Day Skipper recommendations, please

[bozlite]

My OH and I are planning on doing the Day Skipper theory online over the winter. Has anyone done it this way? Any recommended courses? The one from Mendez Marine looks good. Has anyone done this one?

Also, we're planning on doing the practical course next Spring - in early/mid April (for my 50th!) and we're hoping to combine it with a holiday somewhere nice and warm. Any suggestions? Portugal, perhaps, or the Canaries? Anyone got any recommendations?

 

[Baddox]

I did the Coastal/Offshore theory “no-support” course through this company http://www.centaursailing.com/ and found it pretty good without having anything else to compare it to.
Asking about the Day Sipper practical course on here brought a mixture of replies including recommendations for Cornish Cruising; I’ll find out what they are like this summer. Portugal and the Canaries were other options considered as they are warmer that the UK but have tidal water for the DS endorsement.
Good luck.

 

[lisilou]

I've done the on-line DS theory and the practical with Mendez. Thoroughly recommend them. The feedback was great. Really enjoyed doing both.
L

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I've also done a couple of RYA courses with Mendez, they are excellent. I did my Yachtmaster practical in the south of France with Oceanpro, and again I'd recommend Phil and his team.

http://www.mendezmarine.co.uk/

http://www.oceanpro.co.uk/

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Gentlemanracer]

Done powerboat intermediate (own boat plus two crew) plus day skipper theory (on line) and 4 day /1night practical with Mr Mendez, all worked well. SWMBO did 10m ICC 3day, same school, same answer!

 

[Dave99]

Tiller have quite a good online course. Centaur sailing is the cheapest last time I did a bit of research

 

[bozlite]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll look further at Mendez for the online course, I think - they seem to be well-respected.

Am I right in thinking that a Day Skipper practical taken in the Med wouldn't have the tidal endorsement? If so, any suggestions for where we could go? Has anyone had any experience of Seamaster Training in Lanzarote? (http://www.seamaster-trainingcentre.com).

 

[lisilou]

Hi Bozlite, why not drop Jon Mendez an e-mail, he'll no doubt be able to advise you regarding the Med aswell.
L

 

[Mike k]

I recommend Chichester Maritime- excellent for me!

 

[andy maxime]

My wife and I did the course on our boat with an RYA instructor rom Port Grimaud in SoF

I can supply the boat ,the instructor and a villa if you are interested at a reasonable cost. Did it in september for someone who had chartered the boat for the day earlier in the year and got the bug

 

[adey]

I did mine at evening classes at the local college. Might be worth checking locally if any still do it?
Even if you can't get it cheap this way I'd still consider doing evening classes. You've got time and there's a fair bit to learn. No need to cram it into five days IMHO.

 

[Griffin Marine]

http://www.navathome.com/tryit/rya_online.aspx?heading=griheading.gif&logo=grilogo.gif
We are offering buy one get the second half price if any good to you .
Tim

 

[PCUK]

Never heard of this before so had a look. My impression is very expensive and not actually on-line.

 

[lisilou]

Never heard of this before so had a look. My impression is very expensive and not actually on-line.

??

 

[powerskipper]

You are sent a pack, the Day skipper pack you would get for a classroom course. some is on line, some on charts, but answers sent online, you have an instructor assigned to you who will help on the end of a phone or via email.

 

[capnsensible]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll look further at Mendez for the online course, I think - they seem to be well-respected.

Am I right in thinking that a Day Skipper practical taken in the Med wouldn't have the tidal endorsement? If so, any suggestions for where we could go? Has anyone had any experience of Seamaster Training in Lanzarote? (http://www.seamaster-trainingcentre.com).

I know them both as friends and work colleagues. Excellent instruction out of Rubicon Marina.

I would recommend them without hesitation!

 

[lisilou]

As Julie says, you get the pack through the post and are then given a password to log onto the course on-line. All your module answers are submitted on-line to the training centre. You get feedback from the training centre via e-mail. It's a great course for those, like me, who can't set aside the block of time required for the classroom course. Thoroughy enjoyable to do and you'll learn a lot more than perhaps you thought you might. It's quite amazing what has sunk in (no pun intended) when you come to do your practical.
L

 

[Hoopdriver]

I recommend Chichester Maritime- excellent for me!

+1

 

[bozlite]

I know them both as friends and work colleagues. Excellent instruction out of Rubicon Marina.

I would recommend them without hesitation!

Thanks for that recommendation. I had a really quick and helpful reply from Duncan Boycott at Seamaster so I think we'll go with them in April for the practical course. Think it'll be Mendez for the online theory.

Thanks again, everyone, for all the advice.

 

[lisilou]

Good stuff...enjoy. Oh and don't forget the pics
L