YCC Level 1 Yngling Course: Become a Y Skipper

Eligibility

Any active YCC member who:

• has been offered a place to the course via the lottery.

Contents of the Course

The course consists of:

• practice in making the basic knots (figure of eight, bowline and turning a cleat);
• 8 practical classes on an Yngling;
• help in maintenance of the boats.

Classes

The classes take place under the responsibility of your teacher. During these outings, you should acquire the following skills:

• rigging and unrigging the boat;
• leaving the harbour without colliding with obstacles in the channels and other boats;
• taking the helm;
• control of heeling by using the sheets;
• sailing at close haul, at broad reach and running with proper sail trim in each course;
• going-about (tacking);
• performing a gybe;
• stopping the boat within a few meters of a given place, both with the sails loose and by heaving-to (mise à la cape);
• recovering crew from the water with a man-overboard manoeuvre;
• returning into the harbour and mooring.

Use of the spinnaker is not part of this course, but you should feel free to ask your teacher to demonstrate the use of this sail.

You will, as a rule, have one class per week on a Monday, a Tuesday, a Wednesday or a Friday, between 18:00 and 20:30. Classes will normally start at the end of April.

Equipment

Safety: You will, as a rule, have one class per week on a Monday, a Tuesday, a Wednesday or a Friday, between 18:00 and 20:30. Classes will normally start at the end of April.

Shoes: For a start, you are allowed to walk on YCC boats with ordinary shoes with WHITE sole, the main requirement is that the soles give good grip on smooth polyester surfaces and that is white to not scratch the boat gelcoat. Sports shoes are often adequate.

Wind/rain protection: You will need a wind-jacket, like the one used to go to the mountain, raincoat and, if desired, also rain trousers to stay reasonably dry. Mandatory hat and gloves, to protect your head from the wind and your hands from scratches while maneuvering the lines, (a cheap garden gloves with finger cut away, or ferrata gloves are great). Since keelboat sailing doesn't require much effort and since the courses are short, the coat and trousers don't necessarily have to be breathable. Add to this a pull-over, wool or PolarTec and you're set!

Summer time protection: In warm days, we usually wear a T-shirt and a light sport trousers. Jeans are not recommended, as if they get wet by water splash, they stay wet. A hat, sun cream, sunglasses can be useful.

Small backpack: It is useful to have all your personal equipment stored in a small bag or backpack, where you will also store your mobile phone, wallet and personal items. There are very good and cheap sport bag that are water resistant or even water proof. Those are great, especially in rainy wind conditions.

Maintenance

Maintenance is part of the curriculum.