Competent Crew sailing course with Sailing Ireland.
Beginners adult sailing course where you will learn the basics to sailing
and gain a sailing qualification while having great fun.

The Competent Crew course is to provide an introduction to the world of sail cruising in a positive and structured manner. The course is as much about getting to grips with living aboard a cruising boat as it is about learning to sail. By the end of the course the sailors should be able to take their place as a competent, safe member of the crew aboard a sailing yacht. At Sailing Ireland we pass on our love of sailing in a relaxed practical manner with the emphasis being to enjoy yourself and gain the confidence to take your sailing on to the next level.

Competent Crew: Taking the First Step to learn to sail
Previous experience / knowledge necessary
No previous experience or knowledge of sailing is required or assumed.
Suitable for all ages (15+) and levels of fitness.
Your never too old to learn a new skill.

Course Duration
5 days tuition. These days do not have to be consecutive but each of the days tuition must be a full day.
Participants may return ashore at the end of each day but you will gain more from sleeping on board.
At Sailing Ireland we recommend that the student live aboard in order to get a feel for how a crew/boat operates.
This also allows us to sail further and  visit other ports in the region and enjoy them.
Assessment is continuous through the course.
Competent Crew certificates may only be awarded following the successful completion of the course.

How to book your place
Contact us as below and we will send you information and tips as well as our booking from with payment details. A deposit will be required to secure your place on the course.

To book your please contact us by phone on +353 (0) 53 913 9163

                                         or by mobile on +353 (0) 86 171 3800;
                                            eMail: info@sailingireland.ie

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.

Competent Crew Syllabus

1. Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails

Sufficient knowledge to understand orders given concerning the sailing
and the 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
Safe use of equipment with an understanding of possible loads and common errors

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
(have a look here:http://boatsafe.com/marlinespike/knots.htm)

4.Fire precautions and fighting

Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fire.
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 actions to be taken and your role 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 rules. Learn 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.
Methods to offset/overcome Mal de Mere.
(If concerned that this may be a problem we would be delighted to offer advise or how to prepare
and prevent 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