Level 3 introduces you to extended offshore sailing, while enabling you to further develop your sailing skills and acquire new navigational, meteorological and watch leader skills in an offshore environment.
Acquire new navigational and meteorological skills in an offshore environment.
The course will introduce you to the skill of offshore sailing and navigation; you will spend five days in the classroom undertaking a bespoke navigation and meteorology course during which you will learn about navigational charts and techniques, tides, ocean currents, weather forecasting and global weather patterns.
Following this you will practice these skills on an extended five-day offshore passage where you will gain experience of life at sea, working in watches day and night, honing your practical skills. You will also have an opportunity to act as watch leader, running a watch and gaining an understanding of the leadership and management skills required for this role. This will be your first true experience of what life at sea is like and will give you a real insight into life on the race.
Depending on the weather conditions your offshore passage could take you as far as the Fastnet Rock off the south coast of Ireland, the north Brittany coast, the Channel Islands or even through the Dover Straits and up into the North Sea.
On this course you will not shy away from bad weather but use it to enable you to gain valuable experience of heavy weather sailing, preparing you for the inevitable storms that you will encounter during the race and throughout your sailing career. Safety is always our prime concern and the highly experienced Clipper Training skippers will ensure that good seamanship and safety is maintained at all times.
Qualifications:
RYA Watch Leader
RYA Day Skipper Theory (Yachtmaster Offshore Theory will be offered to those who have already achieved Day Skipper)
Boats: Clipper 68
Total duration: 10 days (it will also be possible to take this course as two five-day courses)
Time on water: 4.5 days
Shore based training: 5.5 days
Course Content:
Pre course reading:
Watch systems and mother watch
Watch leader skills/ responsibilities
Victualling
Marine environment
IRPCS
Weather forecasting and sources of weather forecast
Navigational charts and publications
Practical talks:
IRPCS
Position course and speed
Navigation charts and publications
Navigation drawing instruments
Compass
Chart work
Electronic chart work
Tides, tidal streams & ocean currents
Meteorology including global weather patterns
Offshore and ocean passage planning
Practical experience:
Review all previous topics
Offshore sailing
Working in watches
Chart work and navigation
Weather monitoring
Spinnaker handling (day and night)
Man overboard (day/night and with spinnaker)
Two-boat medical supplies and personnel transfer
Working aloft at sea