Getting into sailing, good comp crew courses in the uk?

[Ahoyhoy]

Hi folks

I’m Wanting to get into sailing, was looking at taking 5 days on a boat and then thought I may as well take the RYA competent crew course for a bit more structured learning and something to show for it at the end. My ultimate goal would be owning a small yacht (longer term) and would be great if I could pick up some work on boats as I’ve a bit of a career break coming up.

Sailboatproject.org offered a competent crew course over a long weekend, which would be ideal for me but unfortunately they seem to have stopped doing it. Does anyone know anyone that does similar ?
I would do Monday - Fri if there are some solid recommendations but I’m self employed so there’s an extra cost attached.

I also noted previous advice to get on a dinghy and learn water/wind from the ground up . Also going to be looking into that if I enjoy my time on the boat.

I’m in Derbyshire/Peak District , so I guess any location is as bad as any other - everywhere will be a hard slog to get to so I’m open to all uk recommendations (unless I’m mistaken there!)

 

[ylop]

All RYA competent crew courses are essentially run to the same standard, so should theoretically be equivalent. Many schools run 5 day blocks or 2 weekends (not necessarily consecutive) which might suit you? I’m sure I did dayskipper Fri-Tue but don’t know if that was the norm at that school - just checked their website and fully booked for rest of the season.

Having said they should all be the same - I don’t think they are. Think about the size of the boat you will learn on v what you will sail, the number of people on board (if you are likely to be just a couple learning to sail with six is not necessary teaching you what you need - the opposite is also true). Who the instructor is matters more than the school (although obviously many schools will have a style of instructor they “favour”). Think about where you are ultimately going to sail. If you want to be in the busy solent learning there might be a good idea rather than somewhere that lots of other traffic is unusual. If feeling like you are on holiday when you get to port matters - perhaps Falmouth/Salcome direction. If you want to sail on the east coast getting used to muddy drying harbours might be more useful. If you want to sail somewhere picturesque then the clyde would be a sensible start but its tidal ranges and currents are not crazy so if you want that experience perhaps N Wales of Oban would be better. If you don’t know then consider different areas for CC and Day Skipper when the time comes.

Instructors come in quite a range of styles from a 20 something who has just passed a “zero to hero” crash course and is in their first year of instructing, to the salty old sea dog who had been barking orders for 50 years and believes there is one right way to do everything. Personally I’d avoid both of them if you can but some people will respond better to one of those. Large schools you may have no idea who the instructor is until you arrive.

 

[ionbard]

SailingIntuition based out of Largs (Clyde) are excellent. Owner/ instructor is v experienced both as instructor and skipper of a round the world race boat. He’s a talented communicator and teacher. And the Clyde/ west coast, where his trips are, is a fab sailing area.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

My wife was very happy with the Competent Crew course from East Anglian Sea School.

 

[SaltyC]

Competent crew is an introduction to yachting. All schools running the courses are using the same syllabus, as stated previously, it is all about the instructor. From Derbyshire, East Coast ( Suffolk), Solent, Nth Wales, Clyde are similar distance and travelling times, so choose one you would like to do - there are pros and cons to ALL. At this level it is about the experience,living in close quarters, working as a team and enjoying the experience.

If you enjoy, living in Derbyshire - nearly as far from the sea as you can get! It might be an idea to enroll in the RYA level 1 and 2 dinghy course at a local club, is Carsington water a commercial provider? In 2 weekends ( RYA level 1 & 2) you will learn more about pure sailing than on the comp crew which will stand you in good stead for Day Skipper.

 

[suffolklass]

I would say do the Comp Crew where you most desire to sail in the future - it'll be a good introduction to the area and give you an appetite for future trips. We're in Yorkshire and our future plans involve sailing on the West coast of Scotland, so I've just done a Day Skipper Course up there. I'd second @ionbard recommendation as I also used Sailing Intuition and the course was brilliant (had a different instructor to Daniel but he always uses the same few people and they all get v positive reviews).

 

[Sandy]

As a Scottish emigrant I always recommend sailing in Scotland, as it is the best sailing in the known universe. I'm currently based in Plymouth and the West Country is a good second. I was recently sailing with a pal who had just returned from a week sailing from Largs and was just buzzing about the place.

Personally, I'd avoid the Solent as I find it tediously boring; I know that will not be the feeling of many.

 

[jac]

I would suggest Hamble School of Yachting. IIRC, they do a weekend introduction course Friday to Sunday then let you do 2 further weekends to get the Competent Crew ticket so might only need to take Friday afternoons off

 

[capnsensible]

As a Scottish emigrant I always recommend sailing in Scotland, as it is the best sailing in the known universe. I'm currently based in Plymouth and the West Country is a good second. I was recently sailing with a pal who had just returned from a week sailing from Largs and was just buzzing about the place.

Personally, I'd avoid the Solent as I find it tediously boring; I know that will not be the feeling of many.

For Scottish sailing, take wellies, plenty of layers of warm clothes, wet weather gear and gloves. If you go I any season other than summer, double up on that list.

 

[Graham376]

I would suggest Hamble School of Yachting. IIRC, they do a weekend introduction course Friday to Sunday then let you do 2 further weekends to get the Competent Crew ticket so might only need to take Friday afternoons off

I did mine with Hamble, a good many years ago. Plas Menai may suit the OP as N Wales not too far to travel to -

Sailing

 

[Sandy]

For Scottish sailing, take wellies, plenty of layers of warm clothes, wet weather gear and gloves. If you go I any season other than summer, double up on that list.

Sounds very like sailing anywhere in the UK this year especially!

I did miss my tee-shirt and shorts trip up the Portuguese coast this year. There is something special about stepping out on watch at 0300 UTC in warm weather.

To be honest I am rather a shorts die hard, perhaps it is wearing the kilt, and am in shorts all year.

 

[B27]

Years ago, I got a good deal booking last minute late season, beingself employed can be a good thing.

 

[[3889]]

If you enjoy, living in Derbyshire - nearly as far from the sea as you can get! It might be an idea to enroll in the RYA level 1 and 2 dinghy course at a local club, is Carsington water a commercial provider? In 2 weekends ( RYA level 1 & 2) you will learn more about pure sailing than on the comp crew which will stand you in good stead for Day Skipper.

Wot he said. You will learn far more about sailing (as opposed to handling a yacht) on a dinghy course than on a comp crew course.
I'm an RYA Cruising Instructor and own a boat but persuaded Mrs Q to take a dinghy course with the local club before embarking on the Yachtmaster scheme. If falling into cold UK water doesn't appeal then a holiday in Greece or the like is an option.

 

[TwoFish]

I would also guess that there's more flexibility in what's can be on offer than may initially be obvious from many schools' websites (particularly so with the smaller schools?). A school boat will typically have mixed abilities on board, some doing coastal or day skipper, some doing CC and maybe other stuff too. If you can 'make up the numbers' on board somewhere, that may work well for you and the school.

I had good experiences all round with the RYA scheme; Solent, then West County then west coast of Scotland. My heart says Scotland though; stunning and wonderfully uncongested sailing.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Access wise, I would look hard for options in North Wales. Plas Menai is certainly one.

Don't know exactly where you live, but from Hathersage, Port Dinorwic in N Wales is 2.5 hours, The Hamble is 4 hours and Largs on the Clyde is 5. Having said that, the run down to the Hamble is the most variable. From here, (slightly north of you), I always think the Hamble is 5 to 11 hours on average.

 

[steveeasy]

Am considering booing my day skipper practical on west Coast. Really don’t want to end up on a small boat with a real mixed crowd all doing different stuff. Skipper needs to be on the ball.

Steveeasy

 

[SaltyC]

Am considering booing my day skipper practical on west Coast. Really don’t want to end up on a small boat with a real mixed crowd all doing different stuff. Skipper needs to be on the ball.

Steveeasy

West Coast (Scotland) is a fantastic place to do Dazed Kipper.

Second sentence leaves me Confused.com???? Generally, there will be a mixed crew, Comp crew, Dazed Kippers and possibly YM. It is a skippers skill to assess abilities and bring out the best in all. However, my personal feelings are, smaller boat, less crew, therefore a less mixed crew BUT more importantly you get more 1to1 with the instructor. I appreciate there are 'ratios' I feel a smaller boat will give a better instructor to pupil ratio.

 

[steveeasy]

West Coast (Scotland) is a fantastic place to do Dazed Kipper.

Second sentence leaves me Confused.com???? Generally, there will be a mixed crew, Comp crew, Dazed Kippers and possibly YM. It is a skippers skill to assess abilities and bring out the best in all. However, my personal feelings are, smaller boat, less crew, therefore a less mixed crew BUT more importantly you get more 1to1 with the instructor. I appreciate there are 'ratios' I feel a smaller boat will give a better instructor to pupil ratio.

The mere thought horrifies me.

Steveeasy

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The mere thought horrifies me.

Steveeasy

I sympathize, but the point is that a person doing YM needs to have others on board to act as crew so that crew management skills can be learnt. So you will almost inevitably have a crew at various levels of skill and experience.

The only way you'll get the kind of experience you're looking for is own-boat tuition, which is offered by many sailing schools, but your boat has to be equipped to a minimum standard, and of course, be large enough to accommodate the tutor - I think the RYA put a limit of 30' as a minimum size, but I'm not sure about that.

 

[capnsensible]

The mere thought horrifies me.

Steveeasy

Relax. All sailing courses are for the students benefit. It is the Instructors job to coach you and the other students on board to reach your individual goals. It may be 3 students, most often 4 and rarely these days, 5.

If you do your homework as advised by the Training Centre and turn up with a positive attitude you will be fine and most likely enjoy your sailing whilst learning.

Any hesitations you have, talk as long as you like....better by phone....with the school. Ask to speak to the Principal if you wish. Ask him to have a talk with the Instructor before your course.

Those are my top tips and hope you enjoy yourself. Day Skipper is a course not an exam. Worth remembering!