Competent Crew Sailing Course

Competent crew course in Cape Town which is an ideal course for beginners and people wishing to learn how to sail from scratch. The competent crew sailing course gets you started on the road towards a yachting career.

RYA Competent Crew courses in Cape Town. Our courses are RYA approved via OSA. This is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers. By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day routines.

COMPETENT CREW

Duration: 5days
Cost: R 4,790 (subject to change)
Dates: Frequent
This course is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers. You will be taught the “new language” of sailing as well as how to handle the sails, helm and move around a boat effectively.

Course Outline:

Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, rigging and sails
Sail handling
Ropework
Fire precautions and fighting
Personal safety equipment
Man overboard
Emergency equipment
Manners and customs
Rules of the road
Dinghies
Meteorology
Sea sickness
Helmanship
General Duties

The Instructors:
The instructors are all qualified RYA Yachtmaster Instructors or RYA Cruising Instructors who have spent many hours sailing and teaching in the Eastern and Western Cape waters. They are also very familiar with the examination grounds, the basic structure of the exams and the standards expected by the RYA examiners, and will be able to adequately prepare the students for their final external RYA exams. The instructor student ratio for offshore modules is 5:1 so that each student receives adequate individual attention.

Cape Town and Surrounding Waters
The Cape waters are famous for the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and is considered the fairest cape of them all. The water is a lot colder in the Cape with the average temperature being around 17ºC, and the prevailing winds NW and SE, with the SE winds creating the spectacular tablecloth effect on top of Table Mountain. These alternating winds provide a variety of sailing conditions from calm to gale force, sometimes all in one day and the students learn to cope with these changing conditions. Langebaan on the West Coast is very similar to the Solent and ideal for RYA training, and considerable time is spent here during training.

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront where the course commences, is one of the main tourist attractions in South Africa. All possible amenities in terms of shops, entertainment, travel agents, banks, post office etc are available here and students have the option of spending their spare time enjoying this fine tourist area in which they will find themselves on the first week of course.

Langebaan lies within the West Coast National Park which is a world recognised heritage site. The Langebaan Lagoon is one of the world’s most important wetland areas which provides a safe haven for thousands of seabirds and wildlife who roost on the sheltered islands and pristine golden beaches in amongst which the students will find themselves training under sail. This area is peaceful and tranquil providing the ideal circumstance for students to focus fully on their sail training whilst enjoying the serenity of the Western Capes Natural heritage.

Certificates Obtained

• Royal Yachting Association Competent Crew Course Completion Certificate.

What is Covered by the Course Fees ?

VAT

Accommodation on the yachts/Ocean Club House in Langebaan for the duration of the course
including the shore based theory courses (i.e. there are no costs for accommodation for the
length of the course)

Food for all offshore modules of the course. Three meals a day will be optional at the Club
house for a slight additional charge per day.

RYA Certificate of Competence (internationally recognised)
Use of foul weather gear and navigation equipment

Accommodation and ablution facilities
Accommodation and food is provided for the duration of the course on the vessels or at the Ocean Club House in Langebaan. Students cook on the yachts. Ablution facilities and amenities are provided by the local yacht clubs and marinas i.e. showering facilities, restaurants, bars, swimming pools, laundry, etc.

What to bring along for the course

Clothes
Due to our warm climate, you will best be advised to bring plenty of shorts and T-shirts, with a few tracksuits for cool days and night sailing. Shoes are optional and though most students prefer to go bare foot, if you want to wear docksiders, you can buy them in SA for between R200-R500. Foul weather gear will be provided for you though you will have the opportunity to buy your own from the Academy if you prefer to. We stock the well-known brand Musto, and also have boots available for sale. You will be advised to bring sunglasses, sun protection cream, hats, and a light windbreaker. Casual wear is acceptable at the yacht clubs unless you want to use any of the formal restaurants where long pants and a collared shirt are required after 19h00(women smart casual).

Visas
Please contact your nearest embassy to enquire about visas. A standard tourist visa is for 3 months, however if you are planning a longer stay you may want to consider a study visa.

Bedding
We provide sheets, pillows and pillowcases for the boats, which will be changed weekly and laundered in the Academy. Your clothes can be laundered at the local laundromat for about R30/5 kg. You will be required to bring a sleeping bag/duvet with you as well though we will provide extra blankets if needed.

Toiletries (Not Provided)
Towels, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, sun protection cream (in summer), Peaceful Sleep/Tabard for mosquitoes (obtainable in SA).

Method of Payment

The method of payment is as follows:

- 50% deposit on booking.

- balance payable prior to commencement of course

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