Level Of Competance

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pgurnett

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What are the views regarding RYA tested levels of competance? As we know one requires the RYA Day Skippers qualification for the ICC. Should or is it advisable to complete the Coastal Skippers and YM qualifications? This is dependent on crew of course and the area of sailing, again this begs the question of how many need to be qualified and to what level? Your thoughts are welcome /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Hi Paul
Jayne n I both did rya coastal skipper, thats it. the ym is a waste of money and time me thinks. just get out there.
Having two CS's helped the insurance too. but outside of europe the icc is all you need.
We sail as a crew of two, and dont want extra crew for passages, like biscay, having the hydrovane helps too.

Not a great fan of the rya, must confess.

Joe
 
If you're regularly going to be sailing around British tidal waters, making occasional passages of 24 hours, and crossing busy traffic lanes, you should be aware of the full yachtmaster syllabus. There are a lot of traps out there . . .

If you're sailing in company in tideless waters and consistent fine weather, you don't need qualification, just a bit of driving practice and a few simple rules of the road.

As you say, it depends on the type of sailing you're going to do. Someone who can teach themselves well and who's used to a practical life, needs the knowledge. They do not necessarily need the qualification. Someone who leads a less practical life, and who is less used to teaching themselves, will find the hurdle of gaining the qualification much more useful.
 
Hello Jim
It is my understanding (perhaps wrongly) that the YM and CS syllabus are the same, just more leniency on the exam. When I did my CS exam, it was along with 3 YM's.. we did the exact same exam and written / verbal tests. ?

Joe.
 
The full YM syllabus is fine - I have the manual and notes and religiously worked through it all, practising chartwork etc etc. I have no intention of qualifying, though my company recently put me through the PB2/ICC. Apart from handling a rib there was nothing on the course I didn't know, and some things that I felt were oversimplified or downright misleading.

I believe the RYA course content should be a part of every skippers knowledge - that's just good seamanship surely - but having been a (qualified!) outdoor instructor for many years, I don't have a high regard of the abilities of those who gain a qualification without the experience and nous to give it a firm foundation.

On saying that, I am impressed by the difficulty and requirements of the RYA qualifications, and think that the process of gaining them must be very valuable. But I don't assume that someone with the qualification is any more competent than someone without.
 
Quite a lot of people take the CS/YM theory course at night school just for something to do - I don't think it means an awful lot on its own unless it is backed up with the practical course or exam as solving navigational problems in the middle of the night in rough weather is rather more testing than doing it at a desk.

A YM qualification is a worthwhile demonstration of a reasonable level of competence IMO and shows that the candidate can put theory into practice in the real world. There is a minimum mileage requirement of 2,500 miles, and many candidates have four times that when they take the exam. You can take it without having done any RYA theory courses if you already have the knowledge and experience, but a 5 day YM Preparation course can be a good way of brushing up some [perhaps rusty] skills.

- W
 
Always a thought provoking thread with the number of opinions about!
I am very biased as I.m an Instructor, but I personally found that when I was learning, being tested at increasing levels is great for self confidence, let alone the knowledge gained.
It is a huge subject, but I've found lots of people have been helped in their decisions on courses by this RYA booklet:
the Instructors Handbook, G27.
For the sake of a few quid, it thouroughly explains each course and the conduct of exams. An absolute gem that will dispel a lot of the myths and heresay about the RYA cruising scheme.
Hope this helps.
 
perhaps i should do a course??my navigations gone from OK to GPS now bad,in the med for so long when i was/am lost just ask

I hate rocks becouse they growll when you touch them and tide becouse it always seems to be going to fast!!Trying to enter a chanell can meen flat out and edging slowly accros bad for the nerves! Must be an easier way!

Happy new year
 
I did the Yachtmaster theory some 16 years ago, for me it was not "just something to do, it really was hard work but thoroughly enjoyed it, and I picked up a lot from others with more miles under their belts.

I believe that experience is the winner, but that preparation pays dividends. I left the practical side, but after some 5 years not afloat I did a Day Skipper course and exam to see how rusty I was, and I was happy to find it is like riding the proverbial bike!


I am considering the exams now, but just for insurance purposes, and SWMBO has refused, having found her basic theory course revealed her inability to add 2 and 2, a side of her brain that seems to be dormant, but on the practical side I have someone to sail with who I can rely on, that is when she stops telling me how to do it!

I am not insulting the good lady's iq, since she did a degree for fun a while back and moaned when she only got a 2.1, but since she was working full time at the same time!!!!
 
Hi Paul, I thought you would have cast off by now. Thoroughly agree with capnsensible re self confidence but there is no substitute for experience. The more you sail the more you learn, if you don't have the mileage for practical courses try the shore based combined with day sailing, you will find your confidence growing. Any qualification will help with insurance premiums but to go forign you must have at least an ICC.
Good sailing and fair winds, Barry.

ps Have you purchased a boat yet?
 
Yes, you could do worse than thinking about one of those motorboats you don't seem so keen on. The tide will be less of a problem and as an ex-liveaboard on a raggie cat I have been reminded more than once that its also useful in the Med. when the wind is almost always on the nose anyway... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
i don't think a particular certificate necessarily denotes competence and isn't required sailing under a uk flag (yet). However the shore based courses day skipper, coastal skipper/yachtmaster are well worth while especially if you are going to be sailing in tidal waters! Much depends on experience and confidence. But i think if your just starting out the particles are probably the way to go.

As for crew's necessary level of competence this is linked to your own the more competent and confident you are the less they can be! As you suggest your sailing area will have a bearing as well as the types of passages you are undertaking. Day hopping along the coast in fair weather is a far cry from Biscay! One other consideration may be the type of boat your sailing, they vary dramatically in their complexity and handling characteristics.
 
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