sleeping on training boats

[webcraft]

Are the RYA courses geared towards a vision of sailing that does not match the aspirations of most of us?

Quite possibly. A lot of people DO crew on boats with people they may only just have met though.

The RYA syllabus for each course is clearly laid out, and if it is not for you it is not for you. They are not compulsory. Sailing couples can hire an instructor to come and run a course just for them on their boat, or alternatively if you just want to learn to handle the boat you can pay someone to teach you just that .

Let's not turn this into another thread knocking the RYA.

- W

 

[IanH]

.

Chatting Lil, many thanks for the helpful and considered reply. I am genuinly more concerned for others than my own sensibilities and clearly need to get over my sensibilities - bit of a wallflower or woos as described above.

thanks again

Ian

 

[TiggerToo]

What about a course for "The Sailing Family"?

... first of all : many happy congratulations, best wishes etc for the forthcoming happy event in your life. (insert champagne smily here)

back to the thread theme. If you went on a course with your family (or even just as a couple like I did) then the problem does not really arise. However, if you need to/want to go alone as single, I think it is fair enough you are up to sharing a bunk.

We are talking about courses here, not long term holidaying. I think a distinction must be made.

If you want to get away from "them all" (as opposed to from "it all") then you should get yoruself a good solo boat and actually go on your own, or your lovely spouse... (which is what I tend to do)

 

[flyingscampi]

I spent one night sharing a V berth with a bloke who insisted on sleeping with the door and hatch firmly closed. Woken and revolted by the condensation dripping off the smooth fibreglass roof of the cabin I spent the remainder of the trip on the narrow saloon seat.

 

[Leighb]

On strange boats - always pack earplugs. As long as you are not in charge and people know you are using them they can transform the experience. (I learned this at the age of 16, when I was compelled to share a cabin with a deafening snorer. Grim. )

Strange boats, hospitals, hotels, wherever. Ear plugs guarantee a good nights sleep. Especially in hospitals which are amazingly noisy at night, you just need to make sure the night nurse knows you are using them for when she comes to do your BP etc every hour.

 

[tokenjam]

So which one did you get to sleep with?

Unfortunately a young snorey bloke, but the girls weren't much better; mind you I'm not that fussy

 

[Talulah]

Yes. A requirement for the Day Skipper course is 5 nights spent on board.

- W

Not sure where you get that from.
The requirement is for 5 days on board.
If you spread this over two weekends where one weekend is a three day weekend or you spread it over 3 normal weekends you can have as little as 3 nights on board.
Even if you run 5 days straight you can join first thing Monday and finish Friday afternoon. That would be 4 nights.

 

[Talulah]

I had a group on board in Yarmouth.
Whilst waiting for our meal in the Wheatsheaf one of the mail clients piped up "They do rooms here."
The meal (great value in the Wheatsheaf by the way) was delivered shortly afterwards and we tucked in.
Having finished the main course the same client then threw a set of keys on table and said "Who wants to join me?"
One of the female clients responded positively and neither where seen again until after breakfast the following day.

 

[starfire]

And no one has yet mentioned snoring.

I snore like a ******* !

I am honest & tell em up front, if it's fine I sleep in the cockpit, if not I prefer the saloon for the simple reason there is less motion there.

No lee cloths & I sleep on the floor, or a least I give up getting back into the pit.

 

[DavenHelen]

I think, though, that for many of us, the "camping" side of sailing is NOT what it is all about.

Funnily enough, I have only come across it the other way round, on a Mileage Builder/Cruise. One single guy arrived for a 7 day cruise with what appeared to be 1 change of shirt and goodness knows what else. I think he was expecting the experience promulgated on this thread and found himself the odd one out on a more relaxed journey.

 

[webcraft]

I think . . .

The requirement is for 5 days on board.
If you spread this over two weekends where one weekend is a three day weekend or you spread it over 3 normal weekends you can have as little as 3 nights on board.
Even if you run 5 days straight you can join first thing Monday and finish Friday afternoon. That would be 4 nights.

I may be wrong, but it is my understanding as a Cruising Instructor that the RYA definition of 'days on board' includes the night.

On Mon-Fri courses I have run everyone joins Sunday night and spends 5 nights on board. Weekend courses are usually one weekend Fri-Sun and one weekend Fri-Mon or Thurs-Sun. AFAIK the 5 nights is an RYA requirement and I am not personally aware of any school offering Day Skipper practical that does not insist on five nights on board, but I am prepared to be corrected if you can offer an example.

- W

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I may be wrong, but it is my understanding as a Cruising Instructor that the RYA definition of 'days on board' includes the night.

On Mon-Fri courses I have run everyone joins Sunday night and spends 5 nights on board. Weekend courses are usually one weekend Fri-Sun and one weekend Fri-Mon or Thurs-Sun. AFAIK the 5 nights is an RYA requirement and I am not personally aware of any school offering Day Skipper practical that does not insist on five nights on board, but I am prepared to be corrected if you can offer an example.

- W

It is 5 nights, which means a 6 day course. This buggered up the economics as many schools ran 5 day courses and weekend courses, especially single boat schools, before this ruling. It could lead to instructor burn out as well.

I thought it was great. I spent a long time on the water just sailing about, having a laugh with students........ until I met the girl who was to become my wife - then it was a hassle.