Complete your RYA Competent Crew or RYA Day Skipper on Moosk

IDEAL VOYAGE FOR…

The joint course offers advantages to everyone. Both beginners looking for their first RYA qualification as Competent Crew, and the more experienced looking to complete their Day Skipper. Those studying for Competent Crew can, if they have the ability complete sections of the Day Skipper practical syllabus and see what they need to do for the next step up the ladder. Those doing the Day Skipper practical have an enthusiastic crew to work with and you will gain command experience.

VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS

• VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS FOR BEGINNERS
• Earn a RYA certificate that proves you are a Competent Crew
• Explore the Devon and Cornwall Coast under Sail
• Learn the skills to Move up from Dinghies to Yachts
• Learn How to Sail a Two mast yawl and gaff rigged classic boats
• Transferable skills whether your next vessel is a modern yacht or a tall ship
• Learn practical skills from demonstrations and doing
• consolidate existing sailing experience with professional instructors

• VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS FOR DAY SKIPPERS
• Gain an internationally recognised RYA qualification – if you pass the course
• A chance to actually be the skipper for short passages (under supervision)
• Learn how to apply the day skipper theory navigational skills at sea
• tips on doing it all at once – navigation, sailing and crew safety
• Improve your leadership skills and the crews confidence in you
• Explore the Devon and Cornwall Coast under Sail

FULL VOYAGE DESCRIPTION

RYA Competent Crew

We want you to develop a love of sailing, and the best way to make a start on any boat is to feel you are a vital and competent part of the crew. On the RYA Competent crew course, we will teach you the seamanship skills of steering, setting sails, reefing, and tying knots with conviction ! The course is about going places, so you can experience a wide range of sailing experiences:- anchoring in remote bays, mooring in sheltered rivers, coming alongside harbour walls or pontoons, night sailing. The skills you learn will be relevant for modern yachts, but after the RYA Competent Crew course you should also feel at home on traditional boats and tall ships with blocks and tackles. (6 day course. Maximum 5 students to one instructor on any RYA course, fully inclusive prices).

Previous experience for the Competent Crew Course: –

None. You can be a complete beginner that has never stepped on a boat before.  

It is also good for those who have done a bit of yacht, keel boat or dinghy sailing and want to be sure they have the basics to sail bigger boats where you can go cruising and live on board. Check out the course Syllabus to see some of the things you will be learning. 

RYA Competent Crew Course Content

• You will gain knowledge of sea terms and the parts of a boat, the yacht rigging and sails. Practical experience in sail handling, ropework. 
• Understanding fire precautions and fighting, personal safety equipment, man overboard procedures , emergency equipment, meteorology, seasickness. 
• Taking part in helmsmanship and  general duties on board. 
• Plus learning about manners and customs of the sea, rules of the road, and the use of dinghies.

Your Ability after the course: Able to steer the yacht, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day routines on board.

 

RYA Day Skipper

Skippering a boat is fun, and this RYA day skipper course is about taking your first steps towards taking charge, with the safety net of an instructor on board. Everyone will be given a chance to navigate and take control of “Moosk” on short coastal passages. You will also have plenty of practice at coordinating manoeuvres under sail and power, and learning how to cope with emergencies. Learn big boat watch leader skills on deck, and navigational techniques below with GPS and radar and a large chart table. Successful completion of the RYA day skipper course means you should feel confident enough to tackle short day passages as skipper in tidal waters. It is important that you complete your Day skipper theoretical course before starting your trip in order to make the most of your time afloat practicing what you have learnt. 

When on your RYA Day Skipper course or Competent Crew, your skipper will help you work towards the parts in the RYA logbook and syllabus. Signing up to this course is by no means a guarantee that you will achieve your Day Skipper or Competent Crew qualification as there are many factors which could affect completion, including weather, conditions, student preparation and competence. The crew will try their utmost to work through all of the parts and award you with a certificate at the end to be proud of. 

Previous experience required before booking a Day Skipper Course

Sailing experience – a minimum of 5 previous days at sea on a yacht, covering at least 100 miles and 4 night hours.

Navigation and Theory knowledge – It is assumed that you have theoretical knowledge up to the level of  ‘Day Skipper Theory’ .

Our view at Classic Sailing is that you should be happy tacking and gybing a boat and understand the difference. You need enough wind awareness to trim sails on all points of sailing and steer by the wind, not instruments.

You need a good level of understanding of how to navigate, even if you have not had much chance to put it into practice at sea. The sort of things you will be expected to know will be fixing positions on a chart, working out tidal heights and streams, looking up port information, setting courses to steer, making ‘rules of the road’ decisions based on the COLREGS. If you have experience of this already or have been taught a lot by other sailors, you don’t have to complete a Day Skipper Theory Course to sign up for a Day Skipper Practical Course,  but it increases your chances of passing hugely.

 

Check the Day Skipper Theory Syllabus

 

(Day Skipper Theory Course options are approx 40 hours at evening classes or as a taught intensive classroom course….or you can fast track yourself or take as long as you like at home with one of our Day Skipper Theory – distance learning courses)

 

On Line Day Skipper Theory Courses – Learn Navigation at home

 

WINDS, WAVES & WEATHER

You can do a RYA Course in the UK or abroad, but the Devon and Cornwall coast takes some beating for variety, scenery and challenge. Off the coast of South Devon and Cornwall, the water is deep with a few rocky hazards, but none of the complexity of the Solent sand bars and busy shipping.  Day Skippers can can dip into more challenging pilotage when you enter the ports and estuaries.

Whether you are at beginner level or learning to be the skipper or navigator, this coastline will give you a broad education. The courses are about going places, so you can experience a wide range of sailing experiences:- anchoring in remote bays, mooring in sheltered rivers, coming alongside harbour walls or pontoons, night sailing. 

HANDS ON HOLIDAYS

Whether you are an experienced sailor or a complete beginner, the professional crew will train you to be guest crew from the moment you arrive, with the intention that everybody works together to sail the ship. The common thread to all Classic Sailing holidays is ‘Hands on’ participation on ships that use ropes, blocks and tackles and ‘people power’ to set sail.

SAILING STYLE & LIFE ON BOARD

We cater for a wide range of ages and physical abilities and how much you are expected to do varies a bit between vessels. See the vessel tab above which explains all about the ‘sailing style’ and what to expect in terms of hands on participation. There is a lot of information about day to day life, the ships facilities and accommodation on the vessel pages.

AGILITY & FITNESS

Every customer sailing with us will need to fill in basic medical questions on their booking application. If you are not sure if your current level of fitness and agility are up to a voyage, then please ring the Classic Sailing Office on 01872 58 00 22 and we can chat through your concerns and possibly find options that might suit you better.

What to pack for a sailing holiday on Moosk

• Sailing Instruction
• Safety Equipment (Life Jackets and harnesses)
• Waterproof jacket and trousers if required.
• Pillows
• All Meals, Cooked Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Refreshments throughout the day.

What's Not Included

• Travel to and from the start and end port.
• You need to bring a sleeping bag
• Optional trips or tours taken ashore
• Meals ashore
• Alcoholic Beverages
• For RYA Day Skipper you will need to bring a passport sized ID photo in preparation for your RYA Certificate.

What to bring

• A sleeping bag.
• A big soft bag, no suitcases please!
• Pyjamas
• 2 pairs of warm trousers
• 2 long sleeve t-shirts
• 2 light sweatshirts or similar
• A fleece jacket
• Plenty of underwear and socks
• Warm hat and ordinary gloves
• Wellies or waterproof boots
• A pair of trainers
• Swimming kit (if appropriate)
• Glasses or contact lenses
• Anti seasickness tablets
• Wash kit and towel
• RYA logbook if you have one
• Sun cream and Sunglasses

Day Skipper Course Review

Very knowledgeable skipper who took the time (with enthusiasm) to impart his knowledge of passage making, pilotage, weather etc.

Anonymous happy customer- July 2023

RYA Courses

What was the best bit?

Everyday there was something to learn and practice

What was the worst bit?

Going home

Why do you sail?

I love the feeling of the wind pushing the sails and being surrounded by traditional design. Learning the ropes and exploring the outdoors is my passion and if there’s wildlife involved I’m in heaven!!

Any other comments

Ollie is an extremely talented instructor. His temperament, knowledge and sense of fun, adventure and humour kept us all motivated. He never made me feel silly for getting things wrong or asking too many questions and I felt very safe at all times. - Jennifer F. RYA course in April. 

Yachtmaster Course Review

The instructor Dom was fantastic he had so much energy, we were usually going from 8 am to 10pm as the syllabus is so big and he was always enthusiastic and feeding us bits of info at any opportunity. He had a good method of demonstrating first and then explaining and he was very good at giving useful feedback. 
Moosk is a good boat for this course as she’s small and manageable (at least compared to what Kathryn and I are more used to). The food was plentiful and Ollie the skipper was incredibly knowledgeable. 
I’d recommend this prep week to anyone interested in doing the YM especially if they are more familiar with traditional boats or a gaff rig rather than plastic boats.

- Isabelle Howells - Moosk October 2018 - RYA Yachtmaster Student

Edwardian yawl Moosk in action and images. Photos from Classic Sailing customers, ships crew and professional photographers. We hope it gives a flavour of her sailing, life on board, the people that come, her beautiful sailing grounds and what it is like to live below decks.

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