Competent Crew
RYA Competent Crew Practical Sailing Course Syllabus
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.
The course lasts 5 days and costs GBP £1100
Terminology
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.
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
Fire Safety
Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fires.
Knowledge of the action to be taken in the event of fire
Safety Equipment
Understands and complies with rules for the wearing of safety harnesses, lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids
Emergency Equipment
Can operate distress flares and knows when they should be used
Understands how to launch and board a liferaft
Man Overboard
Understands the action to be taken to recover a man overboard
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
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 efficiency 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
Sail Handling
Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails
Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches
General Duties
Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel