RYA Competent Crew

RYA Competent Crew is the classic first proper course in yacht cruising. Over about five days you live aboard a cruising yacht with an instructor and a few other students, and go from passenger to a genuinely useful member of the crew: someone who can steer, handle sails and lines, keep a lookout and help out when things go wrong. No experience is needed.

Who it suits

• Complete beginners who want a thorough grounding, not just a taster
• People who already go out on friends' or family boats and want to pull their weight
• Anyone planning to crew on passages, club races or charters
• Future skippers: it's the usual starting point before Day Skipper
• Young sailors: the RYA recommends a minimum age of 12

What you'll actually do

The RYA describes the course as five days, often run over three weekends or three days plus a weekend. If you've already done RYA Start Yachting, it can be completed in three or four days.

Days are spent sailing, usually between different anchorages or harbours, so you learn in real conditions rather than drills alone. You'll take turns at the helm, work the winches, hoist, reef and furl sails, handle mooring lines, and help with daily jobs like cooking and keeping the boat tidy. There's no written exam: the RYA says the instructor assesses you on how you perform your tasks during your time on board.

The RYA syllabus covers sailing terms and parts of a boat, rigging, sail handling, ropework, fire safety, personal safety equipment, man overboard, emergency equipment, weather, seasickness, helming, general duties and on-board etiquette.

Key ideas explained

• Points of sail — a yacht can't sail straight into the wind; there's a "no-go zone" either side of it. From close-hauled (as close to the wind as possible) through a beam reach (wind on the side) to a run (wind from behind), sails are eased further out the further the boat turns away from the wind.
• Tacking and gybing — both mean changing which side the wind comes over. Tacking turns the bow through the wind; gybing turns the stern through it. A gybe swings the boom across quickly, so it's done under control with a clear call from the helm.
• Reefing — reducing sail area as the wind builds. The old rule "reef early" holds: it's far easier to shake a reef out than to put one in when the boat is already overpowered.
• Winch safety — keep fingers clear of the drum, load the line clockwise, and know how to ease a line under load without letting it run away.
• Clipping on — at sea you wear a lifejacket and, when the skipper says so, a tether clipped to strong points or to jacklines (webbing lines running along the deck). The aim is to stay on the boat, not to be recovered after falling off.
• Seasickness — common and usually temporary. Fresh air, a view of the horizon, steering, staying warm and hydrated all help.

Where it fits

Day Skipper Practical asks for 5 days, 100 miles and 4 night hours aboard a sailing yacht beforehand, and Competent Crew is a common way to start building that experience. Broadly comparable courses elsewhere include Australian Sailing Keelboat Start Crewing and IYT International Crew.

Getting ready

• Bring layers, a warm hat, sun protection and soft, non-marking shoes. Ask whether wet-weather gear and lifejackets are supplied.
• Pack in a soft bag; space aboard is tight.
• Learn a few knots in advance (bowline, clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches). It frees up time for sailing.
• If you're prone to seasickness, talk to a pharmacist before the course.
• Ask the school about the boat, the students-per-instructor ratio, cabin arrangements, meals and whether any night sailing is planned.

Good to know in Australia

Check that the school is a current RYA-recognised training centre. A sailing certificate is not a state recreational boat licence; for driving powered vessels, check the rules with your state's maritime authority.