Wan't to take my practical dayskipper course?

[Huss]

Took the plunge with yachting last summer on a flotilla around Corfu, Paxos etc and absolutley loved it.

I now want to take this a stage further and get myself properly trained and authorised. From chatting to a few people and browsing the web it looks like I need to undertake a dayskipper course. As I will have a couple of weeks spare at the end of the summer (October) I'd think I'd like to combine the theory with the practical and see if I can get my qualification this year.

As I am a complete newbie to all of this (aside from two weeks in fairly mild conditions) I would really appreciate any tips or steer from any of you who have been down a similar road. Moreso I would appreciate any recommendations for a decent sail school in the South. A browse on google is just bewildering and I'd sooner attend somewhere well thought of.

It doesn't need to be anything fancy - just good solid friendly people giving honest ande solid training.

Any pointers would be well received.

regards

huss

[Tizzy]

Day Skipper practical is normally a 5 day course and there are many RYA approved schools in The Solent area. I did my Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster with Sunsail, as they run regular courses, have new Sunfast 37's and have a good set-up at Port Solent. Pricewise I think they're all similar. Day Skipper and Comp' Crew can be on the same boat and usually most schools operate a ratio of 5:1 pupils to instructor (for C/Skipper & Yactmaster prep this is 4:1). You can also do courses abroad, but make sure you do it somewhere that's tidal (i.e. not the Med) otherwise you get a non-tidal certificate that cannot be used in most places. If you are prepared to do some reading up you may be able to get away with just doing the 5 day Dayskipper practical course, although this does depend how much pre-course experience you have - one flot' holiday isn't really enough. Passing your Day Skipper also allows you to apply for an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) which is like a sailors driving licence and rapidly becoming mandatory for bareboat yacht charter worldwide. Hope this helps - feel free to PM me if you've any other questions

[DanG]

I did my Day Skipper with ICC in Salcombe, and will definately use them again. Great bunch, top gear, superb location and most importantly excelent instruction.

ICC

[Huss]

Thanks fellas

I'll take a look.

Totally agree with getting my tidal skipper and is the reason why I want to take it over here rather than somewhere around the med.

I have a little bit of basic knowledge (RYA2 dinghy) - so hopefully with the two weeks afloat I won't be a total spanner (or the sailing equivalent).

Thanks again.

regards

huss