RYA Courses - Brittany Sailing for Gites , Sailing Courses, and Sail & Stay Holidays

From £420 to £460 for a five day course

Our main aim is for our clients to enjoy themselves while learning the necessary skills to run and/or skipper a yacht safely and confidently – as we cruise the fantastic waters of the Brittany Coast and Islands.
The Competent Crew Course

This is a course for the newcomer to sailing or someone who has a little dinghy sailing but no cruising experience. The five day course starts off with a safety briefing, getting students used to moving around the boat, learning the nautical names of parts of the vessel while doing some simple manoeuvres like coming alongside, and then getting some sails up and going sailing. Then, everyone can have a go at helming. Each day, weather permitting, we will go on some interesting and varied passages while at the same time learning the basics of cruising; knots, basic navigation, helmsmanship and sailing.

Most people should be able to pass the Competent Crew Certificate, hopefully will have enjoyed the five days, and will want to think about the next step up the ladder. You will need to bring warm clothing and waterproofs as sailing can be cold at times and occasionally wet. (We can provide waterproofs if you do not have any of your own, free of charge).

The Day Skipper Course

This is an elementary course in basic seamanship, navigation and meteorology, suitable leaning overfor people with a little experience in yachts. It is helpful if students know a little basic navigation, chartwork and tides. Suggested minimum pre-course experience – 5 days onboard, 100 miles logged, plus 4 night hours (these can be made up during the five day course or if you want, you can do an extra couple of days at the beginning of the course).

This course concentrates on the two most difficult aspects of skippering a yacht for the beginner – pilotage and boat handling.

The five day course consists of passage planning, short passages (weather permitting) with pilotage, plenty of boat handling and each student will be given the opportunity of skippering the yacht. Wind awareness, meteorology, basic rule of the road and maintenance will also be covered. Successful students will receive a Day Skipper Certificate at the end of the course, and you will be confident to skipper a cruising yacht on short passages by day.

The Coastal Skipper Course

A more advanced course in navigation and meteorology, suitable for students who have already completed the Day Skipper Course or who have a background of cruising or offshore racing experience. This course is definitely not suitable for beginners. Suggested minimum pre-course experience – 15 days onboard, 300 miles logged, plus 8 night hours. (Extra miles or night hours can be acquired by doing an extra couple of days before the course and you will add some more during the course.) Knowledge of navigation, tides etc., up to Coastal Skipper shore based course level is useful, but we do revise where required.

This course covers all the subjects in Day Skipper but in more depth. During the whole week there is loads of practice for everyone in all the necessary skills. Nearer the end of the course the appointed Skipper of the day (weather permitting) will be asked to skipper a passage including pilotage in and out of harbour. There will also be plenty of boat handling under power and sail. Passage planning including tides, weather forecast interpretations, and the identification of lights and marks – plus Rule of the Road.

A successful student will normally be a person who can take the responsibility of the yacht and crew when acting as Skipper and will understand the problems associated with taking a yacht to sea. At the end of the course you will be able to skipper a coastal passage safely and confidently.

(a) Successful candidates receive their certificate at the end of the five day course (no one has failed a course to date)

(b)Each course starts on a Saturday evening and finishes on Thursday lunch time (which fits in with the ferry sailing times and most budget airline flights to Brest (see below)

(c) We only have up to four students at a time on CORNISH LEGEND so everyone will have plenty of time at practicing the different skills.

(d) In all courses English is spoken .

INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE TRAVELLING TO BRITTANY SAILING FOR A RYA COURSE

If you do not want to bring your car across, there are two very convenient and cheap ways to get to us:

(a) Many of our clients fly into Brest with one of the budget airlines and get a taxi to the Moulin Blanc Marina where CORNISH LEGEND can pick you up.

For 2005 Flybe are flying into Brest from Birmingham, Southampton and Exeter for as little as £36 return.

Flybe Web Site : http://www3.flybe.com/obs/booking-controller/

(b) Otherwise you can leave your car at Plymouth and board the Brittany Ferry (6 hours) as a foot passenger (about £80). On arrival at Roscoff it is an easy journey by either bus (direct) or train (changing at Morlaix) to get to Brest and then to the Marina. See Brittany Ferries www.brittanyferries.com

In both cases Richard can pick people up in CORNISH LEGEND at the Visitors Pontoon (by the Capitaine du Port’s Office) at the Moulin Blanc Marina, Brest – and then be dropped back, at the end of the course. This is a free service.

Booking Information

Course Fees	Low Season April and October	High Season May to September
Cost of a RYA 5 Day practical course	£420 (630 Euros)	£460 (690 Euros)

These prices include:

Accommodation on board CORNISH LEGEND
Breakfasts and lunches
First evening meal on board, including wine
Life jacket/harness
Waterproofs, if required
Fuel
Picking up from Brest Marina, if flying in

These prices do not include:

Any travel expenses or insurance
Marina charges, other than at Camaret, which are worked on the normal ‘kitty’ basis (averaged out, about £10 per week, per person)

Supper with wine can be provided if required, when at anchor for the night, at £8 per person

A 25% deposit is taken on booking and the balance is paid two months before arrival date.

Note: All courses are subject to weather conditions at the time, and other unforeseen events, which may make it necessary to alter the program, as required. Every effort will be made to cover the syllabus.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

French address:
Richard & Sue Curtis, L’Ancrage, Kergalet, 29160 Lanveoc, Finistere, France.
U.K. Address:
Brittany Sailing, 12 Victoria Park, St Mathew’s Hill, Wadebridge, Cornwall, U.K
.
French Tel No. 0033 (0)298170131
Email: [email protected]
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