Gain a sailing qualification

You can work towards your Royal Yachting Association Start Yachting qualification on any voyage of more than 3 nights.

You can either join a specially dedicated Academy Voyage or just let your Skipper or Captain know at the beginning of your voyage that you would like to try and get this qualification; you can then purchase a RYA Log Book and the Permanent and Volunteer Crew will tell you what to do.

You will learn some or all of the following:

• Sea terms, parts of the boat, rigging and types of sails
• Use of winches and cleats
• How to tie important sea-going knots
• Understand the points of sail
• Steer the vessel under sail
• Keep a lookout for other boats and vessels on the sea
• Learn about weather forecasts
• Man overboard recovery and emergency drills
• Understand the importance of the right clothing and equipment
• How to handle the sails and use sheets and halyards
• Personal safety

If you do have some sailing experience already, you may be able to work towards your RYA Competent Crew Award.