miket
Well-Known Member
Wife finally kicked me into doing this last weekend, having done theory in 1993! (didn't think it was quite that long ago)
Conned a friend into doing it at same time on my boat, and persuaded another to come as driver, crew, cook general calmer downer.
Arranged for an aquaintance (Y'master instructor and examiner) to come for 2 days refresher before exam on Monday.
Saturday- nervous as a kid at 11 plus, but eventually started to relax. General nav' work on Sat'. Sat' eve night passages all round Solent inc' Hamble, Cowes and Lymington.
Sunday- did the blind nav' bit between Newtown Creek and Cowes. Simulated fog with 75 yards visibility. Quite satisfied, but eventually told driver to stop boat, as depth shallowing. Came upstairs and buoy was 76 yards away!
Exam- really just a continuation of the 2 days with John (instructor) and thoroughly enjoyable. Robert Avis (examiner) was great at settling us, the weather was sunny and the boat behaved immpeccably.
Do have a spare crew/ skipper who you are happy to do all steering, treat yourself to proper Admiralty charts of the area, and remember that they want to pass you, but won't if you do something basically wrong.
Yes we passed.
Conned a friend into doing it at same time on my boat, and persuaded another to come as driver, crew, cook general calmer downer.
Arranged for an aquaintance (Y'master instructor and examiner) to come for 2 days refresher before exam on Monday.
Saturday- nervous as a kid at 11 plus, but eventually started to relax. General nav' work on Sat'. Sat' eve night passages all round Solent inc' Hamble, Cowes and Lymington.
Sunday- did the blind nav' bit between Newtown Creek and Cowes. Simulated fog with 75 yards visibility. Quite satisfied, but eventually told driver to stop boat, as depth shallowing. Came upstairs and buoy was 76 yards away!
Exam- really just a continuation of the 2 days with John (instructor) and thoroughly enjoyable. Robert Avis (examiner) was great at settling us, the weather was sunny and the boat behaved immpeccably.
Do have a spare crew/ skipper who you are happy to do all steering, treat yourself to proper Admiralty charts of the area, and remember that they want to pass you, but won't if you do something basically wrong.
Yes we passed.