R Y A course novice to yachtmaster 14weeks

thomas1

thomas1

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Second to my first posting, (learning to sail), and picking up a few expresstions along the way after doing plenty of reading on the forum web pages, and thanks to those who replyed to my very first question on the forum there answers were of help to my concerns.
I would now like the the replys from you very experianced yottees! on one the courses offered R Y A Novice to Yachtmaster in 14weeks, do you think that after taking such a course i could get on any sailing yacht, and say sail across the channel or lyme bay in many different weather conditions or undertake to do boat deliverys around the coast of britain, (this might seem a strange question but please remember i am a novice not like all of you good sailors with years of good and bad weather behind you and plenty of miles to your credit
I can afford to do one these courses, and would like to think that I could earn a little from this certificate,and that would do very nicely, if there is any one that might look at this posting that has done there yachtmasters with the same intentions as me can you give me your oppiniun. :
Tom
 
Re:Zero to Hero in 14 weeks.

From Zero to Hero in 14 weeks? - I would not let you move my boat across the marina never mind deliver it to some other location until you proved to me you had experience and I don't mean logging the miles for the YM - I mean real experience. Might let you sail as crew though /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Joking aside I would think initially most people would not risk their boat to you alone but would allow you to crew although I do believe there are delivery companies who will employ the "14 week Wonders"

There again I know some characters with nothing in the way of tickets that I would sail anywhere with and others with their YM papers that I would think twice about leaving the marina with so the paper is not everything but if you have the time and the ££££ then go for it - A quick and comparitively cheap way of getting your "papers". Pick one of the better schools that arrange employment contacts for you.
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“Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity”
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I've never done the course, so how would I know, but my instinct is to say no.

During 14 weeks you are unlikely to see every sort of sea condition and every sort of weather that you'lre likely to meet in UK waters. I'm sure you'll be a very competent sailor (at least - if you show any sort of aptitude) but it won't make you into a delivery skipper.

Interestingly, you confessed that you only want to earn a little, and that's about how much you will earn if you spend some time crewing on delivery passages with more experienced sailors. IMHO that would be the thing to do - go on the zero-to-hero, but then plan to spend a couple of years building experience on anything that you can get afloat on.
 
In answer to your question yes I would hope you could. but in reality these courses get sla&ed off. due to the experience you actually get. It's like learning to drive you are not actually a proper driver until a few years after your test when you have experienced different situations. okay 14 weeks on the south coast in the summer may be great. not even putting your wet weather gear on. but this does not prepare you for say an offshore passage in the winter in the cold blowing a gale.

I've been sailing most weekends for the last 8 years i'm a coastal skipper with many channel crossings but don't in tend to do my YM for a few years.
 
Zero to Hero, been here before....

Are you SURE you are what you appear to be ?

I ask, as this is likely to be one of the longest threads for a few weeks, if the past is anything to go on. <font color="red">It has the smell of a troll.</font>

You have permission to (virtually of course) kick me if I am being unfair and unreasonably suspicious ! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Let me ask you a question. Imagine you are a Mercedes main dealer. A lad of 17 comes in one day and says "I've never driven before but I'm going on an intensive driving course next week and expect to have my license in 3 weeks time, Will you give me a job delivering new cars?" What would you reply?
 
Go and do it if you want to work in sailing. You won't come out a skipper but it puts you on the first rung of being employable.

Most of the people on here learnt to do their jobs without fourteen weeks intensive training!

As you gain experience you will become even more employable.
 
Re: No problem at all

Lots of people have gone this route and developed careers in yachting.

The intensive training suites a lot of people. Mileage is overated as a measure of experience. But you do need to get experience in the form of seatime. The difference between zero to hero YM's is that your going to gain your experience in front of an audience.

As for your delivering boats around Britain well that's one idea. It's the toughest option to choose out of the yachting jobs market. A vast number of young YM's start working for charter companies in the Solent. It's mainly day sailing corporates. The moneys not great and the work is irregular but it's a start. Some who like the sunshine go for flotilla jobs in warmer climes.

Whats important is to get the right sea school for you. Boat shows are a good starting point. Look for additional courses within the course like diesel engine, radar or a power boat qualification. Look at the course structure to make sure the seatime is on offer and look for a long trip (one lad I know did Solent to Canaries on top of his training miles).

Whether after your course you'll become a successful YM depends on the effect the training has on you, your apptitude and your people skills. It's handy if your handy with the boat mending jobs, as thats more in demand than sailing skills with many companies. You will need to understand that your greatest asset will be a sponge like absorption of what sailing is teaching you everytime you go out.

At the very outset of your sailing life start an MCA logbook. This record will allow you to move into superyacht crewing at a later date and there's some good money to be made there.
 
Re: Zero to Hero, been here before....A Troll???

Dee Gee and Poter, I reckon you are out of order. OK, thomas might appear to be asking questions which are naive or even provocative, but give the guy a break. Assuming he is genuine, at least he has had the common sense and the balls to find out more from people who have the experience to advise him.

I could be wrong, you could be right, but it seems a tad early to start shooting him down.
 
Re:Zero to Hero in 14 weeks.

As you appear to be have the time and cash I suggest you do the course first. Then you can come back here and tell us what it was like and if you found anybody willing to employ you, and in what category.
I, for one, would be fascinated to hear what you think of the course and the examination at the end of it.
Giving advice at this stage will not help you because there are so many different opinions on this subject.
 
When I did my dayskipper practical we had an intensive student on our boat. He had got to coastal skipper level and had done some of the auxilliary courses. I have no doubt that he is/will be an entirely competant skipper upon attaining his YM but how employable he will be is an entirely different question because I get the feeling that the sailing jobs market is highly competitive and poorly paid. Saying that, I presume that youth would be an advantage rather than a handicap for employers like SunSail.
What I do know is that the intensive course is indeed very intensive. Check out the drop out rates when you do the research and make sure that you are prepared to be worked to the bone and sleep rough for the entire duration. Sailing schools will undoubtedly house you on the yachts (so you may need to regularly change cabins as they become booked/free) and they may use you as boat yard skivvies during your 'off time'.
Still, if that doesnt phase you I imagine that the 14 weeks will be amongst the most interesting 14 weeks of your life. Especially if you get a school abroad.
 
Re: Zero to Hero, been here before....

Ops and (sorry) Some back ground I am 50 been around boats from about 8, never owned one never sail one only ever as passenger at 10 years along with madaline and fay smele left lyme cob in small speed boat and ended up in westbay was approched by local bobby as mine and there parents were concerned looking back it was a very stupid thing to do letf school went into building trade slump forced me to look for change, so I got my self a h g v licence, some years later bought my own truck got some more started to employ people a few years ago got fed up with employees continual moaning so scaled down, and finally being governed by europe just got the better of me, so back to building with my son (carpenter / joiner) and have done not to bad so I would like some quality time,and if this could earn me some £££ along the way even better and if there is any one who has done the course and is working say delivery or instuction then let me Know
The zero to hero sounds like somone out there would like to do it but perhaps they are not in the same position as me and others that have done fastrack,but in the sceptics defence my question is realy asking if those people who have spent all that money on this type of course what are you doing now, because in my estimation if there are 5 people on a boat all learning the same, and there are say 4 course per year, and there are who knows how many schools running the fastrack novice to yacthmaster course, were are they all to and what are they doing now
There has to be a good reason to spend £7500 to £10000 and if you look at most of the web pages from the sailing schools it shows young people not oldeys like me !! were did they get that type of cash from??? I have lots of Questions to ask and in reply i hope it go,s on long enough to get most of my answers Tom
 
Re: Zero to Hero, been here before....

Even if it is a Troll it gives many people much enjoyment to restate their views for the benefit of the vast numbers that then read them. Don't spoil their fun. It is why a number continue to post here rather than the lessor read Lounge!

Its aboat (sic) time we had a question on AWB's!!
 
Re: Zero to Hero, been here before....

I will preface this post with FWIW & IMHO

I believe most of the people who do the course fall into 2 catogories. 1) They are interested in sailing and want to get qualified quickly and can afford the time and money then will see what turns up OR 2) People who have found themseves at a crossroad due to employment or relationship problems.

After qualifying if they have no better opportunities or really love sailing above all else they go round the marine industry earning a megre living. For those that are not under any financial pressure and love sailing it seems to suit them very well.

When I did Dayskipper the instructor was positively orgasmic about sailing to North Africa in lovely weather and being PAID to do it week in week out - not for everyone but I could appreciate his enthusiasm!

If you want to try earning a living as a YM go for it but I would not recommend it if you need to sustain either a relationship(unless partner goes to) or a mortgage.
 
Re: Zero to Hero, been here before....A Troll???

[ QUOTE ]
Dee Gee and Poter, I reckon you are out of order....

[/ QUOTE ]Awright, awright... I thort it might be a Jimi reincarnated, or summat like. But I did accept kissing the blarney stone if I wuz rong /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

As far as Zero to Hero is concerned, what a great way to learn. At the end of it, you will be a right know-all. Just as long as you don't think you do know it all. I would have loved to do one of these courses, a real power-assisted take-off. Many people are derogatory about them cos you get to have a YM ticket handed out at the end, and most people feel a YM ticket, plus DTI, SHOULD take a lot of experience as well as PA take-off. I am one of them.

The course can't expose you to enough situations which may have the potential of danger and damage. The confidence given by a fast-track ticket is probly not the confidence which will stand up to potential disaster. But if you have been in something like the situation before, you are not going to lose control.

As to earning potential - yotties are NOT well paid. One of the best YMI's, whose name is a household word, offered his services for £75/day, as long as it was cash...
 
I think you could learn a huge amount and get a lot of practical knowledge on a Zero to Hero but you will always have an instructor and other crew with you whenever you make a decision even when acting as "skipper".

Every decision you make will be subject to that look that instructors give that lets you know that when you've suggested something really silly or dangerous. Unlike pilots, you can get a licence without any solo time (by which I mean without instructors). Real skippering experience comes when you're the most experienced person on board and the responsibility lies with you.

If the course really does send out their people as skippers before they've passed, then I stand corrected, otherwise I don't think you can tell whether someone will really enjoy being in charge of a boat from any course done that's not backed up with skippering experience.
 
Re: Zero to Hero, been here before....A Troll???

Some v.sound input in previous replies. I seem to recall that the original intent of the RYA National Cruising Scheme/DSm, CS and YM was to equip boat owners with the skills and know-how to keep *themselves* out of trouble while they built up experience of making sound judgements in progressively-challenging circumstances.

There were no career opportunities then. The 'Commercial Endorsement' was tacked on when sailing schools found they were able to lobby the RYA for 'ever more and bigger' courses to sell. Now, people are conditioned to do their whole apprenticeship on school boats, entirely in the Solent, holiday after holiday. Then there's the commercial pressure of the Flotilla holiday and charter operators - and their insurers -'Show me a certificate!'

I have a couple of young friends who have easy access to a well-found blue-water cruising boat, where they'd be welcome most weekends. Instead of choosing to build up their know-how and experience on this ( not mine ), they've booked to do an expensive RYA CC course with a school in the Solent later this year.

I have to respect their decision, without fully understanding it. However, I know now that if I had been aware 35 years ago that I 'had the disease and that there was no known cure', I would have paid for professional training then so I could have enjoyed more interesting sailing, earlier.

You may well decide, at the end of the 14 weeks, that you now know enough to make a better-informed decision about 'what next', but I still don't think that you will swiftly recover your training costs with a ready handful of lucrative delivery contracts.

And it's worth bearing in mind that some of the hand-picked 'FastTrack' yachtmasters who get employment part-time with their sailing school have committed some of the densest mistakes I've heard of, once they think that they 'know it now'. Hubris....

The longer I do this, the more I realise there's more to know. But, if you are likely to enjoy it, go for it.

"A donf!"
 
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