Day Skipper/Comp Crew

MJWB

MJWB

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Morning all. When the whether improves and hopefully COVID has continued to wane, I'm looking to do a Day Skipper practical course. My daughter who will be 15 by then wants to do Comp Crew. The ideal is we do each on the same course. Does anyone know whether any training providers would accomodate this arrangement? Also any recommendations? We're on the NE coast so accept we'll have to travel.
 
When I did my Comp Crew course, there were two Coastal Skippers and two Comp Crew candidates. I'd never set foot on a yacht before, but I'd done the nav and met on my PPL course, so I asked if I could upgrade to DS, which I got. The other CC got his certificate, as did one of the CS people. The other, his wife, was lucky to get CC (Is it possible to fail that?)

I used Commodore in Gosport, but that was 20 years ago.
 
Most of the RYA schools run mixed Ability on boats, I get the impression they prefer it that way so really shouldn’t be a problem and I have been on a training boat with a family of Mum, Dad and Son and the schools are there to make money so I doubt the are going to turn away two candidates.

I am sure you can find a school near, you can do both courses over three separate weekends or five consecutive days. Hopefully as COVID eases in the Summer they will go back to staying on the boat for the duration which I think was more fun.

Obviously you will have to do Day Skipper theory before the Day Skipper practical but Comp Crew theory is covered on course so get your daughter to lean buoy colours, day shapes, boat lighting colours, basic Collinson regs and the main knots otherwise it can be a bit stressful learning all that in a week IMHO.

I used Elite Sailing School in Chatham who seem fairly good value and have good availability as the run three school boats pretty much full time.

Good luck and have fun ?
 
Its normal to have DS and CC people on the same course, desirable in fact, so that the DS people can have more time doing skippery things.
Any sailing school will be pleased to hear from you. The Solent is the best place for a rounded experience though the Clyde or North Wales may be preferable distance wise.
 
MJWB said:
Morning all. When the whether improves and hopefully COVID has continued to wane, I'm looking to do a Day Skipper practical course. My daughter who will be 15 by then wants to do Comp Crew. The ideal is we do each on the same course. Does anyone know whether any training providers would accomodate this arrangement? Also any recommendations? We're on the NE coast so accept we'll have to travel.
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As many have said this it is quite normal to have mixed DS and CC on the same vessel. @ridgy suggested the Solent as a good place to do your training, personally I'd avoid it like the plague if you are from the NE. The price of a pint of beer is staggering, seriously there are far better, and quieter hence less pressure, places to learn to skipper. I recall that there was a RYA training center at Hartlepool when I popped in last summer I am sure there are more in the NE or on the Firth of Forth. Google and your local sailing clubs are your friend.

Enjoy your week.
 
MJWB said:
Morning all. When the whether improves and hopefully COVID has continued to wane, I'm looking to do a Day Skipper practical course. My daughter who will be 15 by then wants to do Comp Crew. The ideal is we do each on the same course. Does anyone know whether any training providers would accomodate this arrangement? Also any recommendations? We're on the NE coast so accept we'll have to travel.
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I have just been looking at Scottsail site at largs , for a similar reason
 
To mirror what others have said above:
I have just returned from a weeks comp crew training followed by a weeks day skipper training in the Canaries.
For both of these weeks the boat had a mix of CC and DS candidates, and thats how the company I went with prefers it as it makes for a good balance.
I had a great time week 1 as CC is quite relaxed but having asked for exposure to as much DS content as possible throughout the CC week, we were doing everything the DS guys were.
This had the benefits of the second week as DS being mostly refreshing / consolidating on the skills we had mostly already completed in week 1.

Doing this in the sun was only marginally more expensive than doing it in cold and wet blighty.
 
Spirit (of Glenans) said:
Sailing schools generally prefer not to have members of the same family taking instruction together, as one member might inhibit the progress of the other, e.g. a husband might start telling his wife what to do,although in this case you and your daughter would be doing diferent syllabuses (syllabi?) .
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The OP's daughter is under the age of 18.
 
Spirit (of Glenans) said:
Sailing schools generally prefer not to have members
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I've never known one admit to this, but it's useful to consider. In my experience they fill the boats with whatever people they can get. For comp crew it's unlikely to be problematic as it's mostly ropes and fenders, but for any skipper stuff I'd want to separate out especially for couples and very especially when parking! When we got some own boat tuition last year I stepped off of my own boat and the instructor took my partner out on her own for a few tries without me (at my suggestion). They were the most useful runs of the day in my opinion and allowed them to have a good chat without me.

for OP I would recommend that your daughter have a read of the navigation book (Tim Bartlett) and possibly the complete yachtmaster book (Tom Cunliffe) too before the course. She'll get a lot more out of observing if she's prepared up to the next level, while taking the pressure off since she won't actually be required to do the skipper stuff.
 
We did DS and CC together a few years ago in Gibraltar, the cost was the same as doing in the uk but with warm water, did it in January so did not impact into sailing at home. Did it on the same boat but at 48’ loads more space and wife learned loads more than i thought, I do think she was a bit held back by me being on the boat as well though. Also had a few extra days to visit after before we flew back.
 
I've never had a problem teaching partners on the same course. It's great to help them develop as the days go by.

I've taught teenagers too. Pointless giving them a boring book to read before starting. Get them steering!
 
Some interesting thoughts. Bottom line is my daughter is under 18 so I'll need to be there or it's an all under 18's course for her. Don't know if those still take place. Sunsail did them years ago as my son did one and had a marvellous time with a load of other lads and a male instructor. Got his CC and then lost interest, teenagers! No idea if these are still on but my daughter is keen to do it and wants me there, so makes sense for me to do the DS course at the same time. Thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated.
 
MJWB said:
Some interesting thoughts. Bottom line is my daughter is under 18 so I'll need to be there or it's an all under 18's course for her. Don't know if those still take place. Sunsail did them years ago as my son did one and had a marvellous time with a load of other lads and a male instructor. Got his CC and then lost interest, teenagers! No idea if these are still on but my daughter is keen to do it and wants me there, so makes sense for me to do the DS course at the same time. Thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated.
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I've dropped you a personal message.
 
Just had a great week with Canarysail with me on I guess a coastal skipper - or day skipper + and my other doing competent crew. One other L plate skipper and a comp crew on board. Very handy having someone else make them tie a bowline 500 times..
 
Graham376 said:
Is this an RYA rule or dad preferring to be there?
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It will really depend on the sailing school. Sailing with minors without a parent or guardian with them is a complex legal area. Does the instructor have DBS Enhanced Clearance? When did they last do any Safeguarding training? Will there be another female onboard? Those are a few questions that just spring to mind.
 
Sandy said:
It will really depend on the sailing school. Sailing with minors without a parent or guardian with them is a complex legal area. Does the instructor have DBS Enhanced Clearance? When did they last do any Safeguarding training? Will there be another female onboard? Those are a few questions that just spring to mind.
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What sad times we live in :(
 
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