Sailing Schools & Own Boat Tuition

Posted on : 20/04/2012

It is that time of the season when the boats are in the water, the weather is warming and we’ve all had our first few trips out. Even the most experienced person makes mistakes, overlooks basic principles or simply feels a bit rusty. For that reason then you are never too good to be above training and learning. Indeed, the person who thinks he knows everything is probably very close to ‘coming a cropper’, what ever form that may take.

So a bit of tuition, training or formal studying should always be considered if you want to retain competency levels, improve or simply keep pace with modern techniques. So turning to a sailing and power boat school for some help is always wise. In the Skipper’s Guide we currently list a number of organizations. We have listed them below, so why not get in touch and discuss your requirements and concerns:

Elite Sailing School Chatham (T)01634 890512
RCR Training East Anglia (T)0871 2008021
Yacht & Motor Boat Training South/East Coast (T)01580 893788
Brightlingsea Boat Academy East Anglia (T)01206 304747

All our sailing and training Schools are listed on the website – click here

In our position, we see and hear of more instances than most where further training would be prudent. In the marina that we regularly frequent one of our neighbours always struggled to bring their twin screwed motor cruiser into a narrow finger pontoon. Lots of forward/reverse gears and thrashing of the steering wheel. Eventually, we understand, they took a couple of hours of tuition with an RYA approved instructor who actually took the lesson on their own boat and in that time their performance soon changed into that of a really competent team. Now, even in a strong cross wind, they use the twin props to best advantage and invariably demonstrate good technique and competence.

It is sometimes the finer detail that people over look. Away from tight situations with plenty of ‘sea room’ most people are able to make good time but in the confines of entering port or passing through narrow channels ones abilities can be exposed. In this day and age we are invariably surrounded by modern electronic navigation equipment which makes our journeys and jaunts seemingly easy. We all talk about being able to ‘get back to basics’ but under pressure, when it counts, could you do it. Do you remember to plot your position regularly on a paper chart and how often do you actually do it. So what might happen if you lost all your electrics in low visibility whilst threading your way past the Goodwin Sands where a few hundred meters makes all the difference. Would you remember how to convert compass to chart bearings and make all the right decisions to proceed by ‘dead reaconing’. A little bit of ‘back to basics’ navigation would be of use to us all.

Most of us will venture out onto the water with other people who will invariably have varying levels of experience but in some situations might expect the owner or skipper to be totally at ease and hold mastery of their position. Confidence in a situation can deteriate rapidly if things go wrong and this can be especially significant if basic mistakes are made that are obvious to all those affected. Many is the time we have watched couples who struggle to pick up a mooring buoy. Lots of basic mistakes which are so obvious but in a lot of circumstances over looked. A common instance is placing the less competent (or able) member of the crew on the bow with the job of actually picking up the blasted buoy. We always do the opposite. With some basic training most people can slowly steer a boat up to a buoy and stop the boat with the reverse gear. The difficult job is actually getting the mooring line secured. If only, if only but lots of shouting, huffing/puffing and gestures …. Happy days .

So it does nobody any harm to take a look backwards and it is most admirable to take some time out to brush up on skills that are perhaps rarely practiced or need some impartial reviewing.

It is never too late to learn.