Yachtmaster training South Africa

jimi · 23 Jul 2003

I think its a great idea but with the caveats already attached by most other people. Also my major reservation is that there is then no major incentive for future training. IMHO do the course but do not sit the YM exam. Rationale being that there is something to aim at after a couple of years when you've got a bit more experience and you can actually gain a lot more from YM refresher training and the exam. But it all depends whether you want a bit of paper or wish to be a really competent seaman.

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simonjinks · 23 Jul 2003

Re: South Africa

Durban has a very desolate coastline with few harbours. You either go out into the current a few miles offshore and get a ride up or down the coast but every passage will be long from Durban as there is nowhere to really sail to (130 miles +). Swells are big, if you get wind against tide in the Aghullas current (2-6 knots) expect 10 m swell. A much better place to train if you are heading over to SA is not on the East - Indian Ocean side, but on the West coast - South Atlantic side especially around Saldanha. Saldahna has lots of ports that are a reasonable distance apart, tide plus it offers shelter when either a SE or NW buster comes through. Do remember that all your weather training over there is the other way around as it all spins the other way. It is dominated by high pressure and the tips of a cold fronts whereas the UK is the other way around.

It is a great place to sail but be wary of expecting a ticket. Go along with an open mind and a will to learn sailing and not to collect a ticket, that way you will not be pressuring yourself to perform. When you feel confident to take either the CS or YM then go for it but do not get pushed into it by friends family or the school. Lean more towards being a solid CS than a dodgy YM.

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Happy1 · 23 Jul 2003

I just contacted SA to ask if it was feasable for someone to pass the course, they stated that with effort focus and hard work it was, so I don't think it is a picnic! I also asked if you had to do th exam and the answer was no, I also asked what would happen if you failed, the answer was that you had enough miles and quailifactions to re-sit it at later date, this could be done in the UK. So nothing to lose really, even if it turns out to be a cheap 10 week holiday! I would however want to get the most out of it, so the effort, focus and hard work would certainly be put in.

Just need to sort out the time off from being a house husband, and do something with the baby /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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

qsiv · 23 Jul 2003

I agree about the learning v teaching issue. I've been afloat in various guises since I was 2 or 3 - I certainly learned to row the same year I walked. I've done a certain amount of sailing over the years - and have learned a certain amount over that time, but have never felt the need to take any exam (save the SRC and ICC which are requirements). I appreciate that things have changed and paperwork would be required for some of things I have done (such as teaching sailing) which wasnt at the time.

I think it is the contiuous learning (not in the classroom sense) that makes going to sea interesting. Next year I hope to have a new boat, and am thrilled that a world class US sailor or two has agreed to come over to Cowes next year and drive/trim the boat for me. It will be a quite unparalleled opportunity, irrespective of how we finish the week and the experience gained will be huge - and that's the issue - it's experience gained, not factoids crammed.

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Happy1 · 23 Jul 2003

Jimi, it is the experince I want. I can't get too excited about Poole, Yarmouth, Chatham e.t.c. but I appreciate there is a lot to learn there. I want more out of life with bigger and better experiences, but you have to go and get them, nobody puts it on a plate. You never know I may get the urge to change to a raggy /forums/images/icons/wink.gif At least I would not be feeding £140 a weekend into my fuel tanks! I feel that I have chosen the correct route so far, by training prior to buying my boat, that even gave me ideas of what I wanted on the new boat. I have read just about every book recommended for my type of boating by the RYA, I am currently getting through Tom's latest 4th edition of Complete Yachtmaster. It all makes total sense, but it doesn't give you the practical experience. 10 weeks non stop is a hell of a time, I should get something from that! I do think that doing sail and then converting to power will make me a better and more rounded sailor, if I just did power I would feel that I was missing something. I understand that you cannot do power YM and convert to sail, but I stand corrceted if I got that wrong.

As for future training, I am not a certificate collector, I would see my future in perfecting and practicing the skills I had been taught.

Anyway I still have to get authority to go, so maybe I am wasting everyones time. It has made me think though with the attitudes and comments of some people. Mind you I have always been one to listen and then make my own decisions, I don't need to follow any pack, I can think for myself, but I also have to take accept responsibility if I get it wrong, but according to some that is a way to learn /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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

Cornishman · 23 Jul 2003

I am writing from 30 years experience as a RYA Yachtmaster Examiner and Instructor.
I am concerned that your programme makes no mention of the five 60 miles port to port qualifying passages required before you can take a RYA practical exam, 2 of which must have been as skipper and 2 of which must have been overnighters.

I suggest that before you decide what to do, and whether the 10 weeks will meet your expectations, you purchase a copy of the RYA Syllabus and Log Book G.15/03. Much of the advice given here is well summed up on p46 under the headings Quality of Experience and Geographical Breadth of Experience. There is much other valuable advice on how to gain the right sort of experience before examination.

Is this establishment a RYA Training Centre? If not you have no guarantee that it will cover the full RYA Training Programme, and therefore you might well be found out by an RYA Examiner. Overseas examinations must be organised through an RYA Training Centre recognised for practical cruising courses and the school must notify the RYA of overseas examinations and the location must be approved by the RYA (see p5 of G.15/03)

You also mention a VHF course. Make sure that it leads to the GMDSS SRC qualification as VHF Only certificates are no longer granted in this country, nor recognised if of recent date obtained overseas.

Finally, my long experience of training yachtspersons (Ugh!) tells me that people who have taken these concentrated courses know a lot for a few weeks after the course and nothing at the beginning of the next season.

I hope that this is of some help to you in making your decision, and if you go do have a good time and enjoy yourself.

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Happy1 · 23 Jul 2003

Brian,

Thanks for your reply. I for one would not choose that route if I wanted to work commercially, as I know as you do that any YM skipper who has done it the hard way would just not accept you. I am doing it for pleasure, with the possibility of having a certificate at the end. As you say, perhaps it is the system that is wrong, or is it, is it the past that has been wrong?

I am an advanced diver, but according to the new rules with PADI, you could do your Open Water exam say 5 dives and over the next two days complete your advanced course consisting of four further dives, although some speciality ones. You are then a PADI advanced diver!!! So is it the systems that are wrong, or will it soon be that certificates are not worth the paper they are written on as it is all commercially driven, and people see through it?

I do see this 10 week course as different though, it must be exhausting to be at it for that long, and to keep your concentration. It seems it would be a good stamina test if anything. I would treat it similar to my commando training, and just get stuck in, if there is the same kind of sense of achievements at the end, then it will have all been well worthwhile /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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

sailbadthesinner · 23 Jul 2003

Re: you never said

how much this course is
or apologies if you have and i have missed it

<hr width=100% size=1>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good

Happy1 · 23 Jul 2003

Hi,

Re the VHF GMDSS qualification, I have that already, but that is included. The company is called Sunsail and is apparently a worldwide operation and an RYA training establishment.

Hope that makes sense.

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

jimi · 23 Jul 2003

Sunsail

I've always wondered ... if you go on holiday with them or do a course .. and its peeing down and the sun do'nt shine ... do you get your money back under the Trades Description Act?

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Happy1 · 23 Jul 2003

Re: you never said

OK, I see the course as cheaper than a holiday (although to some it may seem cheap and to others expensive), although I would not call it a holiday as I would not have my family with me, and I still feel selfish even thinking about it. The fee for the 10 week course is £3k inclusive, less food and flights. I have hundreds of thousands of airmiles so that would be free to me, just pay for the tax. I look on it as £300 per week to learn to sail. I am putting £140 a weekend into my boat! so there is a saving already. The company as I mentioned earlier is called Sunsail an RYA authorised establishment, the price is so good because of the exchange rate between the GBP and the Rand. Now would anyone in my position NOT try to go for that amount. The conversion course to Motor is about £700 at UKSA, but I have not looked elsewhere.

Please let me know your views on this cost, or is it too expensive.

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

Happy1 · 23 Jul 2003

Re: Sunsail

Do you know anything about the company re teaching ?

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

jimi · 23 Jul 2003

Re: Sunsail

I did my Coastal Skipper with them in the Solent. I actually found the course very good ... but so much depends on the quality of skipper you happen to get.

I did it in February as I wanted the worst conditions to learn in. Rain, wind, dark, cold .... You learn more that way.

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sailbadthesinner · 23 Jul 2003

Re: you never said

to get a yacht for 300 quid a week is good
it all really comes down to the quality of the training and ofcourse you only know that AFTER
you forgot the cost of leaving your family for ten weeks
i thinik that is the price i couldn't pay.

<hr width=100% size=1>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good

Happy1 · 23 Jul 2003

Re: you never said

Yep, that's the tough one /forums/images/icons/wink.gif A baby daughter can change a lot in 10 weeks!

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

Happy1 · 23 Jul 2003

Re: Sunsail

How long was your course, and could you PM me an idea of how much?

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

sailbadthesinner · 23 Jul 2003

Re: Sunsail

he did it in february cos it is cheap
i did my dayskip with them and have stayed in touch with the instructor even tho he no longer works for sunsail
i did mine in march in scotland cos i wanted hard conditions
it never even rained once we had steady f4-5 beautiful
it was cold at night tho'

<hr width=100% size=1>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good

Happy1 · 23 Jul 2003

Re: Sunsail

Just told Jimi that I was planning to do my Dayskipper and advanced powerboat in Scotland in September, this was before this SA deal came through, One and a half weeks may be easier on the family than 10 weeks away /forums/images/icons/wink.gif Maybe I should re-consider?

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

sorehead · 23 Jul 2003

Re: The king of duplication

Why don't you book one in Cape Town and one in Durban? We can then enjoy 20 weeks without any duplication from you.

On a serious note, I know someone that has done the course and found the course to be excellent.

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Happy1 · 23 Jul 2003

Re: The king of duplication

Duplication? If you are talking about the thread on the Mobo forum, I realised after putting it on that they would not have a clue about yachtmaster sail, so transferred it to here, which seems to have been very beneficial. I also left a note to say I would not duplictate on there /forums/images/icons/wink.gif. Good comments and food for thought from some wise people on here, thanks /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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

Yachtmaster training South Africa

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