The Competent Crew course introduces the complete beginner to cruising and teaches personal safety, seamanship and helmsmanship to the level required to be a useful member of crew of a cruising yacht.
1. Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails
- Sufficient knowledge to understand orders given concerning the sailing and day to day running of the boat.
2. Sail Handling
- Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails
- Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches
3. Ropework
- 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
4. Fire precautions and fighting
Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fireb. Knowledge of the action to be taken in the event of fire
5. Personal safety equipment
- Understands and complies with rules for the wearing of safety harnesses, lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids
6. Man overboard
- Understands the action to be taken to recover a man overboard
7. Emergency equipment
- Can operate distress flares and knows when they should be used
- Understands how to launch and board a liferaft
8. Manners and customs
- Understands accepted practice with regard to: use of burgees and ensigns, prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesies to other craft berthed
- Aware of the responsibility of yacht skippers to protect the environment
9. Rules of the road
- Is able to keep and efficient lookout at sea
10. Dinghies
- Understands and complies with the loading rulesb.
- Is able to handle a dinghy under oars
11. Meteorology
- Awareness of forecasting services and knowledge of the Beaufort scale
12. Seasickness
- Working efficiency is unaffected/partially affected/severely affected by seasickness
13. 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
14. General duties
- Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel
