IYT International Crew Course — Sydney By Sail

The International Crew Course is the two-day core of Sydney By Sail's International Yacht Training (IYT) crew pathway. It teaches you to be an active, useful crew member on a yacht rather than a passenger, and it ends with a short theory exam and a practical assessment. It runs on Sydney Harbour from the Festival Pontoon at the National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour.

What you'll learn

Good crew anticipate what the skipper needs, understand why each job matters and can step in when something goes wrong.

• Nautical terminology, so instructions are understood the first time.
• Rope work and deck seamanship: handling lines, fenders and sheets safely and tidily.
• Sail handling and boat handling under power: trimming, tacking and gybing as a team, and steering and manoeuvring under engine.
• Man overboard procedures: the drill every crew member must know, from keeping eyes on the person to getting them back aboard.
• Passage planning and rules of the road: enough to follow the plan and spot a give-way situation early.
• Weather, vessel equipment and instruments: what the gear does and what the forecast means for the day.
• Engine checks and maintenance, and dinghy handling under power.

How Sydney By Sail runs it

The course runs over two days from 9am to 5.30pm. Each day has about 90 minutes of theory and around seven hours on the water, and the course finishes with a short theory exam and a practical assessment.

Who it suits

It suits people who have some time on yachts, typically after the school's Introduction to Yachting, and want a recognised crew certificate. To earn the certificate you need five days of logged training in total, which at Sydney By Sail means this course plus Introduction to Yachting, Night Sail and the Inshore Bareboat Charter Course.

Where it leads

The school describes the IYT International Crew Certificate as covering crewing on vessels up to 24 metres, in coastal waters up to 20 miles offshore, in daylight and fair conditions. From there the next step is International Bareboat Skipper, after a VHF radio certificate and more sea time.

Full course guide

See the IYT International Crew (Sail) guide for the full syllabus and certificate requirements.