An introduction to the basic principles of sailing, teaching personal safety, first aid and sea survival techniques along with the principles of good seamanship.
Focusing on personal safety, good seamanship and the importance of teamwork.
Level 1 training focuses primarily on the basics of sailing and seamanship. As a crew member you will learn all of the basic crewing skills which will become the bedrock of your sailing expertise. The course focuses on personal safety, good seamanship and the importance of teamwork on board.
During the course you will undertake dedicated sessions on first aid and sea survival where you will learn key skills which will promote both personal safety and the safety of your fellow crew mates, as well as providing an important insight into the inherent risks involved in ocean racing and how to minimise them. You will learn what to do if you encounter a number of rare emergency situations. The course will teach you exactly what to do, for example, in the unlikely event that you are washed overboard or you have to evacuate to a life raft.
You will sail on a Clipper 60, the yachts that completed the first four Clipper Race circumnavigations and an ideal training boat. In addition to the theory elements, you will embark on a series of day sails, initially within the sheltered waters of the Solent before venturing out into the English Channel where you will experience a wide variety of weather conditions both during the day and at night. You will get your first experience of working in a watch system. During the week you will develop crewing skills and a good understanding of how to operate safely and as a team on a powerful yacht. By the end of the week you will have acquired a good knowledge of sailing and understand how to carry out an array of manoeuvres, including being able to tack, gybe, change sails and reef as well as having a good understanding of what life on board will be like. This is a challenging week but by the end of it you will realise that not only have you mastered the basics of sailing but you have made new friends and shared an experience you will never forget.
Crewmember: “I have just got back from Level 1 training, currently sat on the sofa unable to move. It was a hell of a week and I would be lying if I said that there was more than one occasion that if my keys were in my pocket I would have driven home. It was only the thought of letting the crew and Skipper down that kept me going! Then we had the night sail and that changed everything. The magic of being under the clear night sky with the stars above enshrouded by darkness, the feeling that you were the only boat out there was almost like returning to childhood, sheer wonderment. The Skipper’s leadership, passion, enthusiasm, patience, warmth were amazing. What else can I say? The crew would die for him!"
Qualifications:
RYA Competent Crew
RYA Sea Survival
RYA First Aid
Boats: Clipper 60
Total duration: 8 days
Time on water: 5.5 days
Shore based training: 2.5 days
Course Content:
Pre course reading:
Knots
Nautical names and terms
How sails work
Types of boats/yachts
Principles of sea survival
Practical talks:
All safety equipment
Man overboard
Points of sail
Knots
Technical clothing
Meteorology
Preparation for sea survival
Life jackets and life rafts
Principles of survival
Search and rescue
Basic first aid techniques
Limitations of first aid on board
CPR
Practical experience:
Preparing the yacht for sea
Sail hoisting and lowering
Sail folding and care
Tacking and gybing
Reefing
Headsail changes
Poling out headsails
Man overboard
Helming
Log keeping
Life jackets and life rafts
Life raft management
Survival craft ailments