Competent Crew is the entry-level course of the
Royal Yachting Association
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is a United Kingdom national governing body for sailing, dinghy sailing, yacht and motor cruising, sail racing, RIBs and sportsboats, windsurfing and personal watercraft and a leading representative for inl ...
for those who wish to be active crew members of a sailing yacht.
It is a hands-on course and by the end of the course participants should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day-to-day duties on board.
No pre-course knowledge or experience are assumed. The minimum duration of the course is 5 days. It may be run over 5 days or over 3 weekends or 3 days plus a weekend. For those who have done the Start Yachting course, this course can be completed in 3 or 4 days. There is no minimum age.
Course content
Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, sail handling, ropework, fire precautions and fighting, personal safety equipment,
man overboard
"Man overboard!" is an exclamation given aboard a vessel to indicate that a member of the crew or a passenger has fallen off of the ship into the water and is in need of immediate rescue. Whoever sees the person's fall is to shout, "Man overboa ...
, emergency equipment, meteorology, seasickness, helmsmanship, general duties, manners and customs, rules of the road, dinghies.
Progression
The Competent Crew course is one of a structured series of courses run by the
RYA. Additional courses in the series include
Day Skipper Shorebased & Practical,
Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Shorebased,
Coastal Skipper Practical, .
See also
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Day Skipper
The Day Skipper qualification confirms that the successful candidate has the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on shorter, coastal cruises during daylight. The Royal Yachting Association administers the qualification, although most of the trainin ...
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Coastal Skipper
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Yachtmaster
A Yachtmaster qualification is a certificate of competence of the ability to handle either a sailing boat or motor boat (as endorsed) in certain prescribed conditions. Three different titles are specified; Yachtmaster Coastal (previously - and in ...
References
Further reading
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* {{cite book, title=Competent Crew, url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0713654376/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0E3AAHHRVNDT5RMVAZ2F&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=358549767&pf_rd_i=468294, accessdate=13 April 2013, date=30 November 2000, publisher=Adlard Coles Nautical, isbn=978-0713654370
External links
Royal Yachting Association
Sailing qualifications