The RYA Competent Crew course introduces the complete beginner to cruising and teaches personal safety, seamanship and helming skills to the level required to be a useful member of the crew of a cruising yacht.
General Knowledge
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.
Sail Handling
Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails
Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches
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
Fire precautions and fighting
Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fire. Knowledge of the action to be taken in the event of a fire.
Personal safety equipment
Understands and complies with rules for the wearing of safety harnesses, lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids
Casualty overboard
Understands the action to be taken to recover a casualty who has fallen overboard
Emergency equipment
Can operate distress flares and knows when they should be used
Understands how to launch and board a liferaft
Manners and customs
Understands accepted practice with regard to use of burgees and ensigns, prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in the harbor including courtesies to other craft berthed.
Aware of the responsibility of yacht skippers to protect the environment
Rules of the road
Is able to keep an efficient lookout at sea
Dinghies
Understands and complies with the loading rules.
Is able to handle a dinghy under oars
Meteorology
Awareness of forecasting services and knowledge of the Beaufort scale
Seasickness
Understands to what degree their working efficiency is unaffected/partially affected/severely affected by seasickness
Helming 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
General duties
Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel
Schedule: Monday 9:00 a.m. - Friday 9:00 a.m.
Duration: 5 days (Monday to Friday)
Minimum of 2 and maximum of 5 people on board
Periodicity: all year
Boat: Grand Soleil 43
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