RYA Competent Crew Course

C

csw

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Hi All

I'm new to the forums and also new to sailing. I am intending to do the RYA competent crew course next year and have looked at various options: weekend or week courses, UK and overseas.

I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations as to good courses. Ideally I would like to do a week long course, somewhere warm (perhaps South Africa given the good exchange rate) but would be grateful to hear all of your advice and recommendations for getting started.

Thanks

C
 
Hi and welcome to the forums,
For learning the theory bits, the best for my money is evening classes.
For learning to sail, the most important thing is to get out sailing, either in your own boat or others'.
For the practical parts of the RYA courses, I'd suggest the longest course you can afford in time and money, the more time the more you'll learn.
Dave
 
Agree with the previous poster about evening courses - best theory intro is to do Day Skipper Theory for a wide range of basics.

As to doing Comp Crew course, its probably a good deal of pot-luck which location, school, skipper, crew-mates, weather, etc etc that you wind up with. My own CC course four years ago was a complete inspiration which got me truly hooked, even though the school subsequently ceased trading.

If you intend to sail in the UK, then don't wally about flying to South Africa, but find a location that suits you (Solent, East Coast, South-West, Scotland, etc, etc) and use a school here.
 
You can learn all of the CC stuff, more cheaply, by crewing on other people's boats, although if you're talking about flying to SA that's probably not so high up your list of priorities. Finding a skipper who's up for teaching you stuff and letting you have a go is the trick. there's a few websites for crew introductions, or stick an add on the notice board of the local marina.

I'd at least have a few goes this way before parting with £400+ for a course, to see if you like it.
 
Hi CSW

I have no wish to put you off sailing but, unless you are sailing in very warm climes indeed, sailing can be cold and wet. I know it's not what the brochures say but those of us that sail around the UK know this and we don't really mind (most of the time) as long as we are sailing. So, I suggest that if you are intending to sail in the UK or Northern Europe, save the air fare, do a local course and spend what you save (and possibly a bit more) on a good set of sailing togs - top to bottom.

There are two extra benefits to this approach: a) you won't just be a competent crew member, you'll look like one; b) with your own gear you might find it easier to crew for other people (without paying a charter fee!).

Anyway, just do it and, wherever you go, have a great time.
 
For the complete beginner, a comp crew practical makes a lot of sense. If you've sailed dingies or crewed boats in the past it's less value.

The shore based day skipper and the DS practical are the next steps, especially valuable if you're planning to buy your own boat.

I strongly recommend the Southern Sailing School in Southampton if you're anywhere close and I second doing one in the UK and spending some of the round trip air fare to South Africa on some decent sailing gear.

If you learn from a good school in the area you plan to keep your own boat, you'll pick up a lot of local knowledge on the course too.
 
Thanks for your replies and advice. I am based in London so will head to a school in Southampton and save the air fare and buy kit instead.

Thanks guys.

C
 
Hi many of the sea schools do supply you with wet weather gear so may be good to hold off any purchases until you check what they have. If you enjoy it then perhaps that would be the time to invest in more comprehensive gear. I know when I did my first course I had very little gear and the kit supplied (southern sailing) was adequate for me /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif -
 
If you want some warm sailing try Faro sailing school. Good knowledgable instructor, Peter, and good sailing area. It's actually based at Ayamonte on the Spanish/Portuguese border. It is tidal as well, unlike the med.
No connection, but I did my coastal skippers there.
 
I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations as to good courses. Ideally I would like to do a week long course, somewhere warm (perhaps South Africa given the good exchange rate) but would be grateful to hear all of your advice and recommendations for getting started.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a Comp Crew course, you need to learn all the basics - check RYA list of skills you are expected to learn.

Because of the relatively short distances between places, which means you will be continually doing things other than simply just looking up at the sails, I think you would learn more in the Solent on a course.

Yes, get experience on other peoples' boats.
Yes, if going onto Day Skipper, get some dinghy sailing in.

Which Solent School?

Take your pick, its a personal choice - there are few dud's & these days they will be pleading for business, so check things like 'free wet weather gear' & 'moorings paid for' etc.

Also check what the rest of the crew are learning.
The mix is important.
If Comp crew + Day Skipper, this should be ok.
If Comp crew (you) + Yachtmaster Prep, you may find that the instructor could concentrate elsewhere & while interesting, you might not learn as much.
Don't forget, you are paying to learn stuff, not simply there to sail miles however enjoyable.

Before your CC course, look up the content, learn the knots etc. After your CC course, then recommend doing a DS Theory course.
 
My old man had a great time with Trafalgar Sailing in Gibraltar - cheaper than doing it in the Solent too.
 
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