The BT Offshore Sailing Club is a long-established virtual sailing club which organises a wide-ranging but cost-effective programme of RYA training courses, cruises and racing opportunities both in the UK and overseas. The club does not own its own boat but charters yachts as required drawing on its pool of RYA Yachtmaster qualified and commercially endorsed skippers to do this. Read the rest of this entry »
The BT Offshore Sailing Club
February 15th, 2012RYA Training – Opportunities within BTOSC
February 17th, 2012Have you ever noticed that in life you never stop learning? Sailing is definitely like that.
If you are interested in taking a RYA practical course, I can now teach Comp Crew, Day Skipper, Coastal & YM prep course so read on…
I’ve had a Yachtmaster Offshore qualification for almost 20 years now but 5 years ago I agreed to get involved with formal RYA training for BTOSC. Since your membership subscriptions have supported me in this I thought you might be interested in my experiences as an instructor so far.
The Cruising Instructor Course
The first stage in becoming an instructor, after becoming a Yachtmaster & sailing 10,000nm, is to take a 5 day Cruising Instructor (CI) course which is part assessment and part learning. I remember learning lots and correcting some thoughts I had held for many years. As a CI you can teach Competent Crew & Day Skipper practical courses. Over the past 5 years I’ve run 1 or 2 courses a year for BTOSC depending on demand.
The Cruising Instructor qualification has to be renewed every 5 years to ensure you are still up to date with the current thinking and your skills are OK. At this point you also have the option to progress to Yachtmaster Instructor (YMI) which also qualifies you to teach Coastal Skipper, Yachtmaster Prep weeks and shore based theory courses.
The Yachtmaster Instructor Course
Well I like a challenge. Last week I took the YMI course and passed. So the good news is I will now try to organise a Coastal Skipper/Comp Crew course later this year. If you have been waiting to do your Coastal Skipper practical course this could be the time!
The YMI course was pretty much like any other RYA course in that it started on Sunday evening and ran till Friday with 4 students and an instructor. I met some great people and had good fun on the water. The instructor was a YM examiner/professional skipper with 250,000nm sea miles and 20 years of teaching YMs.
There were introductions on the first night with an overview of the week. The main difference to other courses was that a lot of exercises were run by the students with a general review at the end of each exercise. The exercises started being pitched at Comp Crew and progressed to Day Skipper, Coastal and then Yachtmaster Offshore. The course covered most things in the RYA syllabus but also included teaching techniques and, for me, new ways to run some of the lessons.
During the week the instructor was constantly assessing us and on Wednesday evening gave us a frank assessment of our suitability to become YMIs. I was happy with my progress but the following morning one of the students jumped ship as he realised it was not for him.
Thursday then focused on our weaknesses. Thursday evening brought more debriefs and then our instructor left the boat so that another instructor could join us on Friday. The new instructor felt like an examiner, but his role was simply to ensure standards are maintained across instructors. The new instructor set us exercises but also gave advice.
I was asked to give a 10 minute lesson on stability and then asked to sail the boat into the river Hamble and berth her all under sail. With wind and tide together I was able to use the main & headsail until lines & fenders were ready and then I sailed alongside the pontoon and tied up. It all felt good but I was then asked about my teaching method? What teaching method? I didn’t hear him ask me to do it as an instructor!! Not a problem, do it again but this time as a lesson. So I sailed off the pontoon and taught a lesson involving the use of a mid-ships lasso led back to the genoa winch to assist with berthing in such circumstances.
So, with my new found knowledge and skills I am looking to run 2 courses this year. In April I would like to run a Day Skipper/Competent Crew course and then later in October a Coastal Skipper/Comp Crew course. So if you are interested in getting started or furthering your qualifications get in touch. As you know the club’s prices are very competitive as the aim is to help BTOSC club members to progress their sailing.
Yours,
Chris Price
07802 232776
Day Skipper Course
February 17th, 2012The Day Skipper course is confirmed as 22-27 Apr 2012.
See the webpage listing all Training Events for further details.
Round The Island Race – 29th June – 1 July
February 14th, 2012
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We have 1 boat full for this year’s race but are trying to fill a second. This remains a big event on the Solent sailing calendar and last year there were nearly 2,000 entries. It is a fantastic experience sailing alongside over 1500 other boats round the Isle of Wight. If you are interested, please get in touch. Don’t worry if you don’t have much racing experience – we will try and spread the experience across the boats.
More information can be found here:
http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk
Cost: £340 per berth [this event is a little more expensive to cover race entry/insurance]
If you would like to take part in these or any other events on the programme, please let me know at btosccrew@gmail.com/
RYA Training at reduced rates with Tall ships Youth Trust
February 3rd, 2012Tall Ships Youth Trust are currently offering some shore based training at half price. The course include:
- First Aid
- VHF
- Radar
If you are thinking of doing one of these this is a good opportunity to save some money.
See; http://tallships.org/qualifications/rya-shorebased-courses/
You will also be helping the Trust at the same time!
Chris Price
Beneteau Blue Cup in Saronic, Oct/Nov 2011
November 11th, 20116 BTOSC members had a great week competing in the Beneteau Blue Cup Regatta, in Greece, in the first week of November. Some good results in the racing, sunny weather, food, wine, and the magic Greek scenery made for an unforgettable trip.
Laying Up Cruise 2011 – Ian Davis reports
October 25th, 2011A new title for a club event but our usual sailing ground of the Solent was the venue. With all the crew having arrived by 17:30 our liberal minded skipper Andy “Genghis” Shrimpton thought it would be a good idea to have a night sail to Cowes on Vis, a Bavaria 36. Read the rest of this entry »
Protected: this is a test
October 14th, 2011Report on the 2011 BTOSC Cruise to Weymouth
September 23rd, 2011Mick Curran reports on the recent long weekend cruise to Weymouth:
On the Friday fairly strong westerlys were forecast so we ate in the Ketch Rigger and then dashed off to Tesco’s for the vittles. Early the next morning we set off for a long sail to Weymouth but we were not early enough to get the most favourable tides through The Needles. With a strong wind against us and some cooling rain, the sun-block stayed in our bags. Eventually we saw Portland Head but by that time we had run out of the best weather, so we resorted to the ‘donkey’ to get us into Weymouth Bay.
The view coming into Weymouth was a glorious – the row of old coloured houses and the trip up the estuary to the marina made the long trip well worthwhile. We dined out and slept peacefully after our long journey.
The next morning the sun was trying its best to break through as we made an early start through the lifting bridge on our first let home. The first few hours was a glorious sail, but then the wind turned against us and we had to fight a 4 knot tide. Some brave helming was done but little progress was made. As the tide eased we found ourselves at The Needles, very much alone with just a handful of sails on the Solent. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find ourselves a berth and had to settle on returning all the way to Hamble. On went the ‘donkey’ again and we arrived in a dark mid-evening at Hamble.
We weren’t deterred and some very creative cooking resulted in the best meal of the weekend on board. It was probably a good thing that we had had a second long day otherwise I’m sure we would have partied into the early hours. On the Bank Holiday Monday morning, we awoke to the most ideal sailing weather you could hope for. So we sailed out to the a crowded Solent and made the most of it and had a fantastic end to an adventurous Bank Holiday Weekend.
We got off to a fine start on the Friday expecting fairly strong Westerly’s, by staying in Southampton and eating in the Ketch Rigger before dashing off to Tesco’s for the vittles. Early the next morning we set off for a long sail to Weymouth. Not early enough though to get the most favourable tides through The Needles. With a strong wind against us and some cooling rain, the sun block stayed in our bags. Eventually we saw Portland Head but by that time we had run out of the best weather, so we turned to the dagger dagger to get us into Weymouth Bay.
The view coming into Weymouth was a glorious row of old coloured houses and the trip up the estuary to the marina made the long trip well worthwhile. We dined out and slept peacefully after our long journey.
The next morning the sun was trying its best to break through as we made an early start through the lifting bridge on our first let home. The first few hours was a glorious sail, but alas the wind seemed to turn against us along with a 4 knot tide. Some brave helming was done but little progress was made. As the tide eased we found ourselves at The Needles, very much alone with just a handful of sails on the Solent. At which point we couldn’t find ourselves a berth and had to settle on returning all the way to Hamble. On went the dagger dagger again and we arrived in a dark mid-evening at Hamble.
We weren’t deterred and some very constructive chef work resulted in the best meal of the weekend on board. It was probably a good thing that we had had a second long day otherwise I’m sure we would have partied into the early hours. Which would have been a shame because on the Bank Holiday Monday morning, we awoke to the most ideal sailing weather you could hope for. So we sailed out to the a crowded Solent and made the most of it and had a fantastic end to an adventurous Bank Holiday Weekend..
We got off to a fine start on the Friday expecting fairly strong Westerly’s, by staying in Southampton and eating in the Ketch Rigger before dashing off to Tesco’s for the vittles. Early the next morning we set off for a long sail to Weymouth. Not early enough though to get the most favourable tides through The Needles. With a strong wind against us and some cooling rain, the sun block stayed in our bags. Eventually we saw Portland Head but by that time we had run out of the best weather, so we turned to the dagger dagger to get us into Weymouth Bay.
The view coming into Weymouth was a glorious row of old coloured houses and the trip up the estuary to the marina made the long trip well worthwhile. We dined out and slept peacefully after our long journey.
The next morning the sun was trying its best to break through as we made an early start through the lifting bridge on our first let home. The first few hours was a glorious sail, but alas the wind seemed to turn against us along with a 4 knot tide. Some brave helming was done but little progress was made. As the tide eased we found ourselves at The Needles, very much alone with just a handful of sails on the Solent. At which point we couldn’t find ourselves a berth and had to settle on returning all the way to Hamble. On went the dagger dagger again and we arrived in a dark mid-evening at Hamble.
We weren’t deterred and some very constructive chef work resulted in the best meal of the weekend on board. It was probably a good thing that we had had a second long day otherwise I’m sure we would have partied into the early hours. Which would have been a shame because on the Bank Holiday Monday morning, we awoke to the most ideal sailing weather you could hope for. So we sailed out to the a crowded Solent and made the most of it and had a fantastic end to an adventurous Bank Holiday Weekend..
RYA Competent Crew & Day Skipper Course (Sun. 9th. – Fri. 14th. October.)
September 13th, 20112 or maybe 3 Berths still to fill – £260 for 5 Days Training incl RYA Certificate Fee.
Onboard Food, Diesel any Mooring fees will be additional, i.e. shared by the crew.
So you have been on the water a few times and seen how everybody else seems to know what to do. You have now decided you like the sport, but would also like to be able to participate more and contribute to the running of the boat; that’s what a “Competent Crew” member does and after the course you will have confidence and be able to participate fully in most of the activities of running the boat!
For full details of the course content go the RYA web-site < www.rya.org.uk > and click on the following in turn:- Courses and Training (Across the top)
Sail Cruising (Left Hand Drop Down)
See “Competent Crew” (On same Drop Down)
The RYA Day Skipper Practical Course runs concurrently with the above; candidates will have attended and passed the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Theory course and on successful completion of this practical course will be competent to skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day!
Closing date for bookings must be by c.o.p. Friday 23rd. September!
This RYA course will be taught by Chris Price (BTOSC Chairman, Yachtmaster Ocean and Club Instructor) under arrangements made with with the Hamble School of Yachting based on the River Hamble near Southampton.
To book a berth on this course or for further details please call John Wells (Cruising Secretary) on 01494 433 221 or email John at johnwskip@aol.com
Fastnet Campaign
August 26th, 2011Chris Price reports on his 2011 Fastnet Campaign aboard a Tall Ships Youth Trust Challenger 72.
See also some YouTube videos at the end…. Read the rest of this entry »
BBQ Weekend 16-18 Sep 2011
August 26th, 2011We now have two boats filled for the BBQ Weekend with reserves for a possible third boat subject to availability of another skipper.
Coastguard exercise with BTOSC
March 7th, 2011
On Sunday 6 Mar 2011 the BTOSC took part in an hi-line exercise with Solent Coastguard. This was one of a number of activities planned for this year’s Skippers’ Refresher weekend.
Andy Shrimpton reported as follows:
“Once initial contact had been made and they asked us to tack out for more sea room. They came back after about ten minutes and we confirmed that we were ready. Not being complete novices at this routine we had already removed the dan-bouy from the port quarter and brought a bucket on deck for the hi-line.”
The briefing received over VHF was as follows:
- Hold a steady course
- Sail hard on the wind on port tack
- Take the line on-board but don’t attach it to the boat
- Take-in all slack
- When the man on the wire is ready he will indicate to haul him in – it may take more than one person. Once on-board he will direct the rest of the operation.
The exercise then commenced and went exactly as briefed.
First the hi-line was lowered into the water to be taken on board Bagadeus.
Then a crewman was lowered from the helicopter…
for transferred to the yacht.
After a few minutes onboard, the crewman was then safely recovered back to the helicopter as captured in the following video. To view this you will need to enter the word ‘skipper‘.
On completion CG Helo 104 called Bagadeus on Channel 67 to confirm completion of the exercise, to thank us for our participation, and to kindly say that we had done well.
Andy commented: “It was a good experience (especially when you don’t need rescuing) and everyone learned something from it – not least how noisy it is underneath a helicopter!”
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Other activities during the weekend included ‘pontoon bashing’, setting up a tow and a variety of man-overboard techniques.
Skippers’ Refresher
January 23rd, 2011The dates for the Skippers’ Refresher has been confirmed as 4-6 Mar 2011. See the event listing for further information.
Comp Crew / Day Skipper Course : 3-8 April 2011
January 21st, 2011The club is running a RYA Competent Crew / Day Skipper Course from PM Sunday 3 – PM Friday 8 April 2010.