Competent Crew

Title: Competent Crew Course

Price: from £399 - 535 p/p or winter special offer over 3 weekends £449

Duration: 5 Days or 2 weekends split

Location: Brighton Marina.

Parking: Free in the marina multi storey car park.

Candidates: beginner sailors, novice sailors, start crewing, learning to sail, start yachting, starter sailors, starter crew, new boat owners.

Frequently asked questions:

Do I need a RYA Competent Crew licence to drive a boat / sail a yacht?

The short answer is, in the UK, amazing as it may sound, legally you do not need to hold any licence or attend any course to drive a powerboat or sail a yacht.. for anything up to 24m or under 500 gross tons.  

The long answer is.. it’s complicated!  It depends where you are sailing, which company/club/country, what type of boat, who you are on the boat with and the reasons you are on the water. ie leisure or commercial.  The Day Skipper qualification (practical and theory) will cover you for most scenarios, and is the next step after the Competent crew course.

Will my Competent Crew certificate allow me to sail in France?

No, you will need at least an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) certificate and a VHF operator’s licence.  If you are going inland (canals, lakes etc), you will also need to do a CEVNI test.  A Day Skipper Practical certificate will cover you for ICC (you will need to apply to the RYA with a copy of your certificate to receive this), but it will not cover you for CEVNI or VHF. 

Do I ever need to renew my Competent Crew Certificate?

No, your Competent Crew Certificate if for life.  However, if it has been a while since you have crewed then it would be prudent to do a sailing refresher course or 'brush up’.

Is there a Competent Crew exam at the end of the course?

No, the competent crew course is purely an attendance course with continual instruction.

Where will my Competent Crew licence be valid?

Remember this is not a ‘licence’ it is a certificate and is not a legal requirement.  However, if you are travelling abroad it would be prudent to work towards the ICC certificate.  Once you pass the Day Skipper Practical course you can apply for it automatically without any further courses.  The ICC is a legal requirement in some countries.   Some Flotilla companies will accept a Competent Crew certificate as a minimum sailing certificate requirement.

What is the right Competent Crew Course to take, there seems to be so many?

There are usually two types of Competent Crew courses.  The straight 5 day Competent Crew course,and the split weekend Competent Crew Course.  Competent Crew tends to be referred to in many ways -

Competent Crew Licence, Competent Crew License, Competent Crew, Competent Crew Course, Competent Crew Courses, RYA Competent Crew Course, Competent Crew Training, Competent Crew Training Course, Competent Crew Training Courses, Yacht Skipper's Beginners Licence, Yacht skipper's Starter course, Boat Skipper's Basic  Licence, Boat Skipper's Novice Course,

...but don’t worry, it is usually all the same course!

Is there a fee for issuing a Competent Crew Licence?

No, it is all included on the course fee.

Are there any other hidden costs?

There is no charge when paying by Debit Card, however, if you use a credit card a 2% charge will apply.  Some meals and accommodation are provided but you need to bring money for mooring fees (around £25), and for some meals & drinks out. If you don't have wet weather gear, you need to arrange to hire this.

Why go to Brighton Marina to do my Competent Crew Course?

Some Training Centres can be draughty out of the way places incompatible with a sailing environment.  At Brighton Marina, you are in the heart of one of the biggest marinas in Europe, and only minutes from the open water.  Brighton Marina with its many cafe’s bars and restaurants is a great place to hang out afterwards too!  The yachts, are modern and well maintained, and the sailing area - The Sussex Heritage Coastline - is part of England's newest National Park - The South Downs.

What does the course cover?

1. 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. 

2. Sail handling

• Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails
• Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches 

3. Rope work

• 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 

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 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 action to be taken 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 disturbances harbour including courtesies to other craft berthed alongside. 
• Aware of the responsibility of yacht skippers to protect the environment.

9. Rules of the road

• Is able to keep an efficient lookout at sea 

10.Dinghies

• Understands and complies with the loading rules
• Is able to handle a dinghy under oars 

Catchment area: Competent Crew Course serving London, Brighton and the counties of West and East Sussex, Kent and Surrey in the South East of the UK.  About 45mins from Eastbourne's sovereign harbour and 20 minutes from Newhaven harbour and Lewes to the East.  About an hour from Croydon and 40 minutes from Haywards Heath and Gatwick Airport to the North.  About 45 minutes from Worthing, an hour from Littlehampton and 35 minutes from Shoreham Harbour yacht club.