Competent Crew Course Syllabus

The aim of this course is to introduce the complete beginner to cruising and to teach personal safety, seamanship and helmsmanship to the level required to be a useful member of the crew of a cruising yacht.

Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails

• Sufficient knowledge to understand orders given concerning the sailing and day-to-day running of the boat

Sail handling

• Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails
• Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches

Ropework

• Handling ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats and single and double bollards
• Handling warps
• Ability to tie the following knots and to know their correct use: figure-of-eight, clove hitch, rolling hitch, bowline, round turn and two half hitches, single and double sheet bend, reef knot

Fire precautions and fire fighting

• Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fire
• Knowledge of the action to be taken in event of fire

Personal safety equipment

• Understands and complies with the rules for the wearing of safety harnesses, lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids

Man overboard

• Understands the action to be taken to recover a man overboard

Emergency equipment

• Can operate distress flares and knows when they should be used
• Understands how to launch and board a liferaft

Manners and customs

• Understands accepted practice with regard to: use of burgees and ensigns, prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbance in harbour including courtesies to other craft berthed alongside
• Aware of the responsibility of yacht skippers to protect the environment

Rules of the road

• Is able to keep an efficient lookout at sea

Dinghies

• Understands and complies with the loading rules
• Is able to handle a dinghy under oars

Meteorology

• Awareness of forecasting services and knowledge of the Beaufort Scale

Seasickness

• Working efficiency is unaffected/partially affected/severely affected by sea sickness

Helmsmanship and sailing

• Understands the basic principles of sailing and can steer and trim sails on all points of sailing
• Can steer a compass course, under sail and power

General duties

• Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel