Christchurch Yachting is an RYA Recognised Training Establishment,
and member of the Marine Leisure Association and British Marine Federation.
We run RYA practical and theory sailing courses, that are part of the RYA Sail Cruising scheme. The scheme enables a complete beginner to progress through to a qualified Yachtmaster who will be capable of skippering a yacht on coastal passages by day or night.
When it comes to quality
of service, and in order to provide a more relaxed and thorough course, we
limit our instructor/pupil ratio to 4:1 or less, giving you 25% more
personal instruction time compared with the usual 5:1 ratio. Additionally,
for a reasonable premium, we run selected courses with a 3:1 instructor/pupil
ratio, giving even more time for personal instruction and helming practice.
Our courses are popular for a family of four, since the family has the yacht
to themselves and they also get great value for money. We include spinnaker
training, although this is not part of the RYA course syllabus we include
this free of charge on selected courses - please ask for details.
Our training yacht has a heater, this makes a big difference
in the colder months.
Sailing courses are available both during the week and at weekends. Planned course dates are listed below, but there are many other dates available, so please enquire if these dates are unsuitable. Prices. How to book. print booking form. Course descriptions are listed below.
Please note, practical courses start
on the evening of the first day listed below.
All courses listed are practical courses except where stated.
| Course Descriptions |
Duration |
Dates
for 2008 |
Price | |
| April |
||||
| Start Yachting, Competent Crew, or Day Skipper |
2-day weekend | April 25-27th Friday to Sunday | £178 |
0(1) |
| May |
||||
| Start Yachting, Competent Crew, or Day Skipper |
weekend | May 2-4th Friday to Sunday | £210 |
2 |
| Channel crossing experience (not RYA course) |
2 weekdays | May 6-8th Tuesday to Thursday | £195 |
2 |
| Day sailing experience (not an RYA course) |
1 day | Saturday 17th May | £99 |
4 |
| RYA First Aid course shorebased |
1 day | Saturday 17th May 09.00 to 17.00 | £85 |
7 |
| Day sailing experience (not an RYA course) |
1 day | Saturday 24th May | £115 |
4 |
| June |
||||
| Competent Crew, Coastal Skipper or Day Skipper |
5 weekdays | June 1-6th Sunday to Friday | £445 |
2 |
| Start Yachting, Competent Crew, or Day Skipper |
2-day weekend | June 6-8th Friday to Sunday | £210 |
3 |
| Start Yachting, Competent Crew, or Day Skipper |
3-day weekend | June 19-22nd Thursday to Sunday | £315 |
2 |
| VHF
radio operators |
1 day | June 21st Saturday 09.00 to 17.00 | £85 |
9 |
| VHF
radio operators |
1/2 day | June 21st Saturday 13.30 to 17.00 | £45 |
9 |
| Day sailing experience (not an RYA course) |
1 day | Saturday 28th June | £115 |
4 |
| July |
||||
| Start Yachting, Competent Crew, or Day Skipper |
2-day weekend | Every weekend starting Friday evenings | £210 |
4 |
| Competent Crew, Coastal Skipper or Day Skipper |
5
days including a weekend |
July 4-9th Friday to Wednesday Includes crossing the channel |
£495 |
4 |
| Competent Crew, Coastal Skipper or Day Skipper |
5 weekdays | July 13-18th Sunday to Friday | £445 |
4 |
| August |
||||
| Start Yachting, Competent Crew, or Day Skipper |
2-day weekend | Every weekend starting Friday evenings | £210 |
4 |
| Competent Crew, Coastal Skipper or Day Skipper |
5 weekdays | Every week starting Sunday evenings | £445 |
4 |
| September |
||||
| Start Yachting, Competent Crew, or Day Skipper |
2-day weekend | Every weekend starting Friday evenings | £210 |
4 |
| Competent Crew, Coastal Skipper or Day Skipper |
5 weekdays | Every week starting Sunday evenings | £445 |
4 |
| Competent Crew, Coastal Skipper or Day Skipper |
5
days including a weekend |
Sept 5-10th Friday to Wednesday | £495 |
4 |
| October |
||||
| Start Yachting, Competent Crew, or Day Skipper |
2-day weekend | Every weekend starting Friday evenings | £210 |
4 |
| VHF
radio operators |
1 day | Oct 18th Saturday 09.00 to 17.00 | £85 |
9 |
| VHF
radio operators |
1/2 day | Oct 18th Saturday 13.30 to 17.00 | £45 |
9 |
| Competent Crew, Coastal Skipper or Day Skipper |
5 weekdays | Every week starting Sunday evenings | £445 |
4 |
| November |
||||
| Start Yachting, Competent Crew, or Day Skipper |
2-day weekend | Every weekend starting Friday evenings | £210 |
4 |
| Competent Crew, Coastal Skipper or Day Skipper |
5 weekdays | Every week starting Sunday evenings | £445 |
4 |
|
|
||||
| Coastal Skipper preparation and exam |
5 days | Available on any of the 5-day courses above. Plus £130 exam fee. | £445 |
4 |
| Yachtmaster preparation and exam |
5 days | Available on any of the 5-day courses above. Plus £147 exam fee. | £445 |
4 |
| OTHER DATES ARE AVAILABLE FOR GROUPS OF 3 OR MORE- PLEASE ENQUIRE |
||||
Prices for practical courses include accommodation on-board, berthing fees, fuel, lifejackets, and all food on-board except the evening on the first day. Please note we limit our student/instructor ratio to 4:1, giving 25% more instruction time per person, compared to other schools with a ratio of 5:1. We believe our prices give excellent value for money, particularly when you consider that they include berthing fees (which can be up to £30 per night), and all food, together with the student/instructor ratio of 4:1.Discounts are 5% for booking 2 or 3 people, 10% for 4 people.
Ladies-only courses are available for group bookings of 4 ladies.
Detailed Course Descriptions for RYA practical courses: During all of these practical courses (apart from ICC and Start Yachting) you will live aboard the yacht for 5 days, and sail at least 100 miles and log a minimum of 4 night hours. There will be a maximum of 4 students.
RYA Start Yachting: Th Start Yachting 2-day course is for beginners and those who would like to learn basic seamanship. The course provides a short introduction to sail cruising for novices. By the end of the course, participants will have experienced steering a yacht, sail handling, ropework and be aware of safety on board. A further 3-day course can be taken at a later date to gain the Competent Crew certificate. There is no minimum age.
RYA Competent Crew: The Competent Crew 5-day course is for beginners and those who would like to learn basic seamanship and become active crew members. There is no pre-course knowledge or experience necessary. This course can be taken as 5 consecutive days, 2-day plus 3-day weekends, or 3 weekends. There is no minimum age.
RYA Day Skipper (Tidal): The Day Skipper 5-day course of navigation and seamanship is widely recognised and necessary for bareboat charterers. It gives you a chance to take charge on short passages under instruction with plenty of advice and help from the instructor. Designed for tidal waters. Ideal for persons with basic navigation and sailing ability and who have spent at least 5 days at sea (including 4 night hours) and have logged 100 miles. By the end of the course you should be able to skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day. Age limit 16 or over. This course can be taken as 5 consecutive days, 2-day plus 3-day weekends, or 3 weekends.
RYA Coastal Skipper (Tidal): The Coastal Skipper 5-day advanced skippering course is for yachtsmen and women who have considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation and are usually aspiring towards a Certificate of Competence. Designed for Tidal waters. Aimed at persons with navigation experience to Coastal Skipper shorebased standard and sailing experience to Day Skipper practical standard. Ideally you will also have spent 15 days at sea (2 days as skipper) logging 300 miles including 8 night hours. By the end of the course you should be able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night. Age limit 17 or over. This course must be taken as 5 consecutive days
Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence - Preparation and Examination. This is a 5-day preparation course, including a 1-day examination, leading to a RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence. An independent approved RYA examiner carries out the examination. Pre-requisites: 30 days at sea (2 days as skipper) logging 800 miles including 12 night hours; Marine radio SRC and First Aid certificates. Age limit 17 or over.
Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence - Preparation and Examination. This is a 5-day preparation course, including a 1-day examination, leading to a RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. This course prepares you for the RYA/MCA examination where candidates have to demonstrate their ability as skipper on an offshore cruising yacht and answer questions on any part of the syllabus for all courses (except Yachtmaster Ocean). An independent approved RYA examiner carries out the examination. The course is aimed at people with substantial sailing ability and experience, including 50 days at sea (5 days as skipper), 2,500 miles, five passages over 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. Other Pre-requisites: SRC and First Aid certificates. Age limit 18 or over.
International Certificate of Competence (ICC). Basic requirement for some overseas sailing. A half-day practical and theory assessment for persons who have a level of sailing ability equal to Day Skipper or above, but without formal RYA qualifications.
CEVNI.(European Inland Waterways Regulations). This certificate is a mandatory requirement for using inland waterways abroad, and consists of a short theory examination on the regulations.
RYA Shorebased course descriptions:
RYA BASIC NAVIGATION COURSE: The
RYA has developed a new Basic Navigation Course. This Course will be a stand
alone Course with a duration of 16 hours and is not meant to replace the RYA
Day Skipper Theory Course. All students will receive a chart, questions, a
book, CD and a plotter.
The Basic Navigation Course will be launched in September 2007.
Course Syllabus will include: -
Ø Charts & Publications
Ø Safety – Engine Checks
Ø Bouyage
Ø Tidal Awareness
Ø Visual Navigation & Pilotage
Ø Rules of the Road
Ø Electronic Navigation
Ø Weather
Ø Anchoring
Ø Passage Planning
The Course will be suitable for Beginners, Powerboaters, Sea Anglers, Divers,
Boatmasters, Advanced Dinghy/Keelboat & Inshore Racers.
Day Skipper: This is an elementary course in basic seamanship, navigation
and meteorology, suitable for beginners and people with little experience
in cruising yachts or motor cruisers. The course gives skippers enough knowledge
to take charge of a boat and navigate around familiar waters by day. Duration:
40 hours plus exams.We run the course over 5 days at Christchurch.
Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore: A more advanced course for students who have already completed the Day Skipper course, or skippers who have a background of sailing, motor cruising or offshore racing experience, and which takes them up to the theory knowledge required for Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Practical Examination. This course is not for beginners. Duration: 40 hours plus exams.
Yachtmaster Ocean: A course in astro navigation and worldwide meteorology and passage planning, which also unravels the mysteries of the sextant. A more advanced course for students who have coastal and offshore sailing experience, and navigation theory to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased standard. Course content includes Astro-navigation, ocean meteorology and passage planning. Ability after course: Have the background knowledge to skipper a yacht on ocean passages, understanding how to plan and navigate an ocean passage. Duration: 40 hours plus exams.
Marine VHF Radio Short Range Certificate (SRC): This qualification is essential for VHF radio users. A one-day course and examination for the Short Range Certificate (SRC) covers all the radio procedures. No age limit, but certificate post-dated to 16th birthday.
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