Yacht Master's go bump, bang, bash.

[Peppermint]

Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

My insurers tell me that there is no statistical reason to discount insurance to holders of the YM qualification as they have as many accidents as unqualified sailors.

Could it be that some lie in a bit to long?

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[Robin]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

Would you rather your boat was chartered perhaps to a young couple new to the game and scared to go out in more than F4 or a full crew of YMs kitted out for the Southern Ocean and raring to leave for Cherbourg once the pub shuts despite the F9 and thick fog forecast?

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[AndrewJ]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

I would prefer to rent my boat to someone who was to scared of a f4 to take it out as opposed to an over-confident ninny who would take it out in a f9 and fog. To paraphrase, "there are very very few old bold sailors."

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[graham]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

Force 9 and thick fog?

Did they have any lightning to worry about as well????

One explanation for the statistics could be that people commited enough to get YM certificates probably use their boats a lot more on average,exceptions to every rule of course.

One of the few people I would lend my boat to has no qualifications at all ,I know a few YMs I certainly would not lend it to.

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[Robin]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

<One explanation for the statistics could be that people commited enough to get YM certificates probably use their boats a lot more on average,exceptions to every rule of course.>


I'm not actually sure that is true. I know quite a few YMs who have got their qualification without ever owning a boat, the required sea miles, night hours etc that I thought were required seem 'flexible' too in some cases. The new fast track courses seem to reinforce that argument too. Whilst I know a few YMs who are very capable I also know some I wouldn't trust on the local boating lake!





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[MainlySteam]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

<<<Would you rather your boat was chartered perhaps to...>>>

Or, who would you trust your car to - someone who has driven all their life without a drivers' licence or someone who has just learnt to drive but has a drivers' licence.

While there are exceptions (Peppermint seems to be one) Yachtmasters seems to be frequently used as a fast track to "experience" for the inexperienced.

(NB I am not knocking the knowledge gained from Yachtmasters)

John

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[montezuma]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

For those of us that sail professionally, this is universally a very sore point.

Having sailed with many, my experience is that FastTrack YMs from most schools - with one possible exception that I know of - are not YMs. They simply have had no experience of Skippering a yacht, they have minimum miles and utterly inadequate sea experience. Although for the first 6 months after they qualify, they know all the theory and have high expectations.

FastTracks from a large trust in Cowes used to get a week to themselves Skippering a yacht, but I understand that even this no longer happens, poor apology for the general intent that it was.

The whole FastTrack business undermines the the intent of the original RYA scheme for cynical business benefit and is a real problem for those of us trying to determine the true ability of potential crew. It's about time the RYA acted, possibly with a time-served requirement between CS and YM.

This is not a new moan, far from it. the RYA have received a number of "encouraging" inputs on this subject over the last few years, but commercial considerations, or inertia, have very obviously allowed this anomoly to continue.

Phew, I'll get off the soapbox now and start on a few FastTracks (why do I give them the benefit of capitals....)



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[ccscott49]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

I would not lend my boat to anybody. Period!

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[Robin]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

Nor me!

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[graham]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

I think part of the problem is that the RYA lays down minimum numbers of passases ,mileage etc.

What they cant really control is the "quality" of the candidates experience.

Someone skippering a small yacht on a 10 mile coastal passage from one port to another has to deal with the complete spectrum of what the YM exam covers presuming at least some of it is done in the dark.

On the other hand someone crewing on a 1000 mile passage may only have steered courses worked up by someone else ,made the coffee and stowed the fenders.

I think the emphasis should be shifted more to experience of being in command "master under god" rather than meaningless miles logged up.

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[iangrant]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

I take the view that my YM course and exam reconfirmed that I still have to continue to learn..

A week in the Solent doing blind navigation, tides, MoB Coll regs etc.. etc.. the RYA syllabus is all a great thing, I learned a lot, but that alone doesn't make a good skipper.

Perhaps the exam should include an engine/rig repair in a minimum force 6 with half the crew seasick, the autohelm buggered etc....

Everytime I sail, especially with someone else onboard I learn something new.

I'm convinced a lot of the problems stem from some of the fast tracks get the badge and think they know it all..

Ian

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[brianhumber]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

Couple of months after getting my drivers licence I put my Landrover in the ditch.
Not long after getting my Yachtmasters left St Peters Port in Fog at Springs, ended up white watering the overfalls in the Ortac channel instead of the Swinge.
Have read the most dangerous time for pilots is about 60 hours after going Solo
Lesson - a piece of paper gives young turks dangerous bravardo
Perhaps aged gits could get a discount ala Saga motor insurance?

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[tome]

Re: Yacht Master\'s go bump, bang, bash.

Spot on Ian, agree with everything you say and I'm sure I'll never stop learning.

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