Competent Crew Certificate

The aim of the competent crew course is to introduce the novice to cruising and to teach personal safety, seamanship and helmsmanship to the level required to be a useful member of the crew on a cruising yacht. Previous knowledge or experience is not required, but if you have done a little sailing before it will be very useful and you will be able to learn more on this course. The course is usually run over five days.

What the Course Covers
Normally you will actually be physically sailing in a yacht provided by the company offering the course. You will sail a number of passages and you will visit a number of ports and anchorages if possible. During this you should cover all the topics on the RYA’s competent crew syllabus. Most of which are covered simply as part of the process of sailing the yacht. Normally the best way to learn things is by doing them.

The Syllabus
You should be issued with your own logbook when you start the course and this will include the following topics, each of which will be signed off by your instructor. The course should be recognized by an official body and cover, at least, the following:

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.

Sail Handling: Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails. Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches.

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 sheet bend, double sheet bend, reef knot.

Fire precautions and fire fighting: Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fire. Knowledge of the actions to be taken in event of fire.

Personal safety equipment: Understanding and complying with rules for wearing of safety harnesses, life jackets and personal buoyancy aids.

Man overboard (or MOB): Understanding the actions to be taken to recover a man overboard.

Distress signals: Operate distress flares and demonstrate an awareness of when they should be used.

Manners and customs: Understanding the ordinary practice of seamen and yachtsmen with regard to use of burgees and ensigns, prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesy to other craft berthed alongside.

Rules of the Road: Be able to keep an efficient lookout at sea.

Dinghies: Understand and comply with loading rules. Able to handle a dinghy under oars.

Meteorology: Awareness of forecasting services and knowledge of Beaufort scale.

Sea sickness: Understanding of how efficiency can be affected by sea sickness.

Helmsmanship and sailing: Understanding the basic principles of sailing and steering and trim sails on all points of sail. Able to steer a compass course, under sail and power.

General duties: Carrying out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of vessel.