These short simple courses could save your life!

We’re not over dramatizing, these specialist courses really could help save your life, and others, at sea. While they are only a day or two days long you’ll be amazed at how much you’ll learn. Despite being very serious courses they are also great fun to participate in. If you are looking to progress towards your Yachtmaster certificate or gain a commercial endorsement you will require these qualifications.

RYA First Aid

This is a universally recognised qualification on both land and sea. You never know when you might need a basic knowledge of first aid. We strongly recommend you regularly refresh your first aid as methods are often updated and if you haven’t had need to use the skills you have learnt the finer details can be forgotten. This one day course costs around £99 depending on where you would like to take the course. Some sailing schools will allow you to book this as an add on at the end of another course.

Sea Survival

When it comes to Sea Survival the scouting motto “be prepared” couldn’t be more apt. While we hope you’ll never need the skills learnt on the Sea Survival course it’s always best to be prepared for the worst! The RYA sea survival course consists of not only time in a class room but crucially time in the water putting the theory into practise. While most centres use a swimming pool, some centres offer the option of conducting the practical section in the sea. This one day course will cost around £100 depending on where you would like to take the course. Some sailing schools will allow you to book this as an add on at the end of another course.

Diesel Engine

The RNLI are called out to thousands of mechanical breakdowns a year, nearly all of them avoidable. By the end of the course you will have a better understanding of not only how a diesel engine works, but also correct maintenance procedures and how to get it started again the event of a breakdown. This one day course costs around £99 depending on where you would like to take the course. Some sailing schools will allow you to book this as an add on at the end of another course.

Short Range SRC/VHF Radio

Being able to use a VHF/DSC radio properly is critical. This simple course will teach you how to correctly operate a VHF DSC and follow correct protocol/etiquette. The course covers a range of topics from basic radio operations to emergency calls and ship to shore communications. This one day course costs around £99 depending on where you would like to take the course, plus the exam certificate fee of £30. Some sailing schools will allow you to book this as an add on at the end of another course.

Radar

Radar sets are become smaller, cheaper and therefore more popular. However they can be slightly complicated to use. If you own a boat with radar or you simply wish to learn how to effectively and efficiently use the technology then get yourself on a Radar course. This one day course costs around £99 depending on where you would like to take the course. Some sailing schools will allow you to book this as an add on at the end of another course.

RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety Training

While this is a requirement for ISAF offshore races it’s also very relevant to cruising sailors. The course covers weather forecasting, basic fire fighting, man overboard prevention/recovery and basic heavy weather seamanship. In order to qualify for this certificate you must take your Sea Survival course in addition to the Offshore Safety Training course. The RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety Training course costs around £100-£120 on its own but can be taken in combination with the Sea Survival course for £200-£220 for the two day course.

All of the above short courses can be taken in the UK and with the exception of Radar and Offshore Safety can be taken in the Canary Islands as an extension at the end of any other course. Other longer shore based courses such as Day Skipper Theory and Coastal and Yachtmaster Theory can be found under the Yacht and Power Cruising section.