Day Skipper Course...In The Sun

[Paul_S123]

Was thinking of doing my day skipper course feb/march.

I was going to do it at Scotsail, but thought why would I want to do it shivering in my home cruising grounds, when I could go somewhere nice.

Anyone recommend a school in a warmer climate.

 

[Tranona]

Gibraltar, Balearics and the Canaries are perhaps the most popular winter sites. All have RYA sea schools. Details on the RYA site.

 

[colind3782]

Did mine in Gibraltar,

 

[Paul_S123]

Did mine in Gibraltar,

How was it?

 

[[70521]]

Plymouth.

 

[NormanB]

If you want warmer weather then Tenerife in March and have some fun in the acceleration zones.

 

[colind3782]

How was it?

It was OK. The skipper wasn't the greatest but we went to Ceuta, Estepona and Sotogrande over the week. I did the course to get an ICC for Spanish waters. There are a few schools there and regular flights into the rock from the UK. I got a deal at the London Boat Show if I remember correctly.

 

[Poignard]

Sounds like a pleasant idea but wouldn't you learn more doing it somewhere with a more challenging environment? Somewhere with strong tides and winds, and plenty of ColRegs situations, eg the Solent.

Bit like learning to drive in London as opposed to a quiet country town

 

[Fluvial66]

Did all my sailing courses at "Canary Sail" on La Gomera,
an island off Tenerife in the Canaries in Jan / Feb.

Thoroughly enjoyable and lovely place. Went back for a walking
holiday the following year.

 

[GHA]

Sounds like a pleasant idea but wouldn't you learn more doing it somewhere with a more challenging environment? Somewhere with strong tides and winds, and plenty of ColRegs situations, eg the Solent.

Bit like learning to drive in London as opposed to a quiet country town

That's actually a big plus for the canaries LOADS of wind pretty much guaranteed when you go look for it. Bit like learning in a big ocean as opposed to a big lake

 

[Tranona]

Sounds like a pleasant idea but wouldn't you learn more doing it somewhere with a more challenging environment? Somewhere with strong tides and winds, and plenty of ColRegs situations, eg the Solent.

Bit like learning to drive in London as opposed to a quiet country town

Gibraltar also has strong winds and tides plus more traffic than many places in the UK so forget the notion that doing a course in either the Canaries or Gibraltar (or Portugal) is "easy". Similarly the Balearics has good wind and you learn other things about sailing that are different from the UK but equally challenging.

 

[newtothis]

Another vote for the Canaries if you want good weather and interesting winds in the zone. I did dazed kipper with CanarySail in La Gomera, but management has changed since then, so can't comment. SWMBO did it with Endeavour Sailing in Lanzagrotty, and we were both really impressed by the instructor, Rob Sorrell.
But I also agree that doing it in the Solent, where I went on to do YM, is worth putting up with a couple of weeks of crap weather. You really do get to understand tides/traffic/noisy lights, etc a lot better there.

 

[Hacker]

Did my CC with Hercules in Gibraltar (run by capnsensible of this parish). He has moved to Lanzarote now. Would definitely recommend them, good pupil/instructor ratio

 

[Leopold Bloom]

Portugal, The Algarve.

 

[capnsensible]

Did my CC with Hercules in Gibraltar (run by capnsensible of this parish). He has moved to Lanzarote now. Would definitely recommend them, good pupil/instructor ratio

Thanks!!

Probably not allowed to mention that we are now at Seamaster in Lanzarote, it's tidal, good winds and lovely and warm. So I had better not.

 

[Paul_S123]

Thanks!!

Probably not allowed to mention that we are now at Seamaster in Lanzarote, it's tidal, good winds and lovely and warm. So I had better not.

So I probably shouldn't be looking at your web site....ooops too late.

 

[Cantata]

Can I suggest Learn2sail, in the Algarve. http://www.learn2sail.com/
Faint connection in that the boss and his missus are good friends of ours. Talk to them at LIBS if you're going. Smashing people.

 

[Gitane]

........and there I was thinking that a national daily newspaper was printing a boating course...

Hate to imagine what page three of the course material would look like.

 

[Bathdave]

How about the sailing capital of the world, BVI

Sunsail at Moorings have a RYA school and do D/S

 

[alahol2]

........and there I was thinking that a national daily newspaper was printing a boating course...

Hate to imagine what page three of the course material would look like.

Astronomical orbs...