Day Skipper v Yacht Master

[dufour27]

Hello All,

I'm about to sit the Day Skipper course (theory).

I'm then thinking of tackling the Day Skipper course...

I have been told it's quite a big step up - is it worth doing, and if so, why?

Happy Sailing!

 

[photodog]

Easy peasy. No problem do it.

 

[Reverend Ludd]

Have you got that right?
Didn't you mean YM practical ?

 

[timbartlett]

Hello All,

I'm about to sit the Day Skipper course (theory).

I'm then thinking of tackling the Day Skipper course...

I have been told it's quite a big step up - is it worth doing, and if so, why?

Happy Sailing!

Two different (but related) things.
The Shore-based course (not "theory", please ... it's all good practical stuff, but it happens to be stuff that can be taught in a classroom) tends to major on navigation.
The "Practical" course majors on the bits that can only be covered in a real boat -- eg boat-handling.

Different peoplefinddifferent bits easier or more difficult but the two fit together like gin and tonic or fish and chips -- neither is half as good without the other.

 

[dufour27]

My plan is to sit the theory, do the 5day "practical course" then go onto the yacht master - however trying to find out if worth the cost/hassle....

I'm only really planning on racing around the cans in the bay and a couple of trips a year from the Isle of Man to Ireland/Scotland...

 

[Reverend Ludd]

I doubt it but why not.
Do the 5 day practical and see how you feel.
The YM shorebased will be much the same as the DS but with a ittle more content and detail, that would be worth a go. The YM practicle umm maybe maybe not.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

My plan is to sit the theory, do the 5day "practical course" then go onto the yacht master - however trying to find out if worth the cost/hassle....

I'm only really planning on racing around the cans in the bay and a couple of trips a year from the Isle of Man to Ireland/Scotland...

You should do the Day Skipper Shore Based Course, then the Day Skipper Course, followed by the Coastal Skipper Yachtmaster Offshore Shore Based Course. For example do this over a year (if you have the time and funds) winter, summer, winter. In between go sailing and practice your skills. This should easily set you up to navigate and handle a boat confidently.

http://www.rya.org.uk/COURSESTRAINING/COURSES/Pages/default.aspx

 

[webcraft]

Hello All,

I'm about to sit the Day Skipper course (theory).

I'm then thinking of tackling the Day Skipper course...

I have been told it's quite a big step up - is it worth doing, and if so, why?

Happy Sailing!

Do the DS theory then the DS practical, then spend a couple of years sailing before you decide whether or not to do any more - unless getting as many course completion certificates or tickets as possible is more important to you than actually sailing.

- W

 

[blackbeard]

You won't be able to qualify as YM until you have a lot of experience recorded in your log book; and, there is little point in doing YM (either shore-based or practical) until you have that experience.
If you are restricted in terms of time available for sailing, this could take some years.
The really important thing - DS gives you the basic knowledge and ability to go out and enjoy your sailing.
Meanwhile, look up (try RYA web site) requirements for YM, also see threads on this topic in this forum.

 

[Sandy]

A lot will depend on what you want to do. If the majority of your time is racing then the DS will be fine, just make sure you 'work up' all your skills before doing a longer passage, I'll agree with Reverend Ludd the theory course would be a good idea.

 

[lustyd]

You should do the Day Skipper Shore Based Course, then the Day Skipper Course, followed by the Coastal Skipper Yachtmaster Offshore Shore Based Course. For example do this over a year (if you have the time and funds) winter, summer, winter. In between go sailing and practice your skills. This should easily set you up to navigate and handle a boat confidently.

http://www.rya.org.uk/COURSESTRAINING/COURSES/Pages/default.aspx

I would highly recommend booking the DS practical for winter. It's cheaper and you get sailing experience which is worth while. Admittedly this year there were a few summer weeks with good "experience weather" but you won't learn a lot with F4 all week. As it's a skippers course the idea is to be prepared for what you as skipper may see. Obviously it's also a week of your holiday but I had a cracking time on my DS and CS courses in November and February. just make sure that the boat has heating

 

[Barnacle Bill]

My plan is to sit the theory, do the 5day "practical course" then go onto the yacht master - however trying to find out if worth the cost/hassle....

I'm only really planning on racing around the cans in the bay and a couple of trips a year from the Isle of Man to Ireland/Scotland...

Once you've done the DS practical course, you'll have been shown all the essentials for day sailing. Then build up your skippering experience - doing more courses isn't nearly as useful as experience in the short term.

Then if you want to become more adventurous, a) learn more theory, esp. for night sailing, lights shapes etc, possibly (but not necessarily) with the CS/YM Shorebased course, and b) go on a Coastal Skipper Practical course - which is aimed at skippers with some experience who want to raise their game.

The Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Shorebased course may be a bit of a red herring - it's only theory, there's a substantial overlap with the DS Shorebased for revision purposes, and don't be mislead by the "Yachtmaster" label - you are not a Yachtmaster when you have done this shorebased course!

 

[Deleted member 36384]

..... The Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Shorebased course may be a bit of a red herring - it's only theory, there's a substantial overlap with the DS Shorebased for revision purposes .....

The overlap (and expansion of the subject detail) is the point though in the CSYM shore based. The scheme is designed to provide the best learning transfer experience following a theory - practical - theory routine. The second so called theory in the routine being the CSYM shore based. The scheme is also flexible enough for the courses to be standalone and independent of one another.

My observations have been that folks overestimate their abilities and miss the crucial grounding from the DS Shore Based and as such the YMCS Shore Based does not fulfil its purpose as good as it could have. Similarly DS Shore Based only does not deliver a well rounded sailor without the "revision" of the CSYM shore based.

With today's electronic aids to navigation savvy sailors, non electronic navigation skills do not get the practice they deserve, hence, in my opinion, the two shore based courses are even more critical. Similar with weather interpretation skills.

Just my thoughts on why I think both are necessary if a novice chooses the RYA tuition route.

 

[telford_mike]

I did DS and then immediately went on to the YM shore based course. I found it a great way to consolidate what I had learned on DS. I didn't do the DS practical until I had completed both, and I found the practical much easier than it might have been because I was so comfortable with nav, tidal heights, colregs etc. I think the YM shored based course has real value whether or not you intend to become a 'real' Yachtmaster.

 

[peterb]

The Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Shorebased course may be a bit of a red herring - it's only theory, there's a substantial overlap with the DS Shorebased for revision purposes, and don't be mislead by the "Yachtmaster" label - you are not a Yachtmaster when you have done this shorebased course!

Can we get the (new) terminology straight? The term 'Yachtmaster' is only applied to Certificates of Competence, and these can only be obtained by practical examination at sea. The courses (shore-based or practical) are Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper, and neither is called Yachtmaster any more. But there are now three grades of Yachtmaster: YM Coastal (the old Coastal Skipper), YM Offshore and YM Ocean.

The problem is that some of the schools (particularly shorebased) haven't caught up with the new terminology!

 

[Reverend Ludd]

I did DS and then immediately went on to the YM shore based course. I found it a great way to consolidate what I had learned on DS. I didn't do the DS practical until I had completed both, and I found the practical much easier than it might have been because I was so comfortable with nav, tidal heights, colregs etc. I think the YM shored based course has real value whether or not you intend to become a 'real' Yachtmaster.

+1

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Can we get the (new) terminology straight? ....

http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/courses/navigation/Pages/Coastalskipper.aspx

Only when the RYA get it straight! That page was published in December 2009. So students look for courses perhaps on the RYA web site, and then ask training centres, who find it easier to use the old terminology.

 

[webcraft]

The problem is that some of the schools (particularly shorebased) haven't caught up with the new terminology!

Yes- including the RYA website I'm afraid!

(Sorry - didn't notice the post above where the point has already been made)

- W

 

[Doug_Stormforce]

Can we get the (new) terminology straight? The term 'Yachtmaster' is only applied to Certificates of Competence, and these can only be obtained by practical examination at sea. The courses (shore-based or practical) are Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper, and neither is called Yachtmaster any more. But there are now three grades of Yachtmaster: YM Coastal (the old Coastal Skipper), YM Offshore and YM Ocean.

The problem is that some of the schools (particularly shorebased) haven't caught up with the new terminology!

I am afraid that is not quite right. The schools for the most part are up to date. There is still and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a shorebased course called the Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased. For short this is generally referred to as the Yachtmaster shorebased. The "Yachtmaster" name has not been removed from the shorebased course title as suggested above.

You are of course correct about the name change of the practical qualification.

 

[webcraft]

I am afraid that is not quite right. The schools for the most part are up to date. There is still and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a shorebased course called the Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased. For short this is generally referred to as the Yachtmaster shorebased. The "Yachtmaster" name has not been removed from the shorebased course title as suggested above.

You are of course correct about the name change of the practical qualification.

Certainly from browsing around the web this seems right. I thought it had been explained to me by a very senior RYA figure only this week that the word yachtmaster would from now on ONLY refer to the (examined) tickets, but it seems I may have misunderstood.

Personally I think it would be a good idea if the word yachtmaster did only refer to examined qualifications.

- W