COASTAL SKIPPER

• More advanced skippering skills
• Improved navigational capability
• Next level marina handling skills
• Longer passages and heavy weather

• All course material, including notes.
• All meals and snacks on board.
• Life jackets
• All mooring fees

Not included:

• Sleeping bag and towel
• Meals on land
• Waterproof clothing

You will spend the entire course living on the yacht, with all meals included. One of Jules Verne Nautica’s expert instructors will work with you through the entire program, covering everything you need to know to be a competent and useful crew member on any future yacht you sail.

A training holiday

Each day you will sail to a new location, visiting the wonderful harbors and anchorages of the Rias Baixas. You will finish each day both on land and in beautiful anchorages, and usually have the opportunity to head to one of the local pubs for a well-deserved beer and a chat about the day’s training.

In one of the best places to learn to sail

The Rias are easily one of the best sailing areas in the world, with their great variety of locations, sheltered waters, gentle tides and lots of fishing boats moving around. As we described in our overview of the Rias Baixas, this is really the only place to learn to sail.

Safety is absolutely paramount when going out on the water. We chose Rías Baixas to teach because it is one of the safest places to sail in Europe.

90% of the crew joins alone, so these are excellent courses if you come alone. There is almost always a 50:50 mix of men and women, of all ages. It’s a small, fun group of like-minded people, all working towards the same goal.

You can expect four other crew on board, giving a maximum of five.

Don’t spend a lot of money on sailing clothes. Especially when you’re just starting out, you really don’t need to. The main consideration is to wear layers so you can adjust your temperature accordingly.

• Warm clothes including hat, scarf, gloves and thermal underwear.
• Sleeping bag
• Polarised sunglasses
• Sun block
• Wash kit
• Towel
• Flip flops (great for shower blocks)
• Swimming gear
• Phone charger
• Sailing boots and some deck shoes or non-marking trainers

Everything must be packed into a soft holdall that can be rolled away

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.

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
• Knows Customs procedures

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

Pilotage

• Can prepare a pilotage plan, with consideration of surroundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerations.
• Can pilot a yacht by day and night

Passage making and ability as skipper

• You can take charge of a yacht and manage the crew. Can organize the navigation, deck work and housekeeping of a yacht during the voyage. Is aware of the importance of weather trends. Is aware of the welfare of the crew during the voyage.
• Can use electronic navigational equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including the use of waypoints and routes

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

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

Adverse weather conditions

• Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds
• Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility

Emergency situations

• Recovery of a casualty overboard under power and sail
• Understands action to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues