Getting experince for YM Offshore: charter or milebuilding course?

laika said:
I could not agree with this more although my opinion is possibly coloured by a lack of self-confidence (unlike many in the sailing fraternity) which has only been overcome by getting used to being the one responsible for not getting everyone killed.

Before buying a boat I recall looking at the price of chartering from the hamble and it seemed ridiculously expensive compared with med bareboat charter (so I never personally did it) but if you've got friends to spread it between then you won't get any better experience anywhere.

Crossing the channel in summer in a decent sized boat doesn't require anyone to stand a night watch. A cruise of the channel islands is also a plausible sell to friends as an enticing holiday idea. 2 big 60nm+ passages, some hugely technical tidal sailing and bragging rights for having visited sark and herm which the average non-sailing bloke in the pub hasn't even heard of. What's not to like?

A brief google for qualifications required to charter cross channel seems to say coastal skipper is fine, although one mentioned that a mate with at least day skipper was required.
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Well worth crossing Channel at night, arriving at dawn & full day ashore in the Hypermarket.
 
Gedimin said:
Thank you for all your replies! It was very useful to hear all pros and cons, which were quite varied.

Most likely I will go for a milebuilding course to get this extra experience from much more skilled person (YM Ocean Instructor). All courses in the past gave me big boosts in knowledge. It seems like a good thing to do when you don't have too much time off work.

In addition to this, I will also start chartering yachts from Solent and Clyde on weekends to build my very own experience of being in charge. I have chartered yachts myself in the Med and remember how satisfying it was and what a different experience it is compared to when you have someone more skilled on board with you. It should be much easier to get crew together for a weekend sail rather then full week, plus UK ports are within easy reach unlike continental ones.

On this note, can someone recommend charter companies in the UK (does not matter where) who are open through the winter (here in Scotland many are closed) and will not completely rob me?
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YM Ocean Instructor doesn't necessarily = "much more skilled", there are a lot of skilled instructors out there without this ticket, who have plenty of experience.
 
iLens said:
Hamble Point Yacht Charters - http://www.yacht-charter.co.uk
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+1. When I was racing much more frequently it wasn't worthwhile owning my own boat, so I used to charter a lot to go cruising. I tried loads of companies and found HPYC the best.

For the OP: They are very fussy about the condition of the boat so if you ding it they'll charge, but the boats are handed over in good condition and are well looked after. They however only charge at cost and seem to be able to get stuff done very cheaply (for example one of my crew put a lifejacket in a full washbasin and they charged me for the replacement cylinder at a lower cost than I'd ever seen online).

They are some cowboy companies out there, so until you get to know them make sure you record everything you can about the condition of the boat at handover. With modern smart phones it's very easy to film the boat inside and out.
 
Gedimin said:
Thank you for all your replies! It was very useful to hear all pros and cons, which were quite varied.

Most likely I will go for a milebuilding course to get this extra experience from much more skilled person (YM Ocean Instructor). All courses in the past gave me big boosts in knowledge. It seems like a good thing to do when you don't have too much time off work.

In addition to this, I will also start chartering yachts from Solent and Clyde on weekends to build my very own experience of being in charge. I have chartered yachts myself in the Med and remember how satisfying it was and what a different experience it is compared to when you have someone more skilled on board with you. It should be much easier to get crew together for a weekend sail rather then full week, plus UK ports are within easy reach unlike continental ones.

On this note, can someone recommend charter companies in the UK (does not matter where) who are open through the winter (here in Scotland many are closed) and will not completely rob me?
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A sound plan. Going with a school for the longer passages means you haven't got the hassle and cost of the charter, and the instructor will help you identify any shortcomings.

Try Solent Boat Training https://www.solentboattraining.co.u...master-sail-practical-course-exam-preparation.

Well maintained boats, reasonable prices, and options to charter after you've done the course and they are comfortable with your capability.
 
TallBuoy said:
A sound plan. Going with a school for the longer passages means you haven't got the hassle and cost of the charter, and the instructor will help you identify any shortcomings.

Try Solent Boat Training https://www.solentboattraining.co.u...master-sail-practical-course-exam-preparation.

Well maintained boats, reasonable prices, and options to charter after you've done the course and they are comfortable with your capability.
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It also means you don't have the 'hassle' of actually taking responsibility for the boat, which is the object of the exercise.
 
laika said:
Crossing the channel in summer in a decent sized boat doesn't require anyone to stand a night watch.
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alant said:
Well worth crossing Channel at night, arriving at dawn & full day ashore in the Hypermarket.
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unless I was addressing the OP's concerns, which I was trying to do :-)

Gedimin said:
Cons:
[...]
- hard to find friends who are capable of standing a night watch and willing to do so on their holidays
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Not mentioned so far is the possibility of using a crewing service. For instance, Cruising Association members often sail with just two aboard - and many prefer a third crew member to stand watch on overnight trips, or passages to and from more distant cruising grounds.

Great for mile building, and excellent value, since the costs are just £22.50 to join the crew service, and on board, most skippers just run a kitty for on-board expenses (food and drink, and maybe berthing). You don't pay for a sharing the boat!

A few years back I used the service a lot, and have made some great friends. Three couples bought their own boats over time, and when I sold up, asked me aboard for their passage making. You can see the blurb about the CA crew service at https://www.theca.org.uk/public/crewing
 
I always understood that being successfully assessed as a YM was as much about demonstrating the ability to manage a crew as having sailed the miles etc.

Sailing under different skippers is always good experience of different 'management' styles, as much as boat handling and sail trim techniques, approaches to passage planning and navigation, responses when things go teats-up, whether victuals are to be regarded simply as fuel or as a life-affirming art, etc. This can happen as a single mate or as part of full crew, and it'll differ on an offshore race or long-distance delivery to crawling leisurely around a heavily-indentured tidal coastline.

Ultimately, though, there's nothing like stepping aboard knowing that - whatever the boat, the crew and the passage - you're responsible for the whole lot.

My advice would be to continue to do all three - crewing, courses and skippering a charter. Your own skippering style and skills-set will develop as you gain more experience.

My own style is to 'make everything as easy and enjoyable as possible for myself and my whole crew', down to the weakest element... although this might be different if I was a commercial delivery skipper on a deadline!
 
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