc etc and that's how it stays when they become proficient. No swapping about or nicely learning things. You're the Bowman and that's that.

I think he needs to learn on a boat at least 28 feet long. Otherwsie all the kit and setup wil be different. Newbie dinghy sailor came on our crusier sailing boat, bit useless really, every time we suggested changing things he ran to the mast. Max useful size for relevant learning will be um about 45 feet but best make it 40 feet otherwise the boat he buys will feel a bit rubbish in comparison.




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