We’ve noticed that a few people on social media and on web forums ask whether the RYA Competent Crew course is worth it. The main driver behind these comments seems to relate to price and what you get from a 5 day Competent Crew course.
As you know, we have skin in the game and offer the course from our Southampton base, so we are always going to say that Competent Crew is worth it and we think it is worth it for the following reasons:
What will you learn on a Competent Crew?
On a Competent Crew course you learn how to be a useful crew member. If you are thinking of doing your Day Skipper (which is about learning to be a skipper) then you need to know what you are doing as crew first because as skipper you will be directing and coaching other people to do what you need them to do as useful crew members. If you don’t know how to crew yourself how will you know what to ask other people to do when you are skipper?
The Competent Crew course covers all sorts of things and really lays a strong foundation upon which to progress from. It is a structured course that is designed to make sure you don’t have any gaps in your knowledge.
In some circumstances it may be fine to skip Competent Crew and jump straight to Day Skipper. If you have done some sailing before and would say you know how to raise and lower the sails; how to set them correctly to the wind; how to tack and gybe and you understand the different ‘points of sail; what to do with the fenders and the lines when you come alongside: then you should be fine to go straight to Day Skipper. Of course you need to make sure you have the theory knowledge (Day Skipper Theory course) in place before doing the Day Skipper Practical.
Value for Money
The course is 5 days long. Prices vary. At the time of writing ours start at £947 to be on a boat with an instructor to student ratio of 1:3. If you are a couple then you can share cabin and come on our 1:4 instructor to student course where there would be 4 students to 1 instructor and everyone gets their own cabin. That would be £1700 a couple or £850pp.
That price is effectively for a 5 day learning holiday. It includes accommodation on board for 5 nights. You sail to a different marina or harbour or anchorage each night so you see lots of different places without having to pack/unpack your bag each day. It includes all meals on board. It includes the use of oilskins if needed. It includes a guarantee that if you don’t pass you can come back again and again free of charge until you do. And includes a guarantee that if you are not happy and we can’t put things right we will give you your money back.
It is a fun, active and learning experience taught by experienced and passionate instructors who love teaching sailing and will provide guidance and feedback. Surely that makes the Competent Crew course worth it. Particularly if you compare the price to what you might pay for a 5 day holiday in a hotel.
There is very little else that comes close to getting away from it all and escaping everyday life than going sailing!
At the end of the five days you will have learnt skills, met some kindred spirits in your fellow crew mates and have a new found confidence on the water.
The bottom line is that like all of the RYA sailing courses we run, the RYA Competent Crew is intended to be fun. It is aimed at complete beginners or novices who may have been sailing a few times before. Our instructors are friendly and welcoming and passionate about what they do.
We are different at First Class Sailing
We have a team in the office focused on answering any questions you might have, making sure we are using top rate well paid instructors, ensuring our boats are kept clean and well maintained and making sure that we live up to our Triple S Guarantee as mentioned above that includes retaking the course free of charge if you don’t pass and a refund if you are not happy and we can’t put the problem right.
You will also have the peace of mind that you are being taught by one of the UK’s most well-respected and well-known sailing schools. You only need to look at our online reputation to see why so many choose us for sailing lessons.
Simply go to Google or Trip Advisor, and search for “First Class Sailing Reviews” to see for yourself.
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