Returning to sailing after hiatus: which RYA qualification (if any)?

[Reptile Smile]

Hi all,

I sailed from 2012-2016, and then in 2016 had twins, and my sailing ended. They're now 7, and I feel I have an itch to scratch.

I'm wondering about the best thing to do, and it might be any, some, or none of the following:

1. Join a club
2. Buy another of an old banger of a boat
3. Don't buy another old banger of boat, but get as much sailing time as poss by crewing for other people (but therefore not increasing my "skipper" total)
4. Do an RYA qualification (for no real reason, but, you know, it's something to do...)

So - question one - any thoughts about any of those choices? I quite like the idea of not getting saddled (for now) with the liability of a boat, but equally, most of my sailing to this point has been single-handed, and not skippering would feel a bit weird.

Question 2 - which RYA route, and how does this work? Day Skipper feels a bit below my experience, but others may look at it, and say, "No, that's exactly where you should be." I was thinking Coastal Skipper?

In any event, whilst appreciating that the shore-based courses are "recommended", are they effectively compulsory, and/or highly recommended?

Coastal Skipper says it's pre-practical-course requirements are "15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours". Is this in the preceding 5 years (I'm struggling), 10 years (am ok), no time limit, etc. Also, when it says "15 days", does that "journeys on a boat on 15 different days", or does it mean "15 days x 24 hours = 360 hours on a boat"?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts, advice, comments or suggestions. My logbook since 2012 is attached for reference.

 

[fredrussell]

Personally, I’d just buy a boat and get you and your kids on the water. I got into sailing that way, then did day skipper and coastal skipper a few years later. In my experience, coastal skipper didn’t add a huge amount to what I’d learnt doing day skipper, and day skipper didn’t add a huge amount to what I’d learnt by just getting out there.

 

[dolabriform]

Hi there, I also have twins who are now 10, and have been on boats since they were about 3.

None of the RYA qualifications are necessary if you are sailing in UK waters, if you plan to charter abroad then you will need an ICC, or Day Skipper which can be converted to ICC. AFAIK there is no time limit on the experience required for doing a Day Skipper, your log books certainly cover enough for that. It's 15 Days sailing, can be continuous, separate, or a combination of both.

If you don't have a need to do any RYA courses, then as long as your theory and practical skills are up to the task then why bother? ( I do have qualifications, before anyone jumps down my throat ! ).
However there is a self-satisfaction in doing the courses, confirming one's knowledge and gaining experience

What do you mean by "another of an old banger of a boat"? I assume that you are planning on taking the kids afloat? Does your partner sail?

My personal experience is that the kids soon get bored unless there is something to do. When they were 7 they were able to helm with some instructions, help with fenders and lines etc, but underway they lose interest in looking at the sea and stars very quickly, which is a shame as that's one of the attractions to me

Now they are 10 they can stand a watch for half an hour on long passages, call the marina on the VHF, and even "help" with navigation. They are more involved and have a great sense of pride when their friends come along.

 

[DanTribe]

From personal experience, I reckon you have two options.
1/ Buy a boat and hope that the kids will enjoy sailing with you. They may soon get bored with that because parents know nothing about anything.
2/ Join a club with an active junior section and get them a dinghy each. [siblings often don't make good shipmates]. They will soon make friends, probably for life and enjoy sailing and the socialising. They will learn quckly from other kids and other adults even if they say the same things as you did.
You can then either help as a volunteer with the club or get your own boat and kids will enjoy sailing with you.
Warning, if you take route 2, they will soon take over your boat and sail it better than you.

 

[Reptile Smile]

What do you mean by "another of an old banger of a boat"? I assume that you are planning on taking the kids afloat? Does your partner sail?

Oh, just that that's characterised all mysailing so far - the vast majority of my 6 boats were under £500...

I may have sold you a bit of a dummy by mentioning children, and my goal here wasn't advice about how to get them into sailing, though - sure, yes, I do intend to sail with them. I mentioned them more as an explanation for my hiatus. Issues are further compounded by the fact that one of my girls is in a wheelchair. I don't think this would make sailing impossible, but it would necessitate my wife just being with her, and me doing all the sailing. But that would be ok.

However - I'm still grappling with the Day Skipper vs Coastal Skipper vs no qual. I've never needed one so far, and I don't need one now, so if I did it, it would just be for the hell of it. I like the idea of (at some unspecified point in the future) chartering abroad, but there's nothing definite about that, and certainly not as a justification in itself.

Am I right in saying that Coastal Skipper doesn't enable me to do anything that Day Skipper doesn't? Also, any advice or thoughts on how essential it is to have done the shore based theory first? I feel comfortable with all the theory, and don't especially want to spend time and money on something I can already do, but also - hey, winter's coming, and it's something to do of an evening, I guess..?

 

[doug748]

1,3 then 2. You might race crew for a season, that gets you out every week in all conditions. Then look at boats.

Worth doing a shoreside Yachtmaster unless you are 100% up with theory.

 

[jac]

I would join a club, see if you can sail with some other people first and then get your own boat once you were comfortable that it was what you wanted to do.

Courses are great if you have a need in mind but if you're just rusty then in your position i would perhaps do some refresher stuff rather than whole course . You can do that via good videos / books for virtually free. I'm talking things like IRPCS. basic tides and navigation so you aren't a total liability. The rest will come back v quickly - just choose somewhere quiet to practice with new boat!

 

[boomerangben]

I did my coastal skipper practical this summer (having done the theory a couple of years ago). The only reason I did it was to be able to charter. I didn’t do day skipper as my experience was sufficient to get the coastal skipper. The course was fun and I learned some new stuff, specifically boat handling in a marina and practising MOB techniques. It was fun, learned a bit but I left feeling it was more of a revenue generating exercise for the school than anything else.

If the course is going to cost more than the boat you are going to buy, I would invest the money in the boat rather than the ticket. After all handling a 40’ boat on an RYA course is of little value unless you are going to be sailing one yourself. As for skipper time - I wouldn’t worry about that. You don’t have to be a skipper to learn and if you don’t need to have the certificate, lack of skipper time matters not.

 

[Refueler]

IMHO :

Join a Club
Make it known and a notice on Club board - that you are available to crew
Buy a boat - whichever takes your fancy.

I know a number of Clubs who are reluctant to take in full membership a non boat owner ... often requiring them to be a Social Member until acquiring a boat.

RYA tickets ? Its really down to personal need / use ... and dare I say it 'vanity' ... An ICC is all you usually need outside of UK .. of course to get full ICC to include Sail and Cevni - you need demonstrate proficiency with sail and complete a multi-choice paper for CEVNI.

Do you need more than ICC ... or is it the personal satisfaction of getting Skippers etc. ?

 

[Fantasie 19]

Hi all,

I sailed from 2012-2016, and then in 2016 had twins, and my sailing ended. They're now 7, and I feel I have an itch to scratch.

I'm wondering about the best thing to do, and it might be any, some, or none of the following:

1. Join a club
2. Buy another of an old banger of a boat
3. Don't buy another old banger of boat, but get as much sailing time as poss by crewing for other people (but therefore not increasing my "skipper" total)
4. Do an RYA qualification (for no real reason, but, you know, it's something to do...)

So - question one - any thoughts about any of those choices? I quite like the idea of not getting saddled (for now) with the liability of a boat, but equally, most of my sailing to this point has been single-handed, and not skippering would feel a bit weird.

Question 2 - which RYA route, and how does this work? Day Skipper feels a bit below my experience, but others may look at it, and say, "No, that's exactly where you should be." I was thinking Coastal Skipper?

In any event, whilst appreciating that the shore-based courses are "recommended", are they effectively compulsory, and/or highly recommended?

Coastal Skipper says it's pre-practical-course requirements are "15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours". Is this in the preceding 5 years (I'm struggling), 10 years (am ok), no time limit, etc. Also, when it says "15 days", does that "journeys on a boat on 15 different days", or does it mean "15 days x 24 hours = 360 hours on a boat"?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts, advice, comments or suggestions. My logbook since 2012 is attached for reference.

2/. and 3/.

 

[wonkywinch]

AFAIK, the school certificates (Day Skipper/Coastal Skipper) are suggested experience levels below which it was thought you may struggle with the course (there is no exam for these certs, it's just course completion). For RYA issued Certificates of Competence (Yachtmaster) then certain sailing experience is required. Used to be within last 10 years but they seem to have removed that clause from their pathway guide.

For Day/Coastal Skipper, the tickets are nice to have, not legal requirements in the UK for leisure sailing.

 

[finestgreen]

For RYA issued Certificates of Competence (Yachtmaster) then certain sailing experience is required. Used to be within last 10 years but they seem to have removed that clause from their pathway guide.

Still the case that it has to be within last ten years (unless the examiner is willing to overlook it)

 

[ylop]

You didn’t tell us how you got your current experience - eg are you self taught, learn from club, do a course etc? How much you learn on a course will depend both on whether you’ve bad habits or awkward ways of doing things to improve and your willingness to change/improve.

I’d give a contrasting view to those above - you’ve loads of experience single handing, but very little managing a crew/passengers. That is really what DS is about - managing the boat not sailing trim, helming etc. if family sailing is likely to end up in stress or shouting - do the DS.

Personally if I remember what having 7 yr olds was like (never mind one with mobility issues), owning a boat that requires a load of maintenance sounds like a bad idea.

I also think you might be approaching it wrong with your wife doing all the caring whilst you do all the sailing. Those trips will be enormously more popular if everyone is sharing all the burdens (if only because she will realise what sailing involves and is not you slacking, and why/when certain things need your attention). If the kids love the sailing then you’ll all have fun. If the kids come because it’s the only time they get to see dad then you’ll regret it.

Might be worth investigating sailability stuff. If nothing else it will help you understand the adaptions available.

 

[ashtead]

Had you considered of volunteering for a disabled sailing charity ? There are a number of such charities and even if no spaces they might have advice if you wish to sail with your daughter ? As said a number of land bound sailing clubs offer crewing trips . It rather depends if you see your return as a family sailing activity or a solus hobby? Another way to test getting afloat with a family is to take a flotilla somewhere warm or sign up for a land based sailing holiday in say Majorca with dinghy sailing but I guess you want a cruiser type sailing experience with family?

 

[B27]

Around here, there's another option:
Join a club, send the kids out sailing and prop up the bar!

Seriously, a lot of parents get involved with coaching, mark laying/start boat/safety boat activity.

Being Bristol based, you don't have the same choice of local 'all purpose' sailing clubs with dinghy and cruiser activity which we get on the coast.

You don't have to choose one type of sailing and stick to it.
I'd suggest maybe dipping a toe with an introductory dinghy day with the kids.