new to yachting

rich

rich

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Jun 2001
Messages
3,083
Location
JERSEY
www.portofjersey.je
Is it possible for a complete novice, to do a Y,M, day skipper exam, she's paid the best part of £300,,,,,,,,,,,,and to me it looks like an exam for someone thats got expireance! PS sould the basics come first.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.jersey-harbours.com<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by rich on 25/10/2004 23:51 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
Can you give us a few more details, preferably with a few more words?

ie is it DS practical or theory, is she a total novice etc, how well motivated is she etc?
<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now./forums/images/icons/wink.gif
 
A straight answer to your question :

Yes, complete novices do "pass" DS skippers and the YM (theory). However you have to ask what value in the longterm if not endorsed by real experience which is the only real thing IMHO. I have picked up loads more from learning from others outside a 'formal' environment ...

If you treat both DS practicals (power and sail) as a good learning holiday and a very basic background then you are probably setting out with the right expectations.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue>I am WHAT I say I am</font color=blue>
 
The day skipper exam is designed to be taken after doing the day skipper theory course, and the both are a precursor to the day skipper practical course. I think that the suggested requirement for a day skipper is experience and knowledge to the level of Competent Crew. Doing the exam without having been sailing is unwise, but possible. There isn't anything rediculously difficult in there, and nothing you won't need to be able to do without help, if skippering your own boat. Doing it without attending any classes or doing a correspondence course first, and with no experience, is of no value at all. The qualification is to set you up with a certain level of knowledge, it isn't there as a hurdle to be passed before going sailing.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
If its of any use, when I took my DS practical there was a guy on the same course who had recently passed his DS theory and knew all the theory / nav etc but then went on to be the ony failure on the boat.

Problem was he simply couldn't sail, and lacked any understanding of the basics. Even tacking and gybing were a bit of a lottery if I remember.

He was awarded comp' crew and advised to get some dinghy experience before re-taking his DS.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
It's easy to forget how long it took to learn the basics when you've been sailing for a while, or even that they had to be learned and we weren't born with the knowledge. An analogy most people would understand is learning the highway code but not being able to do a hill start or a 3-point turn. It isn't rocket science but it takes experience and practice.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Well, I suppose the alternative is moving to Lincolnshire, where there's no hills. My brother-in-law is learning to be a driving instructor there, I must ask him how they test people on hill starts!

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
The RYA frecommends, but does not demand, some experience before starting the shore-based part of the course. However, no knowledge is assumed.
Following successful completion of the shorebased exams (two papers), a practical course should be taken for which teh RYA recommend previous experience of 5 days aboard a boat, including four hours of night sailing.

My view is that it is possible for someone with a natural aptitude to do the course without any previous experience at all, it is not desirable and for most people it would just not be possible to reach the necessary skill level in boat handling in the time of a practical course - just five days.

What sort of course had your friend booked into? There are some fast-track courses which include a lot of high-intensity sea-time which can achieve wonders in terms of course passes but I and others have doubts as to their long term value.

If she has signed up just for a shorebased course, then she should get through this OK, but it does not give her the full qualification.


<hr width=100% size=1>JJ
 
I used to be a keelboat instructor (but on yachts) in the Ionian in Greece.

Some people pick up the practical side of sailing fairly easily, some people struggle.

I never met a 'natural', those who were good had already sailed dinghies or been on boats before.

The one thing that really sticks out about teaching people to sail is wind awareness, a lot of people have difficulty working out where the wind is coming from when they start, and this can lead to tacking and gybing difficulties but is especially noticeable when dealing with spatial awareness and the whole beam reach/tack/broad reach/luff up aspects of man overboard.

MOB under engine with bows to the wind many beginners find difficult and often allow the bows to be blown off one way or the other.

I also found many beginners relied too much on the windex, despite being told not to look at it!

So yes, the best way to learn to sail is in a dinghy, even if you only do level 1.

<hr width=100% size=1>It could have been worse - it could have been me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top