I completed the three-day Practical Crewing course with Melvyn, and it was an intense and informative experience, with plenty of hands-on activities on the boat. As a working mum, it was an important aspect to gain as much as possible practical experience in a short period of time, without the need to stay overnight.
Melvyn is a very knowledgeable and patient instructor. Even when I made the same mistake again and again, he calmly demonstrated the technique, guiding me until I got it right. I gained a wealth of new skills and understanding, and we covered almost complete the RYA Competent Crew syllabus and some more.
During the course, we practised tacking and gybing, anchoring, different sails handling, ropes, knots, and much more. A real highlight was sailing to a neighbouring port, thanks to the nice weather and skipper confidence in his crew. We also encountered a few unexpected situations in the lock and while leaving the port, and Melvyn led by example, showing us exactly how a skipper should handle such challenges.
The best part was the fantastic crew members. It was great fun, we worked well as a team, and I felt fully supported as the least experienced member. I would highly recommend this course with Northumbria Sailing to anyone who wants to learn how to sail. – Elena