The aim of this course is to teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a cruising yacht safely on coastal passages by day and night.
1. Passage planning
Can plan a coastal passage including a consideration of the capability of the yacht, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights, and tidal streams, publications required and strategy
Know Customs procedures
2. Preparation for sea
Is aware of safety equipment required for offshore passages
Can prepare a yacht for sea including stowage, safety briefing, watch keeping, delegating responsibilities and equipment and engine checks
3. Pilotage
Can prepare a pilotage plan, with consideration of surroundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerationsb. Can pilot a yacht by day and night
4. Passage making and ability as skipper
Can take charge of a yacht and direct the crew
Can organise the navigation, deckwork, and domestic duties of a yacht on passage
Is aware of the significance of meteorological trends
Is aware of crew welfare on passage
Can use electronic navigational equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including the use of waypoints and routes
5. Yacht handling under power
Can control the yacht effectively in a confined space under power
All berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide
6. Yacht handling under sail
Characteristics
Can use the sails to control the yacht in a confined space
Anchoring and mooring in various conditions of wind and tide
Can sail efficiently on all points of sailing
7. Adverse weather conditions
Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds
Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility
8. Emergency situations
Recovery of man overboard under power and sail
Understands action to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues
