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
