This course is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers. Over 5 days you will experience living on board and really get to know the yacht’s equipment and how it’s used. Virtually all the course is hands on and by the end you should be able to steer, trim sails, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day duties on board.
| Pre-course Practical Requirements: | None. |
| Pre-course Theory Requirements: | None, but if you wish to come prepared then take the RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship Shorebased Course to get a basic understanding of navigation and safety. |
| Course duration: | 5 days with 4 night sleeping on-board or 3 days + 2 days with 3 nights onboard (no exceptions permitted for nights onboard) |
| Minimum age: | 14. Under 18 year old will only be accepted if accompanied by a responsible adult. |
| What’s Included: | RYA Competent Crew Handbook, RYA Logbook, mooring fees, accommodation on-board, all meals and snacks from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day. All drinks including water and soft drinks. |
| Maximum Students: | 5 maximum which may be a mixture of RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper students. |
| Cost: | Sirocco (Bavaria 47) HK$9,000 & Anemoon (Beneteau 37) HK$8,000 |
| Award: | RYA Competent Crew Certificate |
The itinerary is dependant on weather and if its a 5 day straight or 3+2 (2+3) day course, but below is a typical 5 day course:
Day 1. Arrive RHKYC Causeway bay at the time given in your joining instructions. Crew briefing and sail to the south of Hong Kong island. Evening at anchor and dinner onboard.
Day 2. Sail round Lamma Island practicing reefing, sailing maneuvers and maneuvering under power. Spend the night alongside at Middle Island and dinner at the RHKYC clubhouse.
Day 3. Practice mooring alongside and to mooring buoys. Longer sail up to Sai Kung steering under compass. Night navigation exercise to an anchorage in the north of Sai Kung. Spend the night on a mooring and dinner onboard.
Day 4. Sail training around Sai Kung islands and a night entry into Hebe Haven. Evening spent in marina and dinner at RHKYC clubhouse.
Day 5. Practice confined docking in marina under power. Sail back to RHKYC Causeway Bay. Course ends approximately 1700hrs.
Students require to bring the following (see FAQs for more detials):
- Lightweight sleeping bag or equivalent and pillow.
- Clothes suitable for 5 days sailing.
- Kit backed into a soft bag (no hard suitcase).
- Photo ID.
- Weather proof clothing suitable for the time of year.
- Footwear such as deck shoes or trainers with good grip.
The Competent Crew course introduces the complete beginner to cruising and teaches personal safety, seamanship and helmsmanship to the level required to be a useful member of crew of a cruising yacht.
1. Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails
- Sufficient knowledge to understand orders given concerning the sailing and day to day running of the boat.
2. Sail Handling
- Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails
- Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches
3. Ropework
- Handling ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats and single and double bollards
- Handling warps
- Ability to tie the following knots and to know their correct use: figure-of-eight, clove hitch, rolling hitch, bowline, round turn and two half hitches, single and double sheet bend, reef knot
4. Fire precautions and fighting
- Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fireb. Knowledge of the action to be taken in the event of fire
5. Personal safety equipment
- Understands and complies with rules for the wearing of safety harnesses, lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids
6. Man overboard
- Understands the action to be taken to recover a man overboard
7. Emergency equipment
- Can operate distress flares and knows when they should be used
- Understands how to launch and board a liferaft
8. Manners and customs
- Understands accepted practice with regard to: use of burgees and ensigns, prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesies to other craft berthed
- Aware of the responsibility of yacht skippers to protect the environment
9. Rules of the road
- Is able to keep and efficient lookout at sea
10. Dinghies
- Understands and complies with the loading rulesb. Is able to handle a dinghy under oars
11. Meteorology
- Awareness of forecasting services and knowledge of the Beaufort scale
12. Seasickness
- Working efficiency is unaffected/partially affected/severely affected by seasickness
13. Helmsmanship and sailing
- Understands the basic principles of sailing and can steer and trim sails on all points of sailing
- Can steer a compass course, under sail and power
14. General duties
- Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel
Consolidate what you have learnt by undertaking more sailing either on your own yacht, chartering or by taking part in one of our Experience Building cruises.
The RYA Day Skipper Theory Course followed by the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course.
Booking
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