Motor Cruising Courses in the Med

[Ash78]

Hi all, this is my first post here but have been an avid follower of this forum for some time. I managed to convince Mrs A a couple of years ago that it was about time we got into Motor Cruising (numerous youtube vids of fun in the Med helped win her over). We did our RYA Dayskipper theory just before lockdown last year and had booked with The Moorings to do a week Dayskipper Practical (stay aboard) in Mallorca in May last year which was cancelled due to CV19. They now only offer this course in Croatia. We managed to do a 2 Day Helmsan course from Port Solent in Sept last year. We really wanted to get the hands on experience and learning tied in with a holiday in Mallorca / the Med. Does anyone have experience or can recommend any other good RYA Motor practical schoolsin Mallorca / Med or have experience with The Moorings in Croatia please? We don’t have our own boat yet as trying to do things the right way by getting relevant training so we’re not a nuisance to ourselves or others! Recognize the absence of tidal factors with Med training which we plan to address later on in UK.
Apologies for the long post and thanks for any recommendations - keep up the good work!

 

[Portofino]

I d be looking at doing EU member state course in the EU .
By passing the already opaque RYA comparability/ compatibility issues that have , or arguably will arise now the U.K. and it’s residents are classed as 3 rd party .

I did the French version with a Eng ( ex Fr Canadian) bi lingual instructor in the Cote d Azur .

Same basic issue to placate the wife in a convincing tatic to taking the then toddlers boating in the Med .
I had my RYA stuff - sailing btw .This was a , as well as piece - of the sell it to wife jigsaw . We have been there .

They messed about in the hotel + pool - beaches , I went to school , class room 1/2 a day , out on the water practice the other 1/2 with a exam on the Friday .
Fortunately then 2005 a lot of N Europeans we’re doing it , so as you know eng is the common language in the EU they choose Eng as the common language for the Belgium’s , Dutch , Germans and Danes for this Fr course.Permit d Mer .

So the paper was in Fr + Eng .
Iirc the maj of candidates did it in Eng .

Shame to go the trouble of doing a RYA course in the Med only a week later in the next EU / U.K. spat the EU bowls out other 3 P qualifications for those who are not just passing , ie permanently ensconced in the Med .

 

[Ash78]

I d be looking at doing EU member state course in the EU .
By passing the already opaque RYA comparability/ compatibility issues that have , or arguably will arise now the U.K. and it’s residents are classed as 3 rd party .

I did the French version with a Eng ( ex Fr Canadian) bi lingual instructor in the Cote d Azur .

Same basic issue to placate the wife in a convincing tatic to taking the then toddlers boating in the Med .
I had my RYA stuff - sailing btw .This was a , as well as piece - of the sell it to wife jigsaw . We have been there .

They messed about in the hotel + pool - beaches , I went to school , class room 1/2 a day , out on the water practice the other 1/2 with a exam on the Friday .
Fortunately then 2005 a lot of N Europeans we’re doing it , so as you know eng is the common language in the EU they choose Eng as the common language for the Belgium’s , Dutch , Germans and Danes for this Fr course.Permit d Mer .

So the paper was in Fr + Eng .
Iirc the maj of candidates did it in Eng .

Shame to go the trouble of doing a RYA course in the Med only a week later in the next EU / U.K. spat the EU bowls out other 3 P qualifications for those who are not just passing , ie permanently ensconced in the Med .

Thanks Portofino, much appreciated. Interested to know if EU certifications give the equivalent to an ICC and are recognized as proof of competence in other countries (US, Asia etc) when chartering?

 

[PlanB]

If you want tidal, try these people in Duquesa, quite near to Gib. Has the advantage that it's a tidal qualification - and they are very good.
Home - Suncoastmarine

 

[John100156]

Try the following link, they are very good, I know a few people that have used them before and you can still get Tidal:

RYA Sailing courses & MCA Training Courses (allabroad-sailing-academy.co.uk)

Located at: 7 The Square, Ocean Village, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA

 

[Switch]

I used Quaysport in Minorca. Good outfit.

 

[st599]

Thanks Portofino, much appreciated. Interested to know if EU certifications give the equivalent to an ICC and are recognized as proof of competence in other countries (US, Asia etc) when chartering?

If you do the course in Mallorca or Croatia, then it won't be a tidal certificate so you may have trouble using it in the US and Asia.

 

[Ash78]

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions, greatly appreciated. Will provide an update to this thread once we have taken the course (likely H1 2022) as might be useful for others. Cheers again.

 

[Hurricane]

It is good that you are getting instruction from the various schools but I think you really need to get some experience without someone overlooking everything that you do.
It sounds as though you are not the kind of person who blunders into anything.
For me, everything in life is potentially a new experience where you can learn.
There are obviously concepts to consider but at some stage, you will need to do it yourself.
IMO, as long as it is safe, it is better to learn from your mistakes.
As usual, there are often different ways of doing things - just listening to one person only gives one view.
Doing it yourself and getting it wrong highlights the places where you can ask questions.

And remember the old saying - "If you CAN - you DO" - "If you CAN'T, you TEACH".
In my experience, I'm afraid that this is very much true in the boating world.
Some instructors can be awful.

However, there are some very good instructors out there - here are a couple:-
Home - Suncoastmarine (I did my Yachtmaster with them)
And our own forum/MBY resident instructor Jon Mendes - RYA Training Courses Southampton | Powerboat Courses | Mendez Marine

 

[Ash78]

Many thanks Hurricane, totally agree about trying and learning by oneself...in safety. The training is a self/wife imposed precondition before investing in our own boat or chartering abroad. We’re both keen to get into boating but with little practical experience (I’m talking the odd P&O ferry, a few fishing trips, sunset cocktails and the one-day practical on Helmsan) was thinking the Practical Dayskipper will help develop the needed skills, confidence and practical experience so we can get / keep out of trouble. Perhaps I’m too risk adverse! ?

Cheers again.

 

[Alicatt]

Many thanks Hurricane, totally agree about trying and learning by oneself...in safety. The training is a self/wife imposed precondition before investing in our own boat or chartering abroad. We’re both keen to get into boating but with little practical experience (I’m talking the odd P&O ferry, a few fishing trips, sunset cocktails and the one-day practical on Helmsan) was thinking the Practical Dayskipper will help develop the needed skills, confidence and practical experience so we can get / keep out of trouble. Perhaps I’m too risk adverse! ?

Cheers again.

It is a prerequisite of me taking my wife on a cruising holiday, while I do have a good bit of practice in small power boats from 12ft - 24ft it has been more than 20 years since I last did anything properly boaty, apart from a days excursion on a 6.5m sloop on the canals last year to test the waters so to speak.

Just now I'm working my way through a shore course in Dutch which is giving me a headache trying to translate it as I go Altair is the company that provides the training.

 

[Hurricane]

just another point about qualifications.
I will probably get flamed for saying this but:-

The RYA qualifications are geared at navigating UK waters.
As such, there is lots of theory on tides, plotting courses and making tidal gates etc.
In the Med all that theory is totally useless - no tides.
OK, you have to be able to read a chart but that is really only common sense.
On the subject of navigation, your time would be better spent learning how to use an electronic plotter - particularly the very simple feature of "Go To Cursor" because that all that you really need.
Rules of the sea, of course but 90% of the RYA theory courses will probably be a bit of a waste.
More time spent doing practical stuff would be far more beneficiary.

 

[Portofino]

Thanks Portofino, much appreciated. Interested to know if EU certifications give the equivalent to an ICC and are recognized as proof of competence in other countries (US, Asia etc) when chartering?

Ask them ie the Spanish equivalent.

But the RYA only seems only for hire in Spain just that .
See links below

Thoses on here permanently based in the the EU with only RYA qualifications and not hiring might be heading for battle and ensuing problems by officialdom if clobbered .

Through the RYA s eyes recently!

Evidence of Competence Abroad | boating abroad | RYA

Spain | boating abroad | RYA