Day Skipper Shorebased/Practical in Canary Islands

[nigelmercier]

I've tried a couple of Day Skipper Shorebased correspondence courses, and none of them meets the high standard I am used to from the Open University. So I'm planning on doing a combined Shorebased and Practical Day Skipper course in the Canary Islands. I chose this location for the weather, because it is tidal, and because I plan to move my boat there next year.

Can anyone recommend a good school there?

 

[mph]

I'd have no hasitation in recomending Clubsail based at Las Gallietas on the SE coast of Tenerefe (very near to the airport)
They have good facilities, a good selection of yachts and excellent tuition standards.
I spent 3 weeks with them last year doing my YM and didn't want to leave afterwards!!

 

[lancelot]

D. Skip/ Canaries

I've tried a couple of Day Skipper Shorebased correspondence courses, and none of them meets the high standard I am used to from the Open University. So I'm planning on doing a combined Shorebased and Practical Day Skipper course in the Canary Islands. I chose this location for the weather, because it is tidal, and because I plan to move my boat there next year.

Can anyone recommend a good school there?

I studied with the OU. and also enjoyed my two correspondence courses with Yachmaster Academy.
Also, Endeavour sailing school in Puerto Calero, Lanzarote. My wife and I enjoyed a hard week there, sailing between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura last Easter. SWMBO. was so impressed we are going back next Easter. You are guaranteed wind there.
Fair winds,
Lancelot

 

[jbweston]

I did my day Skipper and Coastal Skipper practical courses with CanarySail in La Gomera, Canaries. Also I went back for one of the milebuilder cruise weeks before doing my Yachtmaster exam back in the UK. They have high professional standards and are very welcoming. I recommend them wholeheartedly.

http://www.canarysail.com/

I didn't use them for theory courses, as I did these by distance learning in the UK. I believe they do theory courses now, I just haven't used them.

One of the things that I found really good about Canary Sail was that they picked their instructors for their abilty to teach and their love of sailing. In a couple of cases I know about, they spotted keen sailors whom they thought would make good instructors and encouraged them to go away to get instructor qualifications and then come back to work for them. So they aren't just young people instructing to earn dosh until they can move on to what they think is a better job.

It's interesting what you say about having experienced the OU and not had similar standards from correspondence courses. The problem is that many of the people who write materials for and teach on correspondence courses don't have the training, experience, support and supervision that are normal in a good university environment. Some are good, some not so. Universities and many sorts of professional training are more highly developed and consistent.

However, the competences for distance learning are not the same as for hands on practical training, and I think this may be why some sailing schools and training institutions specialise in one or the tother. To take an obvious exmaple, written materials are vital for theory courses and could be created by someone who isn't brilliant at getting on with people, but patience, enthusiasm and abilty to rub along with the students are as important as knowledge on a practical course. I'm sure some schools can manage both, but plainly it's harder than being good in just one field.

 

[starfire]

Interesting comments about CanarySail.

One of their ex instructors now owns tiller.co.uk, Pete taught me more about sailing & boat management in a week than the rest of time I have been sailing.

One of their 'keen sailors' is now chief instructor at anoher school.


Recommendation,

well I'm off back there in a couple of weeks for my 10th or 11th trip, including courses, mileage & charters, this time not to learn anything, just to have some more fun.


Need I say more ?

 

[nigelmercier]

I've been in contact with all the schools mentioned, plus a couple more. CanarySail were certainly the most helpful, and although they may be slightly more expensive, their courses are longer. One school (whom I will not name) said I could do the combined course in a week!

Booked with CanarySail, 5 November.

Thanks to all.