a day on a rya coastal skipper course

A DAY ON A RYA COASTAL SKIPPER

COURSEIf you want to know what it’s REALLY like doing your

coastal skipper course…then read all about how Carol Letten (Manager at HISC) fared in “A Day in the life..on a

coastal skipper course with Universal Sailing School”

ARRIVAL AND PICK OF THE CABINS! First night arrive at 5pm in the

marina, our instructor for the course, appears and carries my bag to the yacht Saleana, which will be home for the next 5 days.

Being the first to arrive I get the pick of the cabins so I naturally pick the best one – in the forepeak with its own loo! I knew the others were all chaps , so having my own cabin took away a lot of the stress of “who will I be sharing with”.

Dufour 385 “Saleana”

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ARRIVAL AND PICK OF THE CABINS! Ed from London was next, he was

also doing his Coastal skipper course and had a share in a yacht in Gosport.

Malcolm arrived from Cheltenham, he was doing his Competent Crew having been inspired to learn to sail after reading an autobiography by someone who had sailed the world.

Off we all went to dinner in the marina restaurant , a few glasses of wine and a nice supper and it was time for bed. Visit The Waters Edge Bar and Restaurant

TEA DRINKING AND MAN OVERBOARD!In the morning,

breakfast was sorted from the provisions on board. Cereal and tea all round, safety briefings and we were all set to work.

Tea Drinking and Man Overboard!

TEA DRINKING AND MAN OVERBOARD! I was given the first

Skippering task of pilotage out of the Hamble, organising the crew and passage plan to our first stop. Lunch on board in Osbourne Bay. It was made very clear that this was no Day Skippers course and if we wanted to be Coastal Skippers we had to earn it!

Tea Drinking and Man Overboard!

MAKING FRIENDS From Osborne Bay we headed to

Lymington. A quick vote on board and it was agreed that we would go into the marina, in order to get the heating on, on the yacht and get all our wet gear dry. Dinner at the Ship pub on the dock with a few glasses of wine and we felt that we were falling into a nice steady routine. The Crew all got to know each other very quickly , and whilst maybe not the people you would meet in your everyday life, we all got on very well. Conversation was varied and interesting and we laughed a lot!

Rain, Rain and some more Rain!

RAIN, RAIN AND SOME MORE RAIN! We had rain, more rain, wind,

and just a little sunshine. We coped , we laughed and we got wet. You were always dry and the weather doesn’t spoil the sailing in the way you think it might when you are sat at home contemplating going for a sail. I knew I liked fair weather sailing, I now like any weather sailing.

Success!

SUCCESS! We all passed and were

awarded our certificates, said our goodbyes and went on our way. I am sure we will all meet up again on the water around the Solent. If you are thinking about learning to sail or improving your skills then I would recommend Universal Yachting. They truly deliver a great experience.

CONTACT US

Mecury Yacht Harbour, Satchell Ln, Hamble-le-RiceSouthampton,HampshireSO31 4HQ

Phone: 01243 697274Email : info@universalyachting.com

www.universalsailingschool.co.uk