georgeo
New member
There is no doubt, but that the subject of fast track yachtmaster
training still arouse considerable passions as evidenced by the
response to my previous thread. The results of my poll was pretty
convincing, so in parts, I will recount various thoughts and experiences
related to my time with Flying Fish on such a course. This will
definitely not be a blow by blow account but hopefully an objective
view of the plusses (many) and minusses (a few), which may be of
help specifically to people who are contemplating such a course. I
would point out that i did this course in 2003 and many things may have changed since then,
specifically, i believe, the accommodation and the boats. FF in those days did not have
there own
UK based fleet, nor permanent accommodation for the course, I
believe both these concerns have now been addressed.
My reasons for doing the course were many and varied. I had recently
'had a change in circumstances', and felt the need to get away for a
while. This coincided, fortunately with an overdue allocation of
sabbatical leave, which, fortunately, did not have to be spent doing
boring work related things. I had alway had an interest in matters nautical, being an avid
bass fisherman, but knew nothing about
yachts and sailing. Considering where I live, i had always felt this
to be an opportunity missed. Now was the time to address this. So
with no further experience other than one week end trip to Dielette
with a friend to ensure I did not get too sea sick (!), I signed up.
22/06/03 saw me, along with 11 others, arriving at Rockley park to
start the course. If you look at the FF web site, you will probably
gather that they have spotted a niche in the market, and their client
base seems, in order of numbers, to be 1) gap year youngsters, both
pre and post university, 2) 20 -30 somethings, not sure where their
day jobs were taking them and looking for a break or an alternative
career (and it was surprising to me how many IT people fell into this
category. says it all really!), and finally me and one belgian guy,
who ticked the late lifer experience box! Apart from the Belgian guy,
Europe was also represented by a very pleasant Norwegian couple. Most
people were self funding, often through considerable sacrifice. Some
of the gappers had obviously had their fees paid for by daddy,
probably to get them out of the house! One girl had however, asked
for the course as an 18th birthday present from her parents. "I
wanted something worthwhile as an 18th present rather than a bit of
frippery" (paraphrased obviously). A very sensible girl for whom I
developed considerable respect as the course went on.
I wont bore you with details of the initial part of the course,
which has been described ad nauseum elsewhere. Briefly training
alternated between class room and practical, covering the short
certificates (diesel, first aid etc), a very worthwhile survival
course, power boat level 2, and yacht based courses, competent crew
from the Hamble, and Day skipper practical from Cowes. Life at
Rockley was interesting. The basic accommodation (caravans!) actually
helped camaraderie in the face of adversity, perhaps stretched
somewhat too far, when we moved into even more basic schoolkid orientated
accommodation at the RYA centre. Staff on the first part of the
course were either the Rockley based RYA instructors, or freelancers
brought in. The quality of the freelancers was variable. The guy who
took the dayskipper theory was absolutely excellent, but regrettably
I dont have a record of his name. On the water, I noted that the
skippers seemed to spend an awful lot of time below on their mobiles,
either fixing their next contracts or chatting to their mates. There
was also no urgency to get going in the morning. I record departure
times always between 10 and 11, and we were nearly always back in
time for the pubs. Which brings me to a recurring theme as will be
seen subsequently. Booze. Now I like a drink as much as anyone else,
but there seems to be a major drinking habit in much of the freelance
yachting profession. I can understand this to an extent, they are out
with clients all day, they want a drink when they get in, the instructor feels
the need to go with them, but what starts as customer relations turns
into every night in the pub at 6 until throw out time. Probably in
part explains the late starts the next morning. I was not the only
person to think this, one of the other 30ish group also felt the
same, and we started adopting an alternate night booze free policy.
This certainly did not stop me getting legless when i felt the time
was right, specifically after a heavy night in Poole celebrating the
end of the first part of the course, but I fear for some of these
guys livers later in life.
The practical sailing, with the provisos, went OK. The boats were
chartered X332s (I believe FF now have their own fleet of Dehlers)
and OK for the task in mind.
So, at the end of the first phase, from nothing, I now had some idea of how diesels work,
knew the basics of sea survival, could handle a small powered vessel, was trained to
competent crew level, had passed day skipper theory, and had ticked most of the boxes off
for day skiper practical. Our group of 12 had developed a good level of camaraderie, and we
had had a lot of laughs and good times. Cant say fairer than that really. on the down side,
I had my doubts about some of the freelance instructors employed. One instance says it all.
We had been practising mooring up to buoys in Portsmouth harbour. The plan was to return to
Cowes in the evening. The wind started to get up. By the time we left pompeii it was
probably an 8 and the max wind speed we recorded was 40 knots. I was at the helm as we left
the lee of Haslar and watched aghast as the 2 yachts in front of us were flattened. On we
went and I have to say the next 30 mins or so were exciting to say the least, compounded by
the genny unfurling and leaving us hopelessly overpowered. Why the skipper did not luff up
to regain control i dont know. Our 2 companion boats turned about and headed back. We
ploughed on, and I did not know why. The answer became only too clear when we eventually
made Cowes. The skipper was due to meet intending clients in the Anchor that night and also
I believe receive his pay cheque. Nuff said.
Not withstanding this and other minor episodes, i was well satisfied with the first part.
We were about to start the second part of the course, based in Cowes. This part was all
under the auspices of directly employed FF instructors and things would be very different.
Part 2 to follow soon (ish!).
PS apologies for the different spacings etc. This entry was cobbled together at different times and places and on differing machines
training still arouse considerable passions as evidenced by the
response to my previous thread. The results of my poll was pretty
convincing, so in parts, I will recount various thoughts and experiences
related to my time with Flying Fish on such a course. This will
definitely not be a blow by blow account but hopefully an objective
view of the plusses (many) and minusses (a few), which may be of
help specifically to people who are contemplating such a course. I
would point out that i did this course in 2003 and many things may have changed since then,
specifically, i believe, the accommodation and the boats. FF in those days did not have
there own
UK based fleet, nor permanent accommodation for the course, I
believe both these concerns have now been addressed.
My reasons for doing the course were many and varied. I had recently
'had a change in circumstances', and felt the need to get away for a
while. This coincided, fortunately with an overdue allocation of
sabbatical leave, which, fortunately, did not have to be spent doing
boring work related things. I had alway had an interest in matters nautical, being an avid
bass fisherman, but knew nothing about
yachts and sailing. Considering where I live, i had always felt this
to be an opportunity missed. Now was the time to address this. So
with no further experience other than one week end trip to Dielette
with a friend to ensure I did not get too sea sick (!), I signed up.
22/06/03 saw me, along with 11 others, arriving at Rockley park to
start the course. If you look at the FF web site, you will probably
gather that they have spotted a niche in the market, and their client
base seems, in order of numbers, to be 1) gap year youngsters, both
pre and post university, 2) 20 -30 somethings, not sure where their
day jobs were taking them and looking for a break or an alternative
career (and it was surprising to me how many IT people fell into this
category. says it all really!), and finally me and one belgian guy,
who ticked the late lifer experience box! Apart from the Belgian guy,
Europe was also represented by a very pleasant Norwegian couple. Most
people were self funding, often through considerable sacrifice. Some
of the gappers had obviously had their fees paid for by daddy,
probably to get them out of the house! One girl had however, asked
for the course as an 18th birthday present from her parents. "I
wanted something worthwhile as an 18th present rather than a bit of
frippery" (paraphrased obviously). A very sensible girl for whom I
developed considerable respect as the course went on.
I wont bore you with details of the initial part of the course,
which has been described ad nauseum elsewhere. Briefly training
alternated between class room and practical, covering the short
certificates (diesel, first aid etc), a very worthwhile survival
course, power boat level 2, and yacht based courses, competent crew
from the Hamble, and Day skipper practical from Cowes. Life at
Rockley was interesting. The basic accommodation (caravans!) actually
helped camaraderie in the face of adversity, perhaps stretched
somewhat too far, when we moved into even more basic schoolkid orientated
accommodation at the RYA centre. Staff on the first part of the
course were either the Rockley based RYA instructors, or freelancers
brought in. The quality of the freelancers was variable. The guy who
took the dayskipper theory was absolutely excellent, but regrettably
I dont have a record of his name. On the water, I noted that the
skippers seemed to spend an awful lot of time below on their mobiles,
either fixing their next contracts or chatting to their mates. There
was also no urgency to get going in the morning. I record departure
times always between 10 and 11, and we were nearly always back in
time for the pubs. Which brings me to a recurring theme as will be
seen subsequently. Booze. Now I like a drink as much as anyone else,
but there seems to be a major drinking habit in much of the freelance
yachting profession. I can understand this to an extent, they are out
with clients all day, they want a drink when they get in, the instructor feels
the need to go with them, but what starts as customer relations turns
into every night in the pub at 6 until throw out time. Probably in
part explains the late starts the next morning. I was not the only
person to think this, one of the other 30ish group also felt the
same, and we started adopting an alternate night booze free policy.
This certainly did not stop me getting legless when i felt the time
was right, specifically after a heavy night in Poole celebrating the
end of the first part of the course, but I fear for some of these
guys livers later in life.
The practical sailing, with the provisos, went OK. The boats were
chartered X332s (I believe FF now have their own fleet of Dehlers)
and OK for the task in mind.
So, at the end of the first phase, from nothing, I now had some idea of how diesels work,
knew the basics of sea survival, could handle a small powered vessel, was trained to
competent crew level, had passed day skipper theory, and had ticked most of the boxes off
for day skiper practical. Our group of 12 had developed a good level of camaraderie, and we
had had a lot of laughs and good times. Cant say fairer than that really. on the down side,
I had my doubts about some of the freelance instructors employed. One instance says it all.
We had been practising mooring up to buoys in Portsmouth harbour. The plan was to return to
Cowes in the evening. The wind started to get up. By the time we left pompeii it was
probably an 8 and the max wind speed we recorded was 40 knots. I was at the helm as we left
the lee of Haslar and watched aghast as the 2 yachts in front of us were flattened. On we
went and I have to say the next 30 mins or so were exciting to say the least, compounded by
the genny unfurling and leaving us hopelessly overpowered. Why the skipper did not luff up
to regain control i dont know. Our 2 companion boats turned about and headed back. We
ploughed on, and I did not know why. The answer became only too clear when we eventually
made Cowes. The skipper was due to meet intending clients in the Anchor that night and also
I believe receive his pay cheque. Nuff said.
Not withstanding this and other minor episodes, i was well satisfied with the first part.
We were about to start the second part of the course, based in Cowes. This part was all
under the auspices of directly employed FF instructors and things would be very different.
Part 2 to follow soon (ish!).
PS apologies for the different spacings etc. This entry was cobbled together at different times and places and on differing machines
