Mel...
New Member
Hi all im thinking of learning to sail and would like to take the first step on the ladder and do my rya cc course i live in the south but would travel. Are there any recommendations for where to take this course?
Rya course's
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Gixer
Well-Known Member
I used Broad Reach Sailing recently (December) for some training and couldn't fault them.
Broad Reach Sailing | RYA Sailing Courses In And Around The Solent
Broad Reach Sailing | RYA Sailing Courses In And Around The Solent
Motor_Sailor
Well-Known Member
Your might get better advise if you tell us a bit more about why you want to 'learn to sail' and what your ambitions are?
But in general, I remain an advocate for learning the basics of sailing in a smaller boat, ideally somewhere warm where you can enjoy the consequences of your mistakes. A week on a sailing 'holiday' at a well regarded resort in the Med or even further afield, would allow you to really master the basics, and would provide a great foundation for any variety of sailing from then on. Less expensive and chillier, would be the same thing at a school in the UK.
The competent crew week would then help you transfer your sailing skills to a bigger boat, plus introduce all the complexity of tides, berthing, living on board, man overboard drill, crewmates, etc, etc,
But in general, I remain an advocate for learning the basics of sailing in a smaller boat, ideally somewhere warm where you can enjoy the consequences of your mistakes. A week on a sailing 'holiday' at a well regarded resort in the Med or even further afield, would allow you to really master the basics, and would provide a great foundation for any variety of sailing from then on. Less expensive and chillier, would be the same thing at a school in the UK.
The competent crew week would then help you transfer your sailing skills to a bigger boat, plus introduce all the complexity of tides, berthing, living on board, man overboard drill, crewmates, etc, etc,
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KompetentKrew
Well-Known Member
There are some boat co-ops which might be worth considering: Brighton Belle, Overlord and Phoenix Yacht Club.
I learned to sail with Phoenix - with them the RYA qualifications are practically free, after paying the club's day rate.
Days on board and actual experience are more important than the Competent Crew qualification - one really only takes a Competent Crew course in order to get those.
I learned to sail with Phoenix - with them the RYA qualifications are practically free, after paying the club's day rate.
Days on board and actual experience are more important than the Competent Crew qualification - one really only takes a Competent Crew course in order to get those.
Gixer
Well-Known Member
Just to put another angle on it. When I started I wanted to crew with loads of different people doing 'round the cans' yacht racing to gain experience. I decided to do my Comp Crew course first because,
1. To see if I really liked it and whether it was for me, 5 days onboard really gives you a good taste
2. So I had an idea of what I was doing, to be more use onboard and safe to take out.
This is just my experience and I think it set me up well
Mel...
New Member
Thank you for the replies and will take your comments on board. We have had a river cruiser for year but I've always been drawn to the sea and fancy chartering in the med .the wife is not so keen so I thought if we can do the rya course together she may come around.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Then perhaps choose somewhere warm and sunny for the course?
Sailing school boats tend to go out in any weather - irrespective of rain, wind or waves. Which is great for gaining experience, and for testing commitment - but get a bad week and may just firm up your wife’s views in the wrong direction!
Not sure if any of the charter companies do sailing courses in the Med?
Gixer
Well-Known Member
Sailing Holidays do courses
RYA Competent Crew | Sailing Holidays
Last time we went on a flotilla there were people who did a training course and went straight into a charter the following week.
RYA Competent Crew | Sailing Holidays
Last time we went on a flotilla there were people who did a training course and went straight into a charter the following week.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Perfect then - we found Sailing Holidays excellent when we chartered with them a few years back
Stemar
Well-Known Member
Somewhere warm sound good this time of the year, but I would suggest doing a course somewhere with tides, which the Med doesn't. If you've never dealt with tides and their currents, it can come as a bit of downer to find the water's gone away if you weren't expecting it!
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately places that are warm and good for convincing reluctant partners tend not to have tides! Not convinced starting in tidal waters is necessary - we in UK are dominated by tides, but perhaps better to learn the basics without that complication and add it later.
Graham376
Well-Known Member
Algarve can be nice and warm for winter course in tidal waters.
Stemar
Well-Known Member
Gibralter?
Spirit (of Glenans)
Well-Known Member
In 1999 my wife and I were asking the same questions as you are now. ( this was at the time when it began to be considered wise to avoid excess UV exposure and give up beach holidays. Little did we know that we were embarking on one of the most UV-intensive pastimes! : ) ). We considered the alternatives we were aware of and decided on a one-week course at a sailing school, followed by two weeks charter, in Croatia.
We took the sailing course, in English, at Adriatic Nautical Academy, on the island of Jezera, in Croatia. It was to a similar standard as Coastal Skipper, and included theory up to that level, but without Tides. At the end of it we came to the conclusion that there was much more to learn, and that another course was much more advisable than taking off in a charter boat. We returned to the sailing school for the third week of our holiday and had a week's cruising course, with the same instructor and same boat as we had had for the first week. The following summer we discovered Glenans, which operated in Ireland at the time, and did more courses on both cruising boats and smaller, day-sailing keelboats, We crewed on delivery trips to Brittainy and back, did "Mile-Building" courses etc., advancing through the levels and eventually becoming Keelboat Instructors.
My advice is to do the CC course, follow up with a Theory Course, once you have had your foot in the water, so to speak, and then do Coastal Skipper, Yachtmaster can folllow when you have accumulated sufficient sea-miles and experience. (I may not be up to date with the titles of the various RYA courses, but their website will have all the info. For marital harmony, and mutual enjoyment of the hobby, encourage your wife to attain the same levels of achievement as yourself.
On re-reading your post I would also comment that your river cruiser experience will stand you in good stead. I also had previous experience with river cruisers through borowing my brother's boat.
We took the sailing course, in English, at Adriatic Nautical Academy, on the island of Jezera, in Croatia. It was to a similar standard as Coastal Skipper, and included theory up to that level, but without Tides. At the end of it we came to the conclusion that there was much more to learn, and that another course was much more advisable than taking off in a charter boat. We returned to the sailing school for the third week of our holiday and had a week's cruising course, with the same instructor and same boat as we had had for the first week. The following summer we discovered Glenans, which operated in Ireland at the time, and did more courses on both cruising boats and smaller, day-sailing keelboats, We crewed on delivery trips to Brittainy and back, did "Mile-Building" courses etc., advancing through the levels and eventually becoming Keelboat Instructors.
My advice is to do the CC course, follow up with a Theory Course, once you have had your foot in the water, so to speak, and then do Coastal Skipper, Yachtmaster can folllow when you have accumulated sufficient sea-miles and experience. (I may not be up to date with the titles of the various RYA courses, but their website will have all the info. For marital harmony, and mutual enjoyment of the hobby, encourage your wife to attain the same levels of achievement as yourself.
On re-reading your post I would also comment that your river cruiser experience will stand you in good stead. I also had previous experience with river cruisers through borowing my brother's boat.
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Jonny A
Well-Known Member
If you haven't done any sailing at all before (i.e. wind powered rather than engine) I would very strongly recommend you do a 1 or 2-day dinghy course before doing anything on bigger boats. It's much easier to learn the basics that way without all the extra distractions a yacht provides.
KompetentKrew
Well-Known Member
Does Competent Crew cover tides? I recollect its syllabus as being about putting out fenders, tying basic knots, helping tie up the boat, hook morning balls and the man overboard dummy.
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Agree with the 'start small' philosophy. A dinghy course is cheaper and will give you excellent wind awareness without having to worry about which way to load a winch etc. I'm an RYA instructor and have my own boat but I still persuaded Mrs Q to take a dinghy course.
If you don't agree then Start Yachting is the intro course to the Yachtmaster programme, aimed at people who can't sail at all. Completion shortens Comp Crew requirements so it's hardly any more expensive overall.
If you don't agree then Start Yachting is the intro course to the Yachtmaster programme, aimed at people who can't sail at all. Completion shortens Comp Crew requirements so it's hardly any more expensive overall.
Gixer
Well-Known Member
Its good to try lots of things and see where your hearts at. I did,
L2 Dinghy - Not for me too much getting wet and nowhere to make the tea.
L2 Powerboat - A right laugh and still tempted to get a fast RIB.
Personal watercraft - After 20mins flat out, as dull as dishwater.
CC, DS, - Now that's what its all about, loads to learn and the worlds your Oyster, or if you can't afford an Oyster there's a nice Seawych on Facebook (JK)
L2 Dinghy - Not for me too much getting wet and nowhere to make the tea.
L2 Powerboat - A right laugh and still tempted to get a fast RIB.
Personal watercraft - After 20mins flat out, as dull as dishwater.
CC, DS, - Now that's what its all about, loads to learn and the worlds your Oyster, or if you can't afford an Oyster there's a nice Seawych on Facebook (JK)
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
Good idea. But like anywhere else between Cape St Vincent to Turkey, I reckon best left until late spring or early summer.
If you are reeling in a reluctant partner, warm (not West Indies hot) is generally best. Tides don't matter. Marinas with good facilities work plus reasonable weather for a bit of sailing in the dark too. And anchoring for lunch!
Graham376
Well-Known Member
Maybe I was lucky, quite a bit of boat handling as well. There were evening theory classes for the guys doing day skipper so some knowledge gained there although much not absorbed properly until I did the shore based theory.