Yachtmaster training South Africa

[Happy1]

I am seriously considering popping over to Durban in September to get some experience in sailing, and whilst at it doing my yachtmaster training. I have been offered a 10 week course, which on completion should give me the qualifications below. I can't see any problem with this as it is just for my own use and experience, but is there anything that I should consider before sending the cash out there? I know it is sailing, but I can do a conversion course at UKSA to Yachtmaster Power on my return. I know that I am new to boating but this is a course for beginners like me to fast track the years normally required to get these miles, & would it be good experience before getting a bigger boat?

Sensible replies only please /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

YACHT HAND
YACHT SKIPPER
COASTAL SKIPPER
YACHTMASTER

SHORE BASED: Theory and navigation to Yachtmaster level

VOYAGES: Return voyages to Richards Bay, East London and Bazaruto Island - giving in excess of 2500 nautical miles

S.T.C.W. 95: Marine Fire Fighting, Marine First Aid, Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities, Sea Survival - (MCA Recognised)

VHF MARINE RADIO LICENCE

REFIT SKILLS: * Anti-fouling * Sanding * Varnishing * Filling / fairing * Painting * Basic engine maintenance * Cleaning * Teak deck maintenance * Basic fiberglass repairs.

GENERAL * Tender handling * Passage planning * Line handling / coordinating * Watch keeping * Yacht victualling


R.Y.A EXAMINATION - WITH COMMERCIAL ENDORSEMENT CAPE TOWN


<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Solitaire]

I lived in SA for 10 years. Great climate. with the exchange rate you'll be quids in. Durban is great, but can be very humid in the summer - Sept - Mar. Have mates who used to sail out of Durban. The water is warm being the Indian Ocean, as ooposed to sailing out of Cape Town where the water will freeze your nuts off, even in mid summer. The only thing to watch on sailing out of Durban is.. don't do live MOB drill. The great whites live off the beaches of Durbs{wink]. I reckon you'll get a bargin and if you can afford that much time away, go for it.

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[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[Moose]

Happy, How many times have you had to calculate the time and height of the tide for a standard port? How many night hours do you have? How many passage plans have you written? How hard are charts to read from all the lines,crosses and numbers you have written on them? How many times have you seen the difference the wind speed and direction makes to the height of the tide? How many times have you got to the boat without the keys? How many times have you seen a massive great ship displaying an All round Red light over a white over a red and known what it means? How many times have you scraped into the marina kicking up all the mud because you tried to cut it too fine (and then known to wait a little longer for the tide next time) How many times have you bashed the boat trying to get it into its berth? How many times have you written down East instead of West (and vice versa) when writing a lat and long? How many hours have you done? How many times have you misjudged the speed of a boat crossing you and got a little close? How many weather forecasts have you tried to write down as they are rattled off on the vhf? How many times have you lined up on the wrong transit? How many times have you been scared on your boat? How many times have you got to "somewhere" and there has been no berths so you have had to rattle off a new route and race off somewhere else in the middle of the night to find somewhere to anchor? How many times have you been caught out in weather that was worse than you thought?
The above are mostly mistakes/skills that you gain experience(sp? how ironic from every time you do them, that is what you need for the YachtMaster not a fast track to get a piece of paper that means nothing unless you have dropped your car keys in the marina and learnt from the mistake by buying a cork keyring e.t.c! You gain experince by making mistakes and learning from them, not by spending 10 weeks in South Africa doing everything perfectly (on a yacht???) No1 Moose and I are taking our YM in the next few weeks because we have done (most) of the above and feel that we might as well do it to make sure we are doing things right and to get the piece of paper that we have "earnt" in the last 10 months by doing 2555 miles about 500 of which are night miles and 150 of which are when we got caught out in some bad weather and to cut the cost of my insurance before I have to renew it Because we have gained experince we no longer go out when there is a risk of the wind picking up to a F9, it wasn't pleasant but you wouldn't know that would you?

READ TCM'S ARTICLE IN MBM (OR MBY) IN THE LAST ISSUE, IT IS ABOUT EXPERINCE

If you only posted on one forum I wouldn't need to copy and paste.

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El Alce

 

[Happy1]

My reply is on your Scuttlebutt version so I won't duplicate it here /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>