Day skipper or YM

[jon_bailey]

I'm considering enrolling at the local college to do a theory course over the winter. There must be a lot of commonality between the DS and YM courses, so do I dive straight into the YM and save the time and effort of replicating the work associated with doing DS followed by YM.

I have considered doing the courses on-line but feel that I need the discipline of a regular committment to get me through in a reasonable timescale.

I am also concerned that the course will be filled up with raggies, so how do I avoid being converted?

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[Talbot]

Your choice will totally depend on your own level of expertise. for example are you confident at doing secondary port calculations and EPs if not then do Day Skipper. It is very embarassing to start on the YM and be downgraded to DS (happened on the course I was on last year. I wouldnt worry abt the makeup of the course, there will be other mobo people there as well.

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[hlb]

Course will be filled up with raggies and nearly everything relates to raggies. About 80% of course does not really concern us. Why do you want the bit of paper?? Day skipper is more than enough if your doing it for safety ect.

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Haydn

 

[tcm]

there is a req of having been skipper or on watch for summink like 2000 miles of which half must be in tidal waters for YM - if you don't have this then you do DS.

If you have been boating for a few years i would say that YM is okay. There is no pre-requisite for having done DS beforehand or anything like that, and yes, there is lots of stuff that is in both YM and DS.

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[rickp]

Is that the case for just the theory part (which is what I'm assuming Jon is talking about considering its at a college)?

I wish I'd gone straight in for the YM theory - the DS theory course I did was very very slow (for those that were struggling with EPs and tide heights mainly).

Rick

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[ChristianR]

this relates to the practical exam, no restriction on theory. I have done both parctical and theory courses and would recommend the proper approach - start with day skipper theory and practical and work up to yacht master (coastal skipper is sufficient). many colleges offer 3 weekend intensive couses which I strongly recommend.

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[jon_bailey]

Do not particularly want or need the bit of paper but I am sure that I still have much to learn and there must be something useful contained in these courses. The issue is, do I spend two yrs doing DS followed by YM or go straight to YM?

I accept that a significant proportion will not be relevant to mobos, but perhaps one day I will get marooned on a desert island with just a couple of planks and an old sheet. In the far distance and on another island will be a gorgeous woman, so getting taken in the wrong direction by wind and tide could be a little frustrating.

BTW she also has a case of ice cold beer.

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[powerskipper]

I have found in the last few years that the theory classes are now made up of 40%-50% power and the rest either sailors or people who just liked the sound of the course.
There is some assumed knowledge if you are doing YM theory,
that you can
can read a chart.
DR= direct route
EP= estimated position
CTS= course to steer
tidal heights and flow
can guesstimate secondary port and understand what they are and why.
have a basic knowledge of weather and understand the terms used.
has a basic knowledge of IRPCS and day shapes and night light and sound signals.

So if you are happy with the above do the YM. if not do day skipper.

this years course will include electronic chart work too.

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Julie

 

[ChristianR]

why 2 years to do DS theory, who told you this???? - do a 3 weekend intensive couse at your local college or do 1 evening a week throughout the winter!

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[tcm]

i agree - DS starts with a whole section learning the names of bits of boats like bow and stern...it will seem very slow for someone who has been boating. YM is a better entry level for someone who has already done a few seasons.

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[jon_bailey]

I meant 2 years for DS and YM, i.e. one year for each.

I like my weekends and prefer the idea of an evening a week for 30 wks rather than 3 intensive weekends.

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[jon_bailey]

Julie

I believe that you have been involved with the courses at Ringwood. Are you running them this year?

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[hairbox]

DR=direct route do you mean dead reckoning or is direct route a mobo thing also basic knowledge of and irpcs I think not, you need to know these thoroughly.

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[mjf]

Whats a Direct Route pls?

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[ChristianR]

one that takes you straight over a sand bank!

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[Aardee]

DR???

doesn't DR = Ded(uced) Reckoning rather than direct route???

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[pissativlypossed]

Re: DR???

I did Day Skipper at college on an evening class, agree that some of it was a little bit slow, but still worthwhile, the interaction with other boaters was good and taking the pee out of the raggies even better. SWMBO joined me on the Yachtmaster theory and found certain aspects difficult so depending on what you want out of the course and previous experience would advise starting at the beginning.
If you are the sort who is likely to miss some evenings through other commitments i would definatly start at the begining.

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[jon_bailey]

Assessment

How is the YM assessed. Is it on a continual basis or is there just one big exam at the end?

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[ChristianR]

Re: Assessment

exam at the end!

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[Skyva_2]

Re: Assessment

YM has 3 assessments (exams) - Collision Regs 90 mins, Weather 90 mins, Navigation 2 hours. There is an element of continuous assessment as well, so if you do poorly on a formal assessment you might get another go.

Day Skipper has 2 assessment - Seamanship and Navigation

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