Miramar Sailing School RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Shorebased and Practical Courses based in Antigua, Caribbean

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Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster – Shorebased and Practical Courses

Once you have completed the initial stages in your training with success in your Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses, you will be ready to move on to the intermediate level of Coastal Skipper before progressing to the pinnacle of the RYA Training Scheme, Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean.

In terms of training the scheme is structured as follows:

SHOREBASED Course:

Both the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster shorebased courses are the same. Once this theory course is completed, candidates are able to progress to either the Coastal Skipper Practical course, and achieve a Course Completion Certificate at that level, or move on to acquire Certificates of Competence, awarded for Yachtmaster Coastal; Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean.

The syllabus for this course comprises:

• Position determination
• The Magnetic Compass
• Tides and Tidal Streams
• Buoyage; Lights; Pilotage
• GPS and Chart Plotters
• Echo Sounders
• Logs (speed and distance measurement)
• Deck log
• Meteorology
• Rules of the Road
• Safety at Sea
• Navigation in Restricted Visibility
• Passage Planning
• Marine Environment

PRACTICAL Course – Coastal Skipper:

In terms of Practical Courses this is the final Course Completion Certificate to be taken. It is awarded with either “Tidal” or “Non Tidal” endorsements. Here at the Miramar Sailing School we appreciate the value of the Tidal endorsement at Coastal Skipper level, so we have put together a “Fast Track” programme during which candidates sail to the south of the Caribbean Island chain. The schedule offers beginners the opportunity to undergo courses en route and build sea miles in preparation for the Coastal Skipper “Tidal” course while in the Grenadines. Pre- qualified Coastal Skipper candidates may join us in the Grenadines for this course without having to sail down beforehand. We do offer the Coastal Skipper practical course in Antigua and this will achieve a “Non Tidal” endorsement.

The syllabus for the Practical “Tidal” course comprises:

• Passage Planning
• Preparation for Sea
• Pilotage
• Passage making and ability as Skipper
• Yacht handling under power
• Yacht handling under sail
• Adverse weather conditions
• Emergency situations.

For the “Non Tidal” course, the element of Tides and Tidal Streams included in the Passage Planning; Pilotage and Yacht Handling sections is not covered.

Yachtmaster Coastal & Yachtmaster Offshore Prep Course

Within the RYA Scheme, there is no Yachtmaster Practical Course. However, in common with most RYA Recognised Training Centres, we appreciate the need for focused preparation before candidates take their Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore examinations. For this reason we offer a 5 day Yachtmaster Prep Course that hones the skills learned up to Coastal Skipper level.

After the preparation course an Examiner will join the boat for one or two days to assess the candidates for their appropriate Yachtmaster Certificates of Competence, the time taken to examine the candidates depends on the number of students on board.