What use is a YM...

snowleopard

snowleopard

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qualification?

For those who have one, what use has it been to you (other than giving a warm feeling and a sense of superiority)? Has it enabled you to get cheap insurance? Charter a boat? Get a job?

For those who don't have it, have you found a circumstance where you were prevented from doing something for lack of a certificate?
 
First, let me say, I have no feeling of superiority. I take everyone at face value. Strange how many, that have never met me, see fit to criticise me just because I do have a YM.

I do get cheaper insurance!

I has been easier to Charter. I have only Chartered once in my whole sailing career. Unless you count the Norfolk Broads & Canals.

It does help me to get regular Sailing, on Yachts much larger than I would normally be able to sail, extremely cheaply & sometimes free.

I was encouraged, nearly 20 years ago, to go for my YM by the best sailor I have ever known. Unfortunately he died earlier this year but I owe him a debt of thanks for all that he taught me & I am not just talking seamanship.

Martin
 
I learned a lot on the practical prep, got the badge after a tough day exam, as for anything else, it demonstrates how much there is left to learn,,

cheers

ian
 
Why would having a YM qualification give you a sense of superiority?

None off the posters who have one display a sense of superiority, do you feel inadequate if you don't have one, or do you resent people who have one.

Maybe you'd like to borrow my straightjacket /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
aha - you touch on phase 2 of the movement to impose phase 1 - an orwellian style compulsive certification for all sailors (wind and motor)

so once you have one it can be taken away for infringements .......... hello breathaliser, hello speed traps, hello unregistered boats, hello compulsory insurance, hello nightmare ........
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
I have no formal qualifications in sailing. My sailing is done 95% in my own boat the other 5% in boats belonging to friends. The kind of sailing I do or want to do is not limited in any way by a lack of qualificaation.

If certification were to become compulsory I would almost certainly not be able to continue sailing as I cannot afford the cost or the time to complete both practical and theory.

I have no feelings of jealousy, resentment or inferiority in relation to those who have the qualifications and have never experienced any kind of animosity from those who have.

The polarisation of views that have manifested themselves over the last few days and the vehemence with which they have been expressed has come as a bit of a shock and has been very depressing to witness. Sailing has, for me, been a pastime typified by generosity of spirit and a welcoming attitude.

The freedom for all to participate at a level appropriate to the individual concerned without hindrance is is something I would fight hard to protect. I would beg everyone involved not to jeopardise it.
 
Did it because I wanted to. Now I have it I can Charter almost any yacht worldwide which is one reason I wanted it. (Chartered also easily with Coastal)
Nobody has to do it, I think that for those who want to put themselves through it , it shows a certain level of competence.
Bit like wetting yourself inside your oilies, you know youve done it, you have a nice warm feeling inside, but nobody else knows. Unless you tell them
 
Wrong Perspective

I feel I probably speak for the majority of YMs who like me did not go through it for any of the reasons that you outline.

Whilst its some time since I did mine I seem to remember thinking that it would probably subject me to situations which I wouldn't necessarily go looking for - which it did - and I suppose that I gained some confidence from that experience. It was also novel for me to be with other sailors of varying levels of experience - but all with the qualifying criteria as I learned that I wasn't the best sailor there and nor was I the worst. Self asessment is quite difficult but I do believe its valuable -don't you agree? I'm not sure where you are coming from with the question, at present I have assumed - rightly or wrongly that you don't hold one but perhaps are considering undertaking it?
 
Re: Wrong Perspective

I don't have any formal qualifications and it has never hindered chartering - or led to any higher insurance premiums - or made me feel less or more superior to other sailors.

Guess I've always felt like aitchw - not really careing one way or another. I'm always hopeful all sailors just got on with one another - but as this forum frequently demonstrates - we seem to prefer to disagree or argue more often than not.

But when (and I sadly expect when and not if) compulsary qualifications do come in for the UK - I will like most others - have to find the time to complete them.

Cheers
John
 
As scuttlebutt seems to be having a Yachtmaster weekend
I’ve written a poem, hope you like it.



My only dream has always been
To sail away to sea
The trouble was I didn`t know how
Till someone said to me
If your really serious, then listen to what I say
Go get a boat and get afloat
Then get your RYA.

So down I went to Joe’s boatyard
And searched till it was dark
The trouble was, all the boats
Looked like Noah’s Ark
Then up the yard up on the hard
I spied the good ship Flo
I duly gave old Joe the cash
And he readied it to go.

She wasn’t very pretty
But I loved her just the same
And I thought it would be easy
The seven seas to tame.
So many hours I spent on her
Preparing for a trip
And soon as Flo was all shipshape
I went home for a kip.


All my friends arrived at 10
And off we went to sea
But everything we did was wrong.
And we were back by 3
Then as my mates fled up the dock
One was heard to say
He hasn`t got a bloody clue
He needs the RYA.

I sat amongst my shattered dreams
A sorry sight to see.
I say’s to Joe, It’s gorra go
Before it murders me
Come cheer up lad , It` not so bad
There is another way
You can get instruction if you see the RYA.

So off I went with cash in hand
To join the RYA
They were very pleased to see me
And I started straight away
I went in Mrs Shroudfoot`s class
They were a happy crew
She was grand, took me in hand
And taught me all she knew

So now I understand the rules
And how to helm a boat
And what to do when things go wrong
When I am afloat
I also now have confidence
When my friends come to play
So thank you Joe
And thank you Flo
And thank you RYA.


…………………
 
Re: Wrong Perspective

The unfortunate thing is that, if qualifications become mandatory, like driving, people will aspire the the lowest qualification necessary to achieve their goal.

That cannot be a good thing.

Martin
 
I'm a yachtmaster and I'm okay
I sleep all night and I sleep all day
He's a yachtmaster and he's okay
He sleeps all night and he sleeps all day


I pull up sails, I throw up my lunch
I go to the lavat'ry
On Saturdays I go sailing
And have twenty pints for tea
He pulls up sails...
He's a yachtmaster...

I pull up sails, I skip and jump
I love to press wild flow'rs
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars
He pulls up sails...
He's a yachtmaster...

I pull up sails, I wear high heels
Suspendies and a bra
I wish I'd been a girlie
Just like good old Tome
He pulls up sails...
He's a yachtmaster...
 
Made me laugh - perfect timing, /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

..............
 
I tweak my leech, I heave my lines
On Tuesdays I drop my hook
I polish up my YM gongs,
But I couldn't give a fook
He pulls up sails...
He's a yachtmaster...
 
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