Day Skipper/Comp Crew

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……….
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Yes, Sunsail UK, Port Solent, runs a “teenage week”. Instructors have enhanced DBS and RYA Safeguarding, as you would expect.

It’s not unusual to have husband and wife, partners, dad and son etc on a course mixed with other students. Neither is it unusual for a family to charter the boat for a “family course”. This could be a mix of certified courses (CC & DS) or dad gaining mileage and experience while family do the structured courses. It’s not hard to be flexible.

In my (limited to the last 4 seasons) experience, kids are mostly fun to have on board. They are mostly very engaging and quick to learn. They don’t tend to have the attention span of an adult so their task loading needs to be modified accordingly.

The nightmare scenario is the adolescent teenager who’s been dragged along against his will and thinks it’s necessary to spend approx 23h30 mins per day glued to the dumb phone.
 
MJWB said:
On the contrary, the welfare of the child is paramount. Describing the requirement to ensure appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place as indicative of "sad times" does not inspire confidence.
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It's a real shame that it's necessary, but I reckon the sad times were when kids and teens were exploited and abused without recourse.
 
Graham376 said:
What sad times we live in :(
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My wife who is a riding instructor did her course yesterday. Some of the statistics for abuse are staggering. Although most of her clients are adult it is still a requirement of her professional body. Unfortunately there are people out there who are not members who don't carry insurance, have first aid, criminal records clearance and child protection. I wouldn't be surprised to find a few like that in the sailing world.
 
There's several sailing schools in the north east just search on RYA website. As others have said it's common to have mixed ability crews - I did my DS at Conway with two CCs all around Anglesey.
 
Graham, most schools that I've used mix CC and DS. I'm not up to date on the training of minors but the RYA had no issue previously of teaching same family members on the same course.
I had a endorsement to teach up to coastal skipper and our training included how to manage members the same family on a course. In fairness you were looking for the same issues when teaching non family members, you can work out the different characters that we're looking for.
I also ran systems courses In IT and the same issues/people were there too.
Any good school will deal with this and you won't know they're doing it.
I would also highly recommend the clyde as a good training ground, weather can be challenging but usually able sail somewhere with a bit of planning.
 
Graham376 said:
What sad times we live in :(
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I totally disagree. The measures are placed there because of things that have happened in the past. For example the Lyme Bay Canoeing tragedy, I could tell you a few stories about people abusing young people that would very, very quickly change your mind on the subject. Hopefully, some of the hoops we now need to pass through will make sailing and other outdoor pursuits safer and won't cause lifelong misery to some because of abuse.
 
Sandy said:
I totally disagree. The measures are placed there because of things that have happened in the past. For example the Lyme Bay Canoeing tragedy, I could tell you a few stories about people abusing young people that would very, very quickly change your mind on the subject. Hopefully, some of the hoops we now need to pass through will make sailing and other outdoor pursuits safer and won't cause lifelong misery to some because of abuse.
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I was referring to the necessity of having to check everyone out these days Obviously, if I were the parent of a young girl, I would want the skipper checked out but suspect I would be more wary of the young lads trying to add another notch to their belts.
 
I’m not sure if comment of parent of young girl is relevant, history shows any young person is at risk, and also not normally young lads trying to add another notch
 
Graham376 said:
I was referring to the necessity of having to check everyone out these days Obviously, if I were the parent of a young girl, I would want the skipper checked out but suspect I would be more wary of the young lads trying to add another notch to their belts.
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A girl who's mature enough to go on a residential course should be mature enough to say no to young lads, but the adult in a position of power is much harder to turn down. To put it crudely, "You want to pass? Drop 'em".

I'd have a LOT of sympathy for a dad who made sure someone who did that to his daughter never did it again.
 
Stemar said:
A girl who's mature enough to go on a residential course should be mature enough to say no to young lads, but the adult in a position of power is much harder to turn down. To put it crudely, "You want to pass? Drop 'em".
I'd have a LOT of sympathy for a dad who made sure someone who did that to his daughter never did it again.
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I suspect we grew up in different times. From age of about 14, we used to hitch hike with tents on our backs, sometimes solo, sometimes in pairs. At seventeen, I was lucky enough to have a car and often used to find girls hitching out of Manchester after they/we had been to an all nighter at Twisted Wheel or another club. I went to S Africa in 1969 and one of the girls I shared a house with had hitched all the way from UK to S Aftrica on her own.
 
I have seen it done before, I am sure if you ask a few sea schools then someone will be happy to help.
Don't forget to do your Day Skipper Theory before you turn up to the practical. You can do it online (I did my RYA Day Skipper Theory with Ardent Training).
 
Paulfireblade said:
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 ?
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Day skipper theory is NOT required before you do your practical. The examiner will ask you additoinal questions to ensure that in his/her opinion your navigation knowledge is good enough.
 
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True that it is not a requirement to have a DS Shorebased course completion certificate before signing-up for a DS practical. But, it will be assumed by the instructor that the student has a prior knowledge equivalent to that level. During the practical course, the student will be required to demonstrate a number of skills, for example a CTS, a DR and EP, a fix etc etc, anything that is usually learned during the shorebased course. If the student can not perform these skills, it is possible that the instructor recommends to the Principal or Chief Instructor that the practical certificate be withheld. This should not come as a surprise to the student as his/her weakness in whichever area should have been discussed during one of the frequent one-to-one debriefs. Quite likely that the student will be given an action plan to attain the required knowledge and skill. There is not enough time during a practical course to teach the shorebased content, some weaknesses can be addressed but it will depend upon the extent and also being balanced and fair to the other students.

Despite the myth that the certificate is given in exchange for payment of fees, some students go away empty handed but, hopefully, acknowledging that they have been treated fairly, fully aware of their shortcomings and remaining motivated to complete the course after further study.
 
Skylark said:
There is not enough time during a practical course to teach the shorebased content
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I very much disagree with this. DS level theory is very simple for most and does not take a lot of time. It could easily be covered during the evening after sailing is complete, or during the days while CCs are helming. It's no coincidence that this viewpoint comes from the business selling the shore based courses and books.
 
lustyd said:
I very much disagree with this. DS level theory is very simple for most and does not take a lot of time.
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Having recently done my day skipper practical I disagree with this. Learning rules of the road, lights, shapes, buoyage, basic passage planning takes up a lot of time and (for me anyway) was not easy to remember. I would never have got the best out of the practical course if I hadn't studied before and probably pissed off the other people on the course if the skipper had spend more time with me going though the 'basics'.
 
lustyd said:
I very much disagree with this. DS level theory is very simple for most and does not take a lot of time. It could easily be covered during the evening after sailing is complete, or during the days while CCs are helming. It's no coincidence that this viewpoint comes from the business selling the shore based courses and books.
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Care to outline your qualifications and experience that’s driven this point of view?

My post was written based upon my experience of being an active Shorebased and Cruising Instructor.

I believe that your post is comprehensively incorrect. I respect your opinion and I’d like to respond to each of your points but first I’d like to better understand where you’re coming from?
 
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