DAY SKIPPER (PRACTICAL)

Course Outline

The Day Skipper course is conducted onboard one of our training yachst to teach Pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters with which the student is familiar.

Programme

This is a 6 day course, the first will start with a safety brief followed by familiarization training. Boat handling under power and sail play a big part as well as pilotage.
There will be a passage sail to Skipper to get used being in Charge.

Course costs include accommodation onboard the yacht and all food taken onboard.


Course Content

Preparation for sea
" Is able to prepare a yacht for sea, including engine checks, selection of sails, securing and stowage of all gear on deck and below

Deck Work
" Can reef, shake out reefs and change sails to suit prevailing conditions
" Can prepare an anchor, mooring warps and take charge on deck when mooring alongside, coming to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping from a buoy or an alongside berth

Navigation
Is proficient in chartwork and routine navigational duties on passage including;
" Taking and plotting visual fixes
" Use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing
" Use of waypoints
" Working up DR and EP
" Estimating tidal heights and tidal streams
" Working out course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift
" Use of echo sounder and a lead line

Pilotage
" Can prepare and execute a pilotage plan for entry into, or departure from harbour
" Understands the use of leading and clearing lines
" Use of transits and soundings as aids to pilotage

Meteorology
" Knows sources of forecast information
" Can interpret shipping forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid

Rule of the Road
" Has a working knowledge of the International regulations for Preventing collisions at Sea (IRCPS)

Maintenance and repair work
" Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks
" Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes

Engines
" Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and to bleed the fuel system

Victualling (stores for passage)
" Understands how to victual a yacht

Emergency Situations
" Is able to take correction as skipper for recovery of a man overboard
" Understands distress flares and how to use a liferaft
" Can operate a VHF radiotelephone in an emergency and can send a distress message
" Understands how to secure a tow
" Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue

Yacht Handling under Power
" Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside beth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide

Yacht Handling under Sail
" Can bring a boat safely to and from a mooring buoy and anchor under various conitions of wind and tide
" Can steer and trim sails effectively on all points of sailing

Passage making

" Can plan and make a coastal passage, taking account of relevant navigational hazards and the limitations imposed by the type of boat and the strength of the crew

back