Tuition/Courses

A wide range of experiences can be catered for on the yacht and you will be given individual attention. You do not have to be involved in specific RYA practical courses or certificates. Courses can be tailored to suit specific needs, or you might just want an active holiday, ideally suited to those wishing to unwind from the stresses of their day to day life. Should you wish to do an RYA practical course you can enter the scheme at any stage. If you are unsure of which course to do, I would be happy to discuss it with you. Family groups are most welcome and over the years numerous families have enjoyed a unique experience travelling by boat from one sheltered anchorage to another with plenty of fun in between. You are never too young or old to learn.

Competent Crew

The RYA Competent Crew course is a foundation in sail cruising and is for those that want to be active crew members, helping to run the boat, and for those new to yachting. You are needed to help steer, attend to sails and run the boat efficiently. You will learn quickly from putting skills into practice and being part of a team. It is certainly not all hard work but a pleasurable cruise visiting interesting places with lots of variety. At the end you should be a useful, safe, experienced crew member.

Day Skipper

This practical day skipper course is for aspiring skippers. Those with some yachting experience, basic navigation and sailing ability. Ideally you will have completed a shorebased day skipper course, and be able to competently sail a triangular course with a degree of efficiency. You will be in charge of Aquila on a short passage and be expected to make safe decisions and learn from your experiences and those of others. The instructor's job is to bring out an awareness about the handling of the boat, planning ahead, and safety considerations.

Coastal Skipper

An advanced course for those with a good degree of practical knowledge who have previously skippered. The course is to teach you how to handle more demanding sailing and passages, day and night. Your theoretical knowledge should be at least that of shorebased Coastal skipper/Yachtmaster standard as there is little time for theory teaching. This course is a good one for those who would like to go on to the examined Certificates of Competence.

If you have a Royal Yachting Association G15 logbook for cruising, please bring it with you. They are available from Oban Sea School or the RYA at RYA House, Romsey Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 4YA. This booklet, as well as being a log of your experiences, gives details of the cruising courses. Copies are available onboard.

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