YCC Level 1: Competent Crew Course

Eligibility

Any active YCC member who:

• has been offered a place to the course via the lottery and
• has successfully enrolled for the course.

Course outline

The Competent Crew course introduces students to sailing on larger keelboats. The course is open to all members, particularly those who are:

• New to sailing;
• Dinghy sailors who are new to keelboats;
• Yngling sailors looking to build on their skills and knowledge; and
• Members interested in joining the YCC cruise.

Theory Classes

Before the start of the practical lessons, CC course students should follow the theory classes:

• Part 1: Sailing for beginners.
  Topics: Sailing terminology, how a boat moves, safety, essential knots.
• Part 2: Sailing for beginners.
  Topics: Boat manoeuvres, sail adjustments, using the spinnaker, rules of the road, man overboard procedure, leaving and entering the port.

We also recommend reading the YCC Sailing Course for Beginners booklet, which is an excellent resource.

Practical Lessons

The eight practical lessons will give students the opportunity to learn on various types of keelboats: Surprise, GibSea, J/70 and J/80. They are an excellent way to develop skills through hands-on practice and they will help students build on the sailing knowledge they gained during the theory classes.

Students will learn about:

• Sailing terminology and parts of a keelboat.
• Rigging and de-rigging a keelboat.
• Using sheets, halyards and associated winches.
• Essential knots and their correct use (figure-of-eight, bowline, clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches, reef knot).
• Handling sails (trimming on all points of sail, and reefing).
• Boat manoeuvres (tacking, gybing).
• Man-overboard procedure.
• Rules of the road.
• Entering and leaving the port.
• Helming under motor and sail.
• Safety.

Practical lessons will be held once a week on Tuesday evenings between 18h00 and 20h30, weather permitting, and will normally start in May.

Maintenance

Students are encouraged to assist with the maintenance of the boats they sail as it's an excellent way to build your knowledge of the boat and its workings and this is helpful as skipper or crew.

Competent Crew Key

Students may apply to take the Competent Crew test once they have completed the course and requirements. The test will comprise sailing theory and practical skills covered in the course. Upon successful completion of the test, students will be granted CC status, which is recognised across club activities, for example YCC cruise and regattas. While the CC key alone does not grant access to any YCC boat as a skipper, it can be used as a prerequisite (together with the Y key) to participate in the Surprise and GibSea courses.

Requirements

In addition to passing the practical test, three helper's sessions since the beginning of the season are required to obtain the CC key.
To reserve a time for surveillance or maintenance session(s), please go to the Helper's Shift Page.