Day Skipper courses...

[FairweatherDave]

As a relatively inexperienced sailor myself with Day Skipper Theory and Practice (and a Centaur in Chichester harbour), and looking at your other threads, I would agree with those that say go for Day Skipper theory. And do it slowly as you get so much more out of it, unless you want the qualification fast eg as a qualification to enable you to book a sailing holiday. Re. the practice Day Skip my own feeling is you've got your own big boat and you are already out there doing it... you can pontoon bash and pick up fenders for MOB as part of the course but really you need to do it on your own boat and solve your own MOB issues which you can work out yourself. Thats not knocking the Practical as I really enjoyed mine but at that point I had barely been on a yacht. So get the theory and then if you want to get the practical go and enjoy it, but your real learning is back on your own boat. Dave

 

[wotayottie]

I think maybe it is because I am female, I am harder on myself than I should be.

When I read that I expected to be able to competently navigate, then I take that to mean, sit down, give me a passage plan, taking in deviation, wind & tides over 200 miles and I want it in five minutes! The five minutes, I would struggle with. I don't want to be a 'lets turn on the Garmin' sailor!

Also, I don't want to be a weak link on a course. However, when teaching PADI & BSAC courses, neither did I expect the trainees to know everything before they started. We would make sure they had read the Open Water Diver course book, completed the knowledge reviews inside and away we would go.

And with all due respect - what is sailing if it is not putting the sails up and getting to where we want to go?

I have quite a few publications now - Tom Cunliffe is my new hero & Alison Noyce has been highly recommended and I am about to order her Nav book.
I have RYA2 Powerboat and have quite a few hours driving a 320hp RHIB so am not a complete numpty when it comes to bouys & colregs.

Di

Based on the above, you fit their requirements.

Having done both diving and sailing courses and having taught the sailing ones, there is rather more deskwork in sailing than in diving. The practical course is a fairly short one and to teach in that timescale both the deskwork and the practicalities to people who have no experience at all is very difficult. It makes it a PITA for other course members who do know something. So all they are trying to do with their requirements is to weed out the know nothings.

Personally I would be encouraged by their stipulations since it makes it less likely that you will be sat there bored daft whilst the instructor tries to teach someone what a mast is.

 

[lustyd]

This book has all of the navigation stuff you need for Day Skipper. No need to do theory if you are a good self learner. Tim Bartlett is on this forum too so you can ask him questions if you get stuck


I'd also recommend the Complete Yachtmaster by Tom Cunliffe

As for knowing how to sail - that's Competent Crew and you should "know the ropes" before doind Day Skipper. If you can't do the basics it will hold up the course for everyone else and annoy the instructor. A course I did there was a guy who went straight to DS and the instructor eventually demoted him to Competent Crew to save the course for the rest of us.

Highly recommend Haslar Sea School - cheap and thorough instruction. I recommend out of season too as you get "better weather" for learning, none of that sunshine and F3 rubbish. Since diving has been mentioned this is akin to learning in the UK rather than the med - you're prepared for the worst from day one even if the experience is less pleasant.

 

[Zagato]

Thanks also, Just ordered both...

Saves a few hundred quid and I always do any ground breaking new experiences (for me!) as part of a rally group which is my practical - best way to learn with a bunch of guys that have been sailnig the waters for 30+ years...

 

[LePacha]

I always do any ground breaking new experiences

Hope it's not your boat, sir.