Day Skipper Combined

[Astraeus]

I am looking to take a theory/combined in UK waters and have narrowed down providers to one of Commodore, Bacchus or BOSS. Having reviewed many threads as far back as 2008, I have seen recommendations for each qualified by the fact that as time changes, instructors change and the quality of the courses goes with it.

With that in mind, does anyone have recent experience (that is, with the current teams) of or recommendations for any of the above-mentioned schools?

Thanks

A.

 

[glynd]

I am looking to take a theory/combined in UK waters and have narrowed down providers to one of Commodore, Bacchus or BOSS. Having reviewed many threads as far back as 2008, I have seen recommendations for each qualified by the fact that as time changes, instructors change and the quality of the courses goes with it.

With that in mind, does anyone have recent experience (that is, with the current teams) of or recommendations for any of the above-mentioned schools?

Thanks

A.

Seriously avoid BOSS
Boats are old and unmaintained, bit of a cowboy outfit

 

[laika]

I have seen recommendations for each qualified by the fact that as time changes, instructors change and the quality of the courses goes with it.

To add to your confusion it's not just as time goes on. I had a (nice guy but) terrible instructor with BOSS (well over a decade ago). Two other instructors running parallel courses were rated highly by their students.

To glynd's comment, when I did my courses BOSS's boats were certainly old but not "unmaintained". Given the age and hard life of those boats I thought they did pretty well to keep them running. Do they still have the sigmas and fulmars? Those were pretty decent boats to learn on.

 

[[70521]]

Have you considered Plymouth Sailing School? Well worth a call.

 

[Astraeus]

Have you considered Plymouth Sailing School? Well worth a call.

I have. There are a number of other providers who have been recommended but who do not offer the Combined course or, if they do, do not do so during the limited weeks I have available next year.

 

[[70521]]

I have. There are a number of other providers who have been recommended but who do not offer the Combined course or, if they do, do not do so during the limited weeks I have available next year.

Another option would be to do the theory online, I'd recommend you did the YM theory and not DS, over the winter and just rock up for the weeks practical.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I’m not convinced school boats can be ‘unmaintained’ as they are inspected and surveyed regularly to stay coded. Some might be older and tattier than others but the kit should all function correctly.

 

[Paddy Fields]

Another option would be to do the theory online, I'd recommend you did the YM theory and not DS, over the winter and just rock up for the weeks practical.

That’s what I did, though over an intensive few weekends. I jumped straight to YM theory, skipping DS theory.

Now I’m helping someone with their DS theory, and on reflection, DS theory is enough to be getting on with IMO. There is a lot more interpolation of tablular data in YM theory, which adds a lot more complexity for not much benefit. Once you know the principles, you can do your own rough and ready interpolation, which will only ever be a back-up for when your iPhone dies.

 

[Channel Sailor]

Similar thoughts to some of those above, do the DS theory over the winter in the evenings with a proper desk space in front of you for charts and books etc. Instead of being squeezed into a converted barge lounge moored in a marina or a chilly porta cabin in a boat park, while recovering from a previous day of sailing. If a complete novice then do the 5 days Competent crew as well, before or in parallel with the DS theory. Or do 5 days crewing for someone on their boat who needs a hand. You will learn a lot in the first week, including how to tie knots and how to live on board a yacht (all very important). Suggest don't rush or miss out any of the stages. Remember it is all still sailing while training and when finally out on your own in command the results will be more enjoyable and safer. I reckon it is just as much fun being crew as it is skipper, so don't rush it and miss out.

 

[capnsensible]

There is now a big gap between the Day Skipper and coastal theory courses and in my opinion, is better for it. People generally need a lot more practical experience now before starting the Coastal course so Going deep too early may be a mistake.

Different people learn in different styles as Im sure is well recognised. Those that do the combined DS course generally find it a great approach so they can immediately go and put into practice the skills they have learnt and indeed the courses overlap to some extent anyway.

Doing what you feel is correct for you is the most important thing! :encouragement:

 

[moomba]

Another option would be to do the theory online, I'd recommend you did the YM theory and not DS, over the winter and just rock up for the weeks practical.

+1 did the same allowed for more time just going through the practical and putting the knowledge learned on theory into practice

 

[Applespider]

There is now a big gap between the Day Skipper and coastal theory courses and in my opinion, is better for it. People generally need a lot more practical experience now before starting the Coastal course so Going deep too early may be a mistake.

I've heard this from a number of people recently who were surprised by the new YM exams. Far more in-depth than even just two-three years ago. You might get away with it if you've done a lot of sailing and understand most of the DS theory but if you're coming to it relatively new, I'd agree that you're better doing both.

If you can learn online, it's also a good option over the winter months - and then your brain has more space to learn the practical elements rather than trying to remember both at the same time. That might also widen your choice of schools.

 

[davethedog]

Bacchus in Haslar marina have very well maintained boats.

 

[[3889]]

Another option would be to do the theory online, I'd recommend you did the YM theory and not DS, over the winter and just rock up for the weeks practical.

There's a lot of stuff not covered on YM that you need for DS. I never took DS and when I took my Cruising Instructor course I, and the instructor, found some considerable gaps in my knowledge which would have been covered on the DS.
BOSS boats are not the most luxiourious but they are safe and the courses offer good value.

 

[Astraeus]

Bacchus in Haslar marina have very well maintained boats.

Thanks. I reckon I will end up going with Bacchus. They've been very helpful in my planning stage.

Noted re: doing the theory beforehand. I have spent quite a bit of time clueing up but, with the best will in the world, I won't learn as well in home surroundings as I will in a classroom because, regrettably, work will place demands on me whilst ever I am in the vicinity.

 

[[70521]]

There's a lot of stuff not covered on YM that you need for DS. I never took DS and when I took my Cruising Instructor course I, and the instructor, found some considerable gaps in my knowledge which would have been covered on the DS.

An interesting comment, can you give an example or two? I admit to doing my original DS almost 40 years ago, going mountaineering and then repeating my DS with YM Theory. I looked long and hard at both courses before plumping for the YM Theory.

 

[Bristolfashion]

I took the combined Day Skipper - excellent choice. The YM theory is way more difficult and would be a huge stretch as a first course.

Cheers

Bristol

 

[Astraeus]

I took the combined Day Skipper - excellent choice. The YM theory is way more difficult and would be a huge stretch as a first course.

Cheers

Bristol

Thanks. Did you do yours recently?

I did Comp Crew some time ago, since when I have sailed infrequently on yachts and dinghies. I will be doing a weekend on board a training yacht in April, so will hopefully be in good stead for the theory and practical in June.

 

[Bristolfashion]

We did the combined Day Skipper in 2015. We found the 7 day course fine and not too hard. We had previously done the Competent Crew.

We have just done the Coastal Skipper practical and Coastal Skipper/Yachmaster theory which was way harder.

Cheers

Bristol

 

[capnsensible]

The combined courses should be a minimum of nine days.