Sail cruising instruction on the Firth of Clyde and the West Coast of Scotland
Enquiries:
e-mail: info@westcoastsailing.co.uk Phone: +44 (0) 191 2842112 Mobile: 07799 694229
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 All RYA practical courses:
Comp. Crew, Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper
Prep. for YM and Coastal Skipper exams
Maximum of 4 students
High quality yacht ~ Hallberg-Rassy 342
£395 all-inclusive for a 5-day course
Firth of Clyde courses start/end in Largs
West Coast courses start/end in Oban
or Craobh Haven
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RYA Practical Courses for Yacht Cruising.
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Sail Cruising Programme is a voluntary scheme for those wanting to start cruising, or to expand their cruising knowledge. Enjoy the courses simply to increase your knowledge and confidence, or use them to prepare for the practical exam for either the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence* or the even more prestigious RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence. These RYA/MCA Certificates are recognised by maritime authorities worldwide. Further details from
http://www.ryatraining.org/leisure/sailcruising/Pages/sailcruisingintro.aspx
* This is the new name (from 1st January 2010) for the RYA Coastal Skipper Certificate of Competence.
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Start Yachting. 2-day course. Short introduction to sail cruising for novices. Provides experience in steering a yacht, sail handling, rope work and awareness of safety on board. No previous experience or knowledge is necessary. |
Competent Crew. 5-day course. For beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers. Shows you how to steer, handle sails and mooring lines, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all routines on board. No previous experience or knowledge is necessary. |
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Day Skipper. 5-day course. On successful completion of this course you should be able to skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day. It is recommended that you attend the RYA Day Skipper shorebased course before taking this course and that you have a minimum pre-course sail cruising experience of 5 days, 100 sea miles and 4 night hours. The course concentrates on pilotage, boat handling, seamanship and navigation and give you the opportunity to take charge on short passages under instruction. |
Coastal Skipper. 5-day advanced skippering course for those who have good knowledge and experience of sailing and navigation and want to skipper coastal passages by day and night. It assumes boat handling skills to the standard of the RYA Day Skipper practical course and navigation to the standard of the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster shorebased course. It offers more challenging passages and passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations. Minimum recommended pre-course sail cruising experience is 15 days (2 as skipper), 300 sea miles and 8 night hours.
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Preparation for the exam for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore Certificates of Competence. This 5-day course gives you practice in the practical skills you are likely to be asked to demonstrate during the exam, as well as enabling you to revise the theoretical content of the syllabus. We can help you arrange the exam and make the training yacht available for it at the end of the course, usually with the crew you have been training with. Please visit
http://www.ryatraining.org/leisure/certcomp/Pages/home.aspx for details of the previous experience required for these examinations, and the current RYA examination fees.
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What to expect.
Detailed instructions for finding the yacht will be given when you book. On 5 day courses, meet up with your instructor at the yacht at 6 pm in the evening of the first day, then settle in and get to know your crewmates. Although most other sailing schools will accept up to 5 students on a course, West Coast Sailing limits the number to 4 in order to give more instuction time to each student. Don't worry about getting along with the others if you are on your own. In fact, crews where nobody knows anybody else at the start often gel together best, forming lasting friendships. There will be a full safety briefing before the yacht sails the next morning.
Keeping the crew well fed is an important part of cruising. Meals, other than breakfasts, are organised according to a rota which you will know in advance. When it is your turn, you prepare a meal of your own choosing and wash up afterwards. Either contact us in advance so we can make sure the right ingredients are on board or bring your own (with receipts for reimbursement). Provisions can usually be topped up at ports of call during the week. There is a small fridge and the usual type of yacht gas cooker with two top burners and an oven. Breakfasts are do it yourself affairs with cereals, fruit, milk, fruit juice etc. provided and fried breakfasts as an option.
Normally, each night will be spent in a different harbour or anchorage. There is a hot shower on board but most students prefer to to make use of the shower facilities available in harbours and marinas. There will be a mix of boat handling and short navigation exercises as well as longer passages. Skipper trainees will take turns in planning and skippering passages. Man overboard recovery techniques will also be practised with a dummy, such as a fender tied to a bucket, substituting for the real thing. The instructor will debrief students after each exercise or passage. Each 5-day cruise will normally cover at least 100 miles and include 4 hours night sailing. The course will finish about 5 pm on the final day, after boat cleaning and individual debriefings.
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What to bring.
Bring a sleeping bag, pillow and clothes
suitable for the vagaries of Scottish weather, including a hat (and spare). Waterproofs (oilees) and sea boots are essential. These can be hired if you wish. Shoes should have a good grip on sloping decks - deck shoes or most trainers are fine. Don't forget toiletries, a towel, sun cream (we can always hope) and any personal medications, but try to keep it all down to one soft bag.
Bring your G15 logbook if you have one. If not, you can buy one from the RYA, many chandlers or onboard from the instructor.
Lifejacket /harnesses and all safety gear are supplied. |
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The Yacht.
Hallberg -Rassy 342. Commissioned 2007. (Pictures of a Swedish sister ship)
34 feet is a good compromise for sail training ~ avoiding the close quarter manoeuvring difficulties that come with bigger boats, but still with good accommodation ~ double fore and after cabins and two roomy settee berths and an optional pilot berth in the saloon. There is more than ample room for the maximum of 4 students.
The yacht, which was new in 2007, complies fully with the MCA (Maritime Coastguard Authority) Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Sailing Vessels. This involves stability criteria, as well as regular inspections of safety and emergency equipment. Modern RADAR/GPS chartplotting equipment is installed.
The British Kiel Yacht Club, which provides sail training for the British Army, agrees that these yachts are excellent for sail training, having bought 10 of them in 2007. Among the reasons for their choice was that
"It is important to have boats that are built to last and cope with tough conditions".
The German magazine "Yacht" (Issue 16, 2005) commented in their review of the yacht:
"The sailing performance is excellent, even in light airs, but her speed increases effortlessly in response to every increase in wind strength. She reacts instantly to steering commands, but not nervously. From the moment you set sail she edicts a feeling of confidence, a feeling that is retained even in a freshening wind. The hull and deck are completely laminated and cast together with a polyester mixture, the resulting rigidity to the hull gives the boat a more comfortable ride in heavy seas. The high standard of the build quality is valid throughout the whole build process and is evident even to a non-expert. It is not only the precisely fitted interior joinery, the dimensions and solid feel of the khaya mahogany with its varnished finish which is smooth to the touch."
Further information about the HR 342 can be found at
http://www.hallberg-rassy.se
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The instructor.
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Tony Whittingham is Principal and Chief Instructor at West Coast Sailing. He is a Yachtmaster Instructor and Ocean Yachtmaster and has been teaching sailing and navigation skills for over twenty years. His sailing-related activities on shore include teaching about astro-navigation, the tides and meteorology.
Some comments from students:
'Very satisfied ~ met all expectations, with a high quality of instruction.' (D.P.)
'A particularly good instructor, fitting in all the necessary course items during a very windy
week. He coped well in giving all the different levels of crew their relevant experience.' (P.H.)
'Absolutely fantastic instructor and a real asset. He was calm
throughout with good explanations. A great trip allround.' (D.A.)
'Thanks for your calm patient instruction.' (K.C.)
'On board I had the pleasure of meeting our able and patient (you once try teaching me the
tidal rule of twelfths and you'll know what `patience' means) instructor.' (O.T.)
'As well as the opportunity of sailing on a beautiful ocean going yacht in stunning locations, your wealth of experience and knowledge taught me a great deal. I came away from the course with a lot more than my Day Skipper ticket. I can’t recommend your course highly enough.' (R.C.)
'Took into account how nervous I was and was very encouraging and patient. Felt I had learned a lot.' (A.P.)
'The boat and the quality of instruction really could not be better. I
found that you are able to explain things in a way that can be easily
understood and your methods for doing this are very practical.' (R.F.)
'Perfect Course. Thanks.' (L.B.)
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Dates and costs 2010
5-day courses are suitable for taking RYA Competent Crew, Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper practical courses, as well as preparation courses for Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Coastal examinations.
The cost is £395, including full board, fuel, gas and all berthing and mooring charges.
Personal items such as oilees, boots and sleeping bags are not included.
N.B. For Largs-based courses, oilees and boots may be hired locally for a combined cost of approximately £5 per day.
Courses normally run from 6pm on the first day to about 5pm on the final day.
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| Sat 10th - Thurs 15th April 2010 2 PLACES AVAILABLE | Largs ~ Firth of Clyde |
| Sun 18th - Fri 23rd April 2010 2 PLACES AVAILABLE | Largs ~ Firth of Clyde |
| Sat 22th - Thurs 27th May 2010 FULL | Largs ~ Firth of Clyde |
| Sat 26th June - Thurs 1st July 2010 FULL | Craobh ~ West Coast & Inner Hebrides |
| Sun 11th - Fri 16th July 2010 FULL | Oban ~ West Coast & Inner Hebrides |
| Sat 21st - Thurs 26th August 2010 FULL | Largs ~ Firth of Clyde |
| Sat 18th - Thurs 23rd September 2010 4 PLACES AVAILABLE | Largs ~ Firth of Clyde |
| Sat 16th - Thurs 21st October 2010 FULL | Largs ~ Firth of Clyde |
| 2-day Start Yachting courses ~ dates by arrangement. £170 |
Additional short course dates may be possible. Please phone or e-mail to discuss.
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How to get to Largs Yacht Haven.
By Car: The marina is half a mile south of Largs on the A78.
Easily reached via the M8 around Glasgow and then the A78 via Greenock or the A737 and A760 via Kilbirnie.
Free parking is accessed by pressing the intercom button at the
barrier for attention and explaining you have come to sail with
West Coast Sailing.
By Rail: A train journey of under 1 hour from Glasgow with trains
leaving Glasgow Central Station every hour. Visit
ScotRail
for more information.
By Air: Approximately 45 minutes from either Glasgow
International Airport or Prestwick Airport.
Visit
BAA
for more information for Glasgow
or
Glasgow Prestwick Airport
for Prestwick.
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How to get to Oban Marina.
The marina is situated on the island of Kerrera in Oban Bay. It is easily reached by a short complimentary ferry service (foot passengers only) which departs frequently from the North Pier in Oban. For timetable information visit Oban Marina or phone Oban Marina on +44(0)1631 565 333.
By Car: Oban is a 2½ - 3 hour drive from Glasgow, normally via Crianlarich. For advice on car parking in Oban visit Oban Marina car parking page .
By Rail: ScotRail run twice daily trains from Glasgow Queen Street Station to Oban.
For times and prices visit ScotRail or National Rail Enquiries.
By Air: Rail services or car hire (contact Oban Marina for advice) from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. Note that Loch Lomond Seaplanes (+44 (0) 1436 675030) operate a 24 minute flight directly to Oban Marina from the River Clyde in the heart of Glasgow, but students travelling to join a course should be aware of the limited baggage allowance and the risk of flight cancellation in the event of poor flying or landing/take-off conditions. |
How to get to Craobh Haven Marina.
Craobh (pronounced "Croove") Haven is midway between Lochgilphead and Oban on the A816. There is free car parking and a small grocery store, but the nearest supermarkets are in Oban. For further information on the marina visit Craobh Haven Marina or phone +44(0)1852 500222.
A car is the most convenient way of getting there. Alternatively, a train can be taken to Oban and a taxi (about £40) used to travel the 15 miles south to the marina. ScotRail run twice daily trains from Glasgow Queen Street Station to Oban. For times and prices visit ScotRail or National Rail Enquiries. |
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Firth of Clyde Gallery
The Firth of Clyde is an extremely attractive and relatively well sheltered area for sailing. Its islands, protected anchorages, harbours and marinas help to make it ideal as a training area.
Close views of porpoises, seals, and diving gannets are common, but eagles and basking sharks are also sometimes seen.
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West Coast Gallery
The beautiful and dramatic scenery of the west coast of Scotland offers some of the best sailing in the world. Wildlife abounds, with the chance of seeing eagles, dolphins, otters, basking sharks and whales. Although there is plenty of sheltered sailing to be had, there are also more exposed passages and stronger tides for those looking for greater challenges.
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2009 Photo Gallery
A selection of photos from the 2009 season.
Thanks to Kevin Martin, Barry Kennedy, Michael Platt, Wyn Davies, Des Delany, Tony Mee, Peter Combe and Ioannis Grammatikos.
(For viewing this and the other photo galleries a screen area of 800 x 600 pixels may be preferred.) All photos copyright © 2009
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Links
