Training

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Danny_Labrador

Danny_Labrador

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SWMBO and I have decided to get some extra training and expertise before next years charter adventure.

I am up to Costal Skipper theory and my next sensible step would be Coastal Skipper Practical but I am not so interested in another ticket just at the moment, I feel that I should get some more varied experience.

At SIBS we carried out a full review of all the training companies showing and told them of our ideas, we have these short listed. (we are not in the south so not in the know)

What’s the knowledge out there with regard to any of these companies ?
 
I am not sure your going to learn much from your pole.

People are only likely to have experience of one school perhaps two.. That may be negative in which case they will not vote . I have experience of one on your list, not prepared to say which one (bit negative see) not for me but clearly ok for others , but would happily recommend one not on the list.

So many variables in this market.

If your not after another ticket why not try the longer cruises that some schools offer.?
 
You say you dont want another ticket but you want to do some training in preparation.

During the prep. week for YM I learned, (learnt??), tons about handling a big boat in all kinds of scenarios... particularly marina handling and anchoring, which I had asked the instructor to concentrate on if he could.....

I believe you can do the Coastal Skipper course without doing the exam, (although, having done the course, it would seem sensible to do the exam).

Alternatively, you could see if you could book a week of general training - but I could guess that this might not have the focus of a course.

Where is SWMBO up to with skills and tickets?

Dont know any of the schools, and can only recommend Rob & Jules at rusailing.com in Lagos, Portugal.

Richard
 
I did CS practical with East Anglia Sea School at Levington. Brilliant 5 days, first RYA stuff I've done, and done with the intention of "benchmarking" my 41 years of sailing experience... The instructor had taken his own boat around the world and was ace....

The only reason for doing CS was the lack of formal qualifying mileage for other stuff (actually the lack of records of aforementioned)
 
The guys at Stormforce have taught my sister and a couple of customers, and everyone was very happy, they were happy to tailor the course to individual needs. Stormforce focuses on coaching rather than teaching and I would without a doubt vote for them. I should say at this point that I know them socially and professionally but am not biased by this. Proof being that this is where I spend my hard earned cash.

As far as the others go I believe that Tiller and Yachtmaster Academy while being very good at what they do are both shorebased correspondence schools and therefore should not be on your short list for practical training. A couple of the others are really charter companies who do a bit of RYA training to maximise their boat usage. One of them is I believe very new to the yachting market being essentially an inland dinghy centre.
 
Would vote for stormforce insofar as Doug Innes their principle skippered the boat I was on for Sailing Logic round the island last year. He seemed a decent bloke. Otherwise my training has been with Ondeck based in gosport who I thought were a good bunch.
 
Did a 'mileage building' course with Cornish Cruising in Feb. Everyone was looking towards doing a CS week later on, so were mostly at the same level. It was a great way to practise stuff under the watchful gaze of an RYA instructor without being constrained by a set syllabus.

I haven't met any of the other companies you mention so can't compare, but I imagine that most of the schools that you have mentioned would offer something similar. Cornish Cruising seemed like a good bunch, and of course Falmouth is a beautiful area, and a nice change from the Solent. On a clear sunny day the train journey from London is fantastic, if you like that kind of thing.
 
It's a good idea to do the course to learn rather than to get a bit of paper. I first got yachtmaster in 1979, I think. When I came back to sailing after a very long gap a few years ago I decided to do the course again to get up to date. The instructor was so pleased to hear that I didn't want to do the exam (my mileage is to old) as so many just want the gualification, not the knowledge.

It was good not to have to know morse or two flag hoists but radar and GPS took me by surprise! Just as well the real, practical, stuff stays the same!
 
Cant comment on their yachting courses but a couple of my crew and I did our Sea Survival ISAF Safety course with Stormforce. We only signed up because RORC said we have to to do the Fastnet.

It was a very worthwhile weekend, we were taught mainly by the owner- Doug and partly by another chap (ex paramedic). The course opened our eyes to many issues we had never even considered before and was a fun and informative two days. When I have the time to do my Yachtmaster I will definatly be going back there.
 
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