Day Skipper Practical

[petedg]

Anyone done their day skipper practical in the last year or so and can reccommend a good sailing school ie. Friendly, good tuition, no more than 4:1 pupil to tutor, good sailing area etc.
Thanks

 

[Algol]

I did mine at Poole Sailing. Instructor Rob Gibson was superb. He's an author on sail trim and boat handling, a racing man (Fastnet, RTI) and really knows his stuff.

 

[telford_mike]

Did mine at the Island Cruising Club at Salcombe last year. Nice boat (Delphia 37) and very good instructor (Richard Salt). From Salcombe we visited Plymouth, Fowey, Newton Ferrers and Plymouth again. Highly recommended.

http://www.icc-salcombe.co.uk/course-catalogue/go-yachting.html

 

[andytrombone]

I did mine with Cornish Cruising out of Falmouth this year. Good instructors (max. ratio 4:1), good range of boats and fantastic cruising grounds.

 

[mlthomas]

Not sure where your looking to do the training. I am booked with Second Wind (Troon) for the CS next March as I have completed both DS and CS power with them and they were good (have DS sail)
Family business, really care about what they do.
We did all our courses in the Clyde which is a really great place , loads of good ports etc. and some good passage planning.
Where ever you do it, enjoy.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Do you have any particular in mind? There are loads of options in the Solent, some better than others.

 

[pendlecats]

I did mine with Cornish Cruising out of Falmouth this year. Good instructors (max. ratio 4:1), good range of boats and fantastic cruising grounds.

Couldn't agree more

 

[sonic]

Try Geronimo Sailing School, Clyde Marina, Ardrossan on the Firth of Clyde
www.geronimosailingschool.com

 

[planteater]

I used BOSS in the Solent for Comp crew and Hamble Sailing school for Day Skipper. Both were very good although day Skipper was 6:1 ratio. In many ways the higher ratio made for a more relaxed 5 days.

 

[sky7liner]

I did mine early in October with RU Sailing on the Algarve (Lagos). Excellent boat; excellent tuition; even had a cabin to myself.

 

[kdband]

Did mine last May with Conway scool of Yachting and would definitely recommend them.
Their ratio is normally 4:1 but I took my two lads along to do their competent crew and the 4th member had all the relevant qualifications and was hoping to become a full time trainer himself. He was on-board to be observed in the way he taught, effectively our ratio became 3:2 but as they pointed out I was the only one doing DS whereas it's not uncommon to have 4 people on board all taking the same qualification and having to share the opportunities to skipper the boat. I was often getting 1:1 training with one of the trainers while the other one was working with my lads.
I felt permanently under pressure but learned a massive amount in a very short time.
It might be worth asking what the student mix is likely to be, it could make a difference if you can get on a course where not everyone is doing DS.

 

[2nd Wind]

Try Geronimo Sailing School, Clyde Marina, Ardrossan on the Firth of Clyde
www.geronimosailingschool.com

Now, now Harry. Let's behave and state our involvment.