Sea Schools

[david42]

Hi all

I'm planning on doing my coastal skipper practical next April, I have 2 questions:

1) Most of my sailing to date has been in The Solent, does it make sense to do the course & exam there so that I have some local knowledge and can concentrate on the exam? I'm asking because I fancy a change from The Solent but I'd rather have the best shot at passing the exam, I can always sail somewhere else later on - hmm, maybe I'm answering my own question.

2) Any recomendations for a good sea school?

David

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[LadyInBed]

1) Would you feel that you have earned your stripes, doing it in your own back yard?
Yes - fair enough
No - go for the added challenge
A saying to bare in mind - familiarity breeds contempt.

2) I've no idea.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Chris_Stannard]

If you are familiar with the Solent the examiner will expect you to be able to do your navigation more quickly and accurately, so if you feel happier there Do it in the Solent. As to sea schools, Southern Sailing or the Hamble School of yachting both have pretty good reputations.

<hr width=100% size=1>Chris Stannard

 

[extravert]

When I did my shore based course I was told that I should do my practical course and exam somewhere unfamiliar, because I would get more out of it if I did. I followed the advice and took my course and the exam in the Solent, because that area is foreign to me.

Also I think it is more of a holiday and less of an endurance if you go somewhere new. I doubt I would have spent a week in the Solent otherwise. I now know all the places that Southern types mention in their posts.

You can do RYA approved tidal courses and exams in Gibralter. Could be a bit more pleasant than the UK in April.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I hope to own a real boat.

 

[graham]

I had the same thoughts when Idid mine.

Idid mine with Southern Sailing in the Solent as they came strongly recommended to me by a friend.(The Solent is not my usual sailing area)

Doing the training and exam in a strange area was initially a bit daunting to me,but after 5 days training with Southern Sailing we had visited quite a bit of the solent ,my bad habits had been ironed out by the instructor and the exam went OK.

All examiners are experienced yachtspeople first so will know that a strange harbour is allways a bit more stressfull but if he sees you doing it right and safely getting into harbour he will be impressed.

Iheard a story of someone doing the exam in his home area and the examiner not being happy about him not doing tidal height calculations etc.The answer that" Iknow theres plenty of water because Ive been here hundreds of times"didnt impress the examiner.

Idid my exam with 2 others who were both local to the Solent .All 3 of us did OK.So Idont think it matters too much where you do it.

Good luck Graham

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ChrisE]

I'd also endorse Southern Sailing, I did my YM with them together with 5 days prep and was thoroughly impressed. Two of the other guys had not sailed the Solent before and they were at a disadvantage, in my view, as they didn't have the instant recognition of Solent landmarks such as the Fawley chimney. That said we all passed and had an excellent 7 days on the water.

Best of luck, wherever you decide to do it.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BOWDONMAN]

I also plan to do Coastal Skipper next year. I have got as far as Day skipper with B.O.S.S based at Hamble Point and have been very happy with them.
They do say, I beleive, that if you can sail in the Solent you can sail anywhere - so not a bad place to qualify.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Peppermint]

Re: Did my YM

in June with Southern Sailing and i was very impressed with the whole thing.

I toyed with taking it somewhere interesting, the Humber sprung to mind, but I dismissed it as just making life hard.

That being said I do have a lot of experience of sailing all over the place. I found the exam made you think even though you were in home waters. The working out is the same wherever you are and calculating stuff and looking at charts that you take for granted is not much easier than going somewhere new. Your instructor & examiner will take you to places that you don't usually go to anyway.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[chris_db4]

Re: Did my YM

I did my YM theory with BOSS in june and was very impressed with them and am returning in janurary for the pratical, the main reson for choosing the solent is not many places in northern ireland or scotland run them every week and most stop for the winter, my opinion of doing it somewhere different is that if your going to do a prep week you should become familair with an area and cocky local knowledge may work against you. both sourthern sailing and hamble school of yacthing came recomended to me from people who have done theirs with them,
hope this helps and dosn't add to your confusion

<hr width=100% size=1>