RYA Competent Crew Practical Course Syllabus
The RYA Competent Crew Sailing course is taught on board a sail cruising yacht of 7-15 metres length of waterline (LWL).
This course introduces you to sail cruising. You will learn about personal safety, seamanship and helmsmanship to a level that will make you a useful crew member of a sail cruising yacht.
No previous experience is required.
The course can be taken as
- 5 days in duration if taken consecutively
- 3 sets of 2 days
- 2 days followed by 3 days
Syllabus
1. Sea Terms and Parts of a Boat, her Rigging and Sails
Understands
- Orders given concerning the sailing and day-to-day running of the boat
2. Sail Handling
Can
- Bend on, set, reef and handle sails
- Use sheets and halyards and their associated winches
3. Ropework
Can
- Use sheets and halyards and their associated winches
- Handle ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats and single and double bollards
- Handle warps
- Tie the following knots and knows their correct use: figure-of-eight; clove hitch; bowline; round turn and two half hitches; reef knot; rolling hitch; single and double sheet bend
4. Fire Precautions and Fighting
Understands
- The hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent it
- The action to be taken in the event of fire
5. Personal Safety Equipment
Understands
- How to comply with guidance for the wearing of safety harnesses, life jackets and personal buoyancy aids
6. Man Overboard
Understands
- The action to be taken to recover a man overboard
- How cold water shock can affect a casualty in the water
7. Emergency equipment
Understands
- How to launch and board a life raft
- Distress flares and knows when they should be used
8. Manners and Customs
Understands
- Accepted practice with regard to: use of burgees and ensigns; prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesies to other berthed craft
- The responsibility of the boating community to protect the environment
9. Rules of the Road
Can
- Keep an efficient lookout at sea
10. Tender Usage
Understands
- The loading rules and complies with them
- The use and importance of a kill cord
- Safety equipment for tenders
Can
- Handle a dinghy under oars
11. Meteorology
Knowledge of
- The Beaufort Scale
Understands
- The forecasting services and where to obtain a forecast
12. Seasickness
Working efficiency is unaffected/partially affected/severely affected by seasickness (delete as applicable)
13. Helmsmanship and Sailing
Understands
- The basic principles of sailing
Can
- Steer and trim sails on all points of sailing
- Steer a compass course, under sail and power
14. General Duties
Can
- Carry out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel