Congratulations to Northumbria Sailing student Aneel! Passed his Yachtmaster™ Ocean Theory and a week later his RYA Oral Examination to become YM Ocean – and he’s only in his early 20’s
Based on the Tyne, Yachtmaster™ and RYA Instructor Melvyn Wallhead provides RYA Practical and Theory Courses locally.
‘Day Skipper’ and ‘Coastal/Yachtmaster™ Offshore’ are popular tickets and can be studied in a warm, comfortable and level (!) room of a recently built Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne (NE6 5HN). Classes are small, maximum size 8, ensuring individual attention. Free street parking adjacent. For a 28 second video look inside Heaton Life Centre
The emphasis is on fun with interactive learning, using some of the equipment you will be faced with when onboard a sailing yacht.
Practical Courses and Short Trips involve a mixture of learning and fun, to enjoy the summer and the scenery. They start from Royal Quays marina in North Shields, which has 24 hour access to the river Tyne, close to its mouth into the sea.
I have a quality 11 metre Hallberg Rassy yacht and will be pleased to have you onboard as crew (or as aspiring skippers!) Try Hallberg Rassy and search for HR36
Royal Yachting Association Online Course
Essential Navigation & Seamanship
Do this at home or anywhere you have access to the web. Ideal for those without the time to spare for a class or private tuition.
This is an introduction to navigation and is done through RYA Interactive, where you can take the Course which is split into modules and work through these at your own speed. You can practise the more complex before having your online test. It is estimated that about 6 to 10 hours of online study are involved. ‘Now that I have completed Day Skipper, I would certainly recommend the online course, which provided a good grounding for me, without this, I would have found Day Skipper extremely challenging’ – Darren
Find out more through RYA Interactive and apply through myself to participate. RYA Interactive
Cost £95 plus RYA Course package (£27) and postage, if any. (still available in sessions or tailored tuition) RYA video
Royal Yachting Association Theory Courses
These are usually held at the 2009 built HBC Life Centre, Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 5HN (54°58’50.05N, 01°34’53.14W) which provides comfortable surroundings, on the level, and makes chartwork a lot easier!
Shore Based Courses take place Evenings, Saturdays and Weekdays with a mixture according to the aspiring sailors’ commitments and include a visit to see the sailing yacht in Royal Quays.
RYA Day Skipper Theory
Traditionally the popular place to start, leading to attaining RYA Day Skipper Practical, the key to bare boat charter.
Minimum time to be spent is 42 hours and includes a written and course assessment (no examination) before attaining the certificate. Subjects to be covered include; Nautical terms, rope work, charts, navigation, Safety Regulations to include collision avoidance, anchoring, tides, electronic navigation, weather and passage planning.
No previous experience is needed and this is for someone keen to either acquire further knowledge or becoming more committed to the whole experience. Cost £350. Next Course September 2014 RYA Day Skipper Theory
‘Thanks for a well run Course which I have really enjoyed’ – Chris.’I found the rooms and facilities excellent…. the classroom (hands on aids) also being a great help’ – Tony, ‘I would highly recommend you to anyone who is seeking to learn about sailing or to gain any RYA certification’ – Stuart.
Coastal/Yachtmaster™ Offshore Theory
Now we are getting more serious. Sailors will want more in depth knowledge in preparation to owning or skippering a boat, or just that they have realised, like so many before them, that there is a lot involved here and risks should be kept to an absolute minimum.
Time to be spent is 44 hours and includes a written and course assessment before attaining the certificate. Subjects to be covered include those from the Day Skipper syllabus, but much more in depth. Cost £375. RYA Coastal Yachtmaster Theory
Sailors should have already acquired knowledge up to Day Skipper standard.
‘I would recommend your course to anyone’ – Fiona.
Are there any Extras?
Navigation equipment is provided but extra are the RYA Pack, which includes the certificate!, and Training Almanac, total cost currently £42.
Any Gifts from Teacher?
Yes, a visit to his boat (not sailing though)
Yachtmaster™ Ocean Theory
Navigate as it used to be done, by the sun and stars. Get to handle a real sextant and find out how to locate your position out at sea, far, far away from land. A requirement for the prestigious RYA Ocean ticket. Learn also how to provision a boat for a long passage and also about weather conditions you can expect. How to deal with hurricanes, heaven forbid that we shall have an opportunity to put this into practise!
The Course is available as an evening class and also intensive.
See what relevance sextant navigating can still have in today’s world of the GPS. Cost £450 plus £26 RYA Pack. RYA Yachtmaster Ocean
I can’t do these times and am in a hurry!
Then a Tailored Timetable with one to one tuition could be for you. Costs £550 (£875 a couple) for Day Skipper, £575 for Coastal/Yachtmaster™ and £725 for the Ocean. Available when the diary permits – ‘I found the (RYA DS) course tuition excellent, delivered with the benefit of years of practical experience and backed up with many real life examples of why a good understanding of the theory is critical in practical situations.’ – Simon (DS Tailored Timetable)
How do I Book?
£100 confirms the reservation with the balance due six weeks before the start of the Course. Cheque made payable to ‘MSF Wallhead’, or cash, to 1 Anscomb Gardens, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7BB. Bank details for direct transfer on request.
Cancellation
Any by myself will involve a full refund.
In the case of you withdrawing or failing to pay the balance I will try to adopt a humane attitude and find a replacement.
Royal Yachting Association Practical Courses
Enjoy a sail on a quality 11 metre sailing yacht operating out of North Shields and within easy reach of the scenic Northumberland Coast
RYA Start Yachting
A two day Course for complete beginners where you will learn about a yacht, rope work, sailing, rules of the road, man overboard recovery, clothing/equipment, emergency equipment and precautions and meteorology. RYA Start Yachting
Cost £230
RYA Competent Crew
A five day Course living onboard the yacht where you will become experienced in seamanship and a useful Crew member. Many and varied skills will be learnt, such as sail handling, safety, rope work, meteorology, dinghy handling and steering a boat.
No prior experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn and have a good time, in company.
The package includes full board (excluding a celebratory dinner out) and instruction from an RYA instructor.
The full five days costs £525, to include RYA Course notes and paper certificate. Alternatively, try sharing private tuition which will be during the daytime only over three days. This leads to Competent Crew equivalent, without the RYA certificate. RYA Competent Crew Cost £255 based on three sharing. Next Course availability June 11, 12 & 19th. Course Review by Jamie Farquharson
Next RYA Competent Crew availability 20 – 25th July, & 14 – 19th September
RYA Day Skipper Practical
A five day course, often with Competent Crews, living onboard the yacht, well known for its luxury and steadiness afloat. Although this is a beginners skippering Course, candidates should have practical to Competent Crew standard and Day Skipper Theory level knowledge.
You will be introduced to the problems and responsibilities of being in charge of a sailing yacht and how to cope with common difficulties. RYA Day Skipper Practical
You will learn to be able to skipper a cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters. Subjects to be covered include boat handling, pilotage, meteorology, collision avoidance, navigation and wind awareness. Turn yourself from crew to skipper in 5 days. Two Courses are full already and next availability; 20 – 25th July & 14 – 19th September
The Course will start on the evening of the first day and finish in the afternoon of the last, weather permitting, at Royal Quays, assuming no problems. You will visit other marinas in the area. – ‘A life changing time for me’ – Liz
‘I had a great time and really enjoyed the course. Thank you so much for all your guidance and endless patience!’ – Yvonne
What to Expect. You will be living onboard for the duration of the Course and will have an opportunity to learn many skills without an examination, as the certificate is awarded based on continuous assessment. Days can be long, often 9am to 9pm and some night sailing (No 9am to 5pm here!). All ages, 18 and above, are welcome.
How to Prepare. Although you need sea mileage this will be gained during your stay. A suggested minimum practical experience is Competent Crew level. Some theory will be put into practice and knowledge up to RYA Day Skipper Theory standard is recommended.
You will need suitable clothing and be prepared to have some fun on the way (or even afterwards during shoreside debriefs, before 2300)
How to Book. There are a maximum of five places onboard and the cost is £550 per person or £895 for a couple prepared to share the forecabin, which has privacy but restricted space. Cost includes RYA Course notes and new style plastic card certificate.
You will be asked to confirm your fitness for the Course, with £100 reservation and the balance six weeks before the start, as outlined in Theory above.
You need to be physically able to cope to experience the Course to the full. Whilst it may be possible to allow for some mobility limitation, there is a safety aspect to this and the skipper will have the final decision as to whether you can continue.
With your booking, please state your age, any sailing experience, and advise me of anything relevant such as limited mobility, diet or health.
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical
An advanced five day course, with or without an examination at the end. Like the Day Skipper Course from Royal Quays you will be living on board and aspire to the Coastal Skipper standard, the ability to skipper a yacht on coastal passages, day and night. You will be instructed on skippering techniques and passage planning. You will be assumed to have sailing to Day Skipper standard and navigation to Coastal/Yachtmaster™ shorebased. RYA Coastal Skipper Practical
If you are looking for the Yachtmaster™ Coastal or coveted Yachtmaster™ Offshore qualification, as this is by examination, 6 to 10 hours, an RYA Examiner can come and ‘put you through your paces’. Yachtmaster
Remember you need, at the time you are to be examined;
For Yachtmaster™ Coastal – minimum of 30 days sea time, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles & 12 night hours. (if you have the above Coastal Skipper Practical Course Completion certificate the sea time is reduced to 20 days, two as skipper, 400 miles & 12 night hours)
For Yachtmaster™ Offshore – minimum of 50 days sea time, 5 days as skipper, 2,500 miles, 5 passages over 60 miles including two overnight and two as skipper.
For both examinations you will need certificates for First Aid and a VHF Radio Operator’s.
Yachtmaster™ Preparation. A three day Course onboard the school boat followed by examination for Yachtmaster™ Coastal or Offshore. My Chief Instructor will guide you through this, to include a night sail, out of Royal Quays and, after three days, will be replaced by an RYA Examiner for two further, five days in all. You need to have prior competence to Coastal Skipper standard and the requisite certificates and sea miles in your log book. Cost £595. 17 – 21st May 2014. Last remaining place available.
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Own Boat Tuition