Zero to Hero...Good or Terrible

[StellaGirl]

I apologise now if this has already been covered on the forum but as a relatively new user I have missed it...the recent sailing school recommendation post prompted this....

I know alot of people have a very strong opinion on the Fastrack courses and the "zero to hero" way some of them are run.

However there must be good stories out there about them? I have been sailing for a year and in the this year I have been out on the water pretty much every weekend on a variety of boats. Am also doing the ARC next month and I love it so much I have given up my job and want to keep on learning and try and "work on the water" eventually. I know the money aint that great and all the other downside people keep telling me about but I have made my mind up.

I have looked into the PST course at the Hamble School of Yachting and it sounds really good. Not only are you out on the water but you do maintenance courses etc. I have already done my comp crew, DS theory and have my VHF licence but think this course would suit me. I dont expect to be know it all when I finish it and I am not thinking of doing it just so I can say I am a YM.

So I would like peoples thoughs - pros, cons and anything that I need to know!

Thank you...

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[tome]

Hi StellaGirl

If you've been sailing for a year you'll know already that there is hardly a trip goes by when you don't learn something new. This doesn't change if you are a YM and I can say that it's still the case after more than 25 years (maybe I'm just a slow learner).

A friends son is doing the fastrack course at UKSA right now, and I've been following his progress via reports from dad. I would imagine that if you are determined to pursue a career afloat, as you obviously are, then it's a useful step up the ladder. Most of the criticism stems from the indisputable fact that you really cannot become a competent skipper with just 6 weeks or so of experience, but it sounds like you are well aware of this.

Good luck if you go for it - enjoy and keep us updated
Tom

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[ianwright]

Learn all you can as fast as you can. nothing wrong with that, but without years and miles as Skipper you will be a well informed beginner. You learn very little sitting on the windward rail no matter how far the boat goes.
Grab a chance,,,,,,,,,,,,,, best of luck.

IanW

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[StellaGirl]

Would be interested to hear how the UKSA course goes for your friend too. The Hamble course is 17 weeks long so you can fit a fair amount in I guess. Thanks for your info....

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[sailbadthesinner]

I went on the challenge yachts this time last year
filthy weather with lots of wind
the skipper had announced in plymouth that 2 yrs ago he had never set foot on a boat
given up the job and just decided to do it
did the UKSA zero to hero
he had thoroughly enjoyed it and had found gainful employ with Chay Blyth's outfit.
he was competent, thorough, curteous, bloody hard working and bloody good fun
he and his mate took a boat load of novices (only four of the crew had sailed before) out in 63 knots of wind
we pulled out from the irish sea crossing, good call in my view, and he came up with other stuff to do on our storm bound day.

if that is what these courses turn out i would go for it
as ever, he said, you only get out what we you put in

he was a bit sceptical about their employment claims
not everyone went on to get well paid jobs and some of his class were doing what he regarded as shittily paid delivery work (crewing not skippering) but he had found a job and was enjoying it.

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

 

[vyv_cox]

Making the contacts

My son worked for Sunsail for 7 years, in UK, France, Spain, Greece, Turkey. Now running his own business in Mallorca, almost every skipper and many crew that he deals with he has met before, in Sunsail. Their rates of pay were very poor but the contacts he made have been worth a great deal of income.

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[sailbadthesinner]

Re: Making the contacts

agreed
sunsail has been the cradle of many a fledgling buisiness
i know of 2 guys from last year who have started up with their own boats this year

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

 

[zephyrsailor]

i did a fast track and have since taught part of a fast track. i think they suit some people but not others.
some people assume to become a skipper they just pay their money then they will learn to sail by osmosis over however many weeks.
if you put the effort in there is a lot to learn and to be got out of a fast track.

dream or two experience of yachting do fast track courses. see link below.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>http:// [url]www.yachting-school.com [/url]</font color=purple>

 

[Peppermint]

Re:Sail UK

Do one that a friends boy did with some success. He's work for Sailing Holidays in Corfu for this year and learnt a lot more than he learnt on the course. Signed up for next year too.

Pass the exams as quick as you can they're only bits of paper. Get a job in the industry, keep your mind open and you'll keep learning. Suddenly one day you'll be comfortable with your skippering and so will your crews.

Provided your of average IQ, prepared to take responsibility, have stamina and are observant it's a piece of p**s. Well most of the time it is.



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[Indalo]

Hi, I have a friend who did it, from the place in Cowes, she enjoyed it and learned a lot. She already had quite a bit of experience and had crewed on an Atlantic crossing, so not quite 'zero start' - but then you have some experience already. I'd talk to one or two people who did it and if you think it suits you, go for it.

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[Lizzie_B]

Have friend who did UKSA beginner to YM after opting to take voluntary redundancy. He became more interested in the engineering side of things whilst on the course (although that was not his initial intention) and now runs his own business based in France. Doesn't earn huge money, but plenty to meet his requirements and, more importantly, he's very happy. I think most of the negative feelings about these courses come from two main areas:- 1. The person that does zero to hero and comes out clutching his bit of paper and thinks he knows everything about sailing and boats when in fact there are so many wrinkles that you only pick up over years of sailing and, more importantly, listening to a wide variety of sailors, but from your post I don't think that will be a problem for you. and 2. the somewhat dubious and trite tone of some of the advertising. Basically, the course will give you a good framework to develop further skills and experience around. People who have the right attitude will use it to become excellent skippers and ambassadors for sailing, other characters will not, just like passing a driving test will not guarantee someone is not lethal on the road. Go for it. You sound like you'll be fine.

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