This is a beginner’s skippering course, which does for skippers what the Competent Crew Course does for crews. We focus on the two most difficult aspects of skippering a yacht for the beginner: pilotage and boat handling. The course gives a solid grounding in Coastal Navigation and Yacht handling.

People who have never skippered a yacht, however experienced they might be as crew should do this course as well as those who own or intend to own their own yacht.

NB  IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH  ALL THE  PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL ASPECTS  COVERED IN THE COMPETENT CREW COURSE  SYLLABUS ( SEE COMPETENT CREW COURSE  ) & IF YOU ARE NOT A COMPETENT SAILOR YOU  ARE NOT READY TO  EMBARK ON  DAY SKIPPER ETC.  MAKE SURE YOU KNOW ALL THE COMPETENT CREW  ASPECTS  OR DO A COMPETETENT CREW  COURSE  FIRST BEFORE  STARTING YOUR DAY SKIPPER COURSE.

NB. You cannot sail a yacht in SA waters unless you have a Day Skippers licence approved by SA Sailing. There is an immense difference between being a mate on a yacht and being the person in charge and the course introduces the problems and responsibilities of being in charge of a yacht and how to cope with the common difficulties.

Syllabus:

• Preparation for sea. Engine checks. Managing the sail plan. Safety briefing. Handling under power, (the basics, going astern, effects of wind & stream, judging speed and drift, tight turning, coming alongside.) Berthing and leaving a berth. Anchoring. IRCPS in detail. Points of sail and sail trim. Headsail changes. Reefing the mainsail. Mooring under sail. Man Overboard strategy under power and under sail. Sending distress messages.Flares. Abandoning to the liferaft. Helicopter rescue and securing a tow. Running aground. Navigation,(compass work, tides, plotting a course and obtaining fixes etc.) Basics of Passage Planning, (how far, constraints, estimated time of departure, pilotage, navigation and running the passage.) Fog. Weather in the southern hemisphere. Shipping forecasts and terms used. Understanding Synoptic charts and planning the day. Nightsailing. Table Bay Harbour Regulations.

Duration:

• OUR NEXT DAY SKIPPER COURSES BEGIN  - ( See Courses Page )
• Practical: These take place during the week or on weekends depending on your time availability and you will continue to train and sail until you feel ready to take the practical exam. There is no extra cost and we believe , the more you sail the more experience you gain.
• Theory: Normally Five theory sessions  on a monday or tuesday evening from 18.00 to 21.30 or during the day depending on your availability.  However should these times not suit you we can arrange times and dates to accommodate your schedule. Please feel free to contact us and find out.
• Successful candidates will pass the internationally accepted SA Sailing Practical and Theory Exams conducted by external examiners.  ( Look at our Testimonial page to see what some of our past students have said about the course )
• Instructor to Student Ratio: Max. 1: 4 or less.

Cost: R4900.00 pp.

Fee includes all the course notes and membership of the RCYC  for the duration of the course with secure parking, members discount in the bar & restaurant.

NB. A compulsory deposit of R250.00 pp is required for your access card to the club which is refundable at the end of the course.

Students  need to purchase their own chart SAN 3002 ( 2 copies ), List of Lights SAN HO 1; International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea  SAN HO 15; Symbols and Abbreviations SAN HO 6; Portland Plotter & Navigational divider; HB pencils and eraser; Personal Logbook; the SA Nautical Almanac & How to Pass Your Radio Exam , both books are by Tom Morgan. You also need to pay SAS for the exam fees directly once you are ready.

How To Book a Course?

Once you have made sure that a place is available on the date you require a 50% deposit together with your name and course as  reference .

This will secure your place on the course. Balance of your fees is due on or before the first day of the course.

NB. We will notify you of the pick up point on the day the course begins. Please bring warm clothes, something to eat and drink for yourself and shoes with non-marking soles.