If you are wanting to join a crew, or be invited to become a crew member on a cruising or racing yacht, having your competent crew certificate will make you much more useful to the skipper. You can immediately show that you have a basic understanding of sailing and terminology used by sailors.

Having some formal and recognised training also helps to protect the owner / skipper of the yacht while taking part in races or events. The racing regulations state that "it is the responsibility of the master to ensure that all crew are adequately trained."

The Competent Crew Certificate or equivalent are a pre-requisite to the Day Skipper course.

• Pre- Course Experience-None
• Assumed knowledge-None
• Minimum duration-5 days. Often run over 3 weekends or 3 days plus a weekend. If you have done the Start Yachting course, this course can be completed in 3 or 4 days.
• Minimum age-None
• Course content-Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails, sail handling, ropework, fire precautions and fighting, personal safety equipment, man overboard, emergency equipment, meteorology, seasickness, helmsmanship, general duties, manners and customs, rules of the road, dinghies.
• Ability after the course- Able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day routines

COURSE SYLABUS:

• Sufficient knowledge to understand orders given concerning the sailing and day to day running of the boat

Sail handling

• Sufficient knowledge to understand orders given concerning the sailing and day to day running of the boat
• Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches

‍‍‍Rope work

• Handling ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats and single and double bollards
• Handling warps
• Ability to tie the following knots and to know their correct use :figure of eight, clove hitch, rolling hitch, bowline, round turn and two half hitches, single and double sheet bend, reef knot.

Fire precautions and firefighting

• Handling ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats and single and double bollards
• Knowledge of the action to be taken in the event of fire
  

Personal safety equipment

• Understands and complies with the rules for the wearing of safety harnesses, lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids.

Man overboard

• Understands the action to be taken to recover a man overboard

Emergency equipment‍

• Can operate distress flares and knows when they should be used
• Understands how to launch and board a life-raft

Manners and customs‍

• Understands accepted practice with regards to:-
• Use of burgees and ensigns, prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesies to other craft berthed.
• Awareness of responsibilities of yacht skippers to protect the environment

Rules of the road

• Is able to keep an efficient lookout at sea

Dinghies‍

• Understands and complies with the loading rules
• Is able to handle a dinghy under oars

Meteorology

• Awareness of forecasting services and knowledge of the Beaufort scale

Seasickness

• Working ability is unaffected / partially affected / severely affected by seasickness

Helmsmanship and sailing‍

• Understands the basic principles of sailing and can steer and trim sails on all points of sailing
• Can steer a compass course, under sail and power

General duties

• Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel.

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