RYA Courses – Competent Crew, Day Skipper ISAF Offshore Safety

Upcoming Courses

Call 01823 433 813 or email philip@wildspirit.co.uk for more details.

Scroll down for a full list of RYA Courses on Wild Spirit in 2012

RYA Courses on Wild Spirit

Wild Spirit is fully equipped to run Royal Yachting Association (RYA) courses. Competent Crew & Day Skipper and ISAF Offshore safety courses are run in association with Hayling Sea School a recognised RYA centre and are suitable if you have not sailed before or want to brush up on your crewing skills, or qualify as a Day Skipper.

Why choose Wild Spirit

There are quite a few Sailing Schools and in my opinion not all of them are as open as they should be. So here are some reasons for choosing us and a few examples of small print etc from others.

1) We fully meet RYA requirements. The course has to last a minimum of 116 hours (5 nights on board)–some companies shorten the courses—see examples below. When you pass the Day Skipper course it effectively gives you a basic ‘Yacht Driving Licence’. If it’s got our name on it we are going to do it right—giving someone a Licence to take their family sailing after a non-compliant course is something we will not be part of.

2) We don’t do hidden extras. The price includes plenty of good food, all mooring and other fees, fuel etc. If you want alcoholic drinks ashore in the evening it is up to you, we don’t sell wine but if you want some to drink with your evening meal bring some, the instructor will also bring a couple of bottles—we don’t sponge off students. We do not drink and sail but when we have finished the course work and are safely tied up for the night we often have a beer ashore or glass of wine on board.

3) We include all meals. Often the students decide on one Dinner out but it isn’t compulsory and we are quite happy to have all meals on board. Courses around Ireland will have a kitty for evening meals in ports as we also buy the wine out of it. The course syllabus includes the ability to provision a yacht and cook on board and by the end of the week we will have at least got through the basics.

4) We also include the free loan of Oilskins if you don’t have them—no arriving to find it is an extra £30 for them. We need to know in advance for sizes. We don’t do boots for hygiene reasons.

5) Wild Spirit is 40 foot long; she complies with the safety requirements for the Fastnet race as well as all RYA ones. Compare the height of a half pint and a pint glass then think of it as comparing a 36’ yacht with 40’, much more space and comfort on a Yacht that has sailed round Britain and Ireland.

6) We have two regular very experienced Instructors Paul 01823 433813 and Phil 07803 176 977 and you are welcome to call us to ask any questions.

7) We are based at Lymington Yacht Haven with good facilities, rail links and plenty of free parking. Consider arriving early for the course and going for a walk in the New Forest National Park which starts on the edge of the Marina car park.

Examples of competitors—from web search on 13/2/2011
Price Includes:
5 days practical instruction.
4 nights accommodation aboard our yacht.
Pillows and pillow cases. Lifejackets.

Not Included and payable at end of the course:
Contribution to food – breakfasts, lunches and 1 evening meal: approx £5 per person per day (other evening meals are taken ashore Mooring fees:- approx £5 per person per day.
Evening meals are not included, although you may cook aboard if you wish. A proportion of mooring fees (split between those aboard) are you only additional expense.
www.yachting-school.co.uk
Run Monday to Friday this RYA Competent Crew…
lagoon.accessplanit.com
Fortunately there are not all like the above and some like us offer fully compliant courses and no hidden extras. E.g
• First rate professional instructors
• Smart, clean, well-maintained modern yachts
• Heated cabins, GPS, Radar etc
• High quality fresh food always – no junk!
• All meals included from dinner on the night you join
• No hidden extra charges for marinas, compulsory meals ashore etc
• Good breathable wet weather gear hire at just £10

http://www.elitesailing.co.uk/2004/practicalcourses.htm).

Wild Spirit’s price includes really good on board food, all Marina and RYA fees, fuel etc plus free loan of Oilies if you need them. Your only extra costs are if you go ashore to eat or drink. This is unlike some of our competitors where the ‘Kitty’ is only mentioned when you get on board. Competent Crew does not require any theory or previous experience. Running a mix of Comp Crew and Day Skipper works very well–better than all DS or all CC.

I recommend Day Skipper for anyone who wants to go on a Yachting holiday. Many Flotilla companies require it (or the ICC it automatically gives) for their holidays. We also do boat handling courses focussing on mooring etc, ideal if you have the qualifications but not sailed for a while. Don’t expect to go to France! Do expect to visit several Solent Ports and get familiar with them. Hard work and good fun. As the duration of our courses fully meet RYA requirements for a minimum of 116 hrs on board, it also takes off some of the pressure if weather is bad. Our food is much better than most plus we have full heating etc on board which is useful on courses later in the year including the ever popular Boxing Day afternoon to New Years Eve one. Cost is inclusive (oilies, log book, good food, fuel, fees etc)

Anyone completing a course with us gets a £50 discount of any normal price cruise or race. These are great for building miles and confidence. Qualifying passages for Yachtmaster are also possible. Courses can be arranged on other dates please give me a call to discuss. . Trips across Channel are ‘Qualifying Passages’ for RYA qualifications.

Wild Spirit has a full diesel fired heating system plus electric heating, hot water, twin heads with showers, integrated Radar/GPS/autohelm etc. She has 8 berths and can take 10 for day work. Max number on most trips is 6 including me, max pupils on RYA course is 5, although we normally only take 4 if they are all doing Day Skipper. Price includes, lots of good food, marina fees, fuel, Oilskins etc. Meals ashore are extra, we will normally have at least one good meal ashore per trip sometimes more, you can stay on board and eat if you wish but no-one ever has. I provide some wine and you are welcome to bring some, but we only drink when tied up safely. If you are comparing us with other schools why not ask to speak to the instructor who will run the course, ask them about it, what extras are there and what the food is like? .

Wild Spirit RYA Courses – Full Listing for 2011

Call 01823 433 813 or email philip@wildspirit.co.uk for more details.