Course content

Boat handling in both normal and emergency situations.  Items covered include:

1. Principles of boat handling under motor
1. Turn yacht around in confined space
2. Reversing in a straight line
3. Turn yacht around with warps
4. Spring yacht off a lee berth
2. Principles of boat handling under sail
1. Warp the boat to another berth
2. Teach me to sail a figure of eight
3. Sail on / off a pontoon
4. Sail on / off anchor
3. Emergency Situations
1. Man over board – alternate methods (retrieval methods)
2. Search patterns (expanding box, quadrant search, Williamsons turn)
3. Running aground
4. Steering failure (sails, emergency steering systems)
5. Hole in hull (sinking)
6. Mast and rigging failure
7. Storm tactics (drogue, warps etc)
8. Send a crew member up the mast
9. Towing a yacht
4. Fun and games
1. Gybe and tack game to a buoy
2. Blind landings
3. Sailing backwards
4. Drive a powerboat

Pre-course experience

10 days, 200 miles, 8 night hours

Assumed knowledge

Boat handling to the standard of the Day Skipper practical sail cruising course and navigation to the standard of the Day Skipper Theory course.

Ability after course

To be able to cope with unforeseen situations as well as being more confident in handling the yacht.

Suggested itinerary

On the Friday evening you join your Instructor for a welcome drink, before being allocated a passage plan to prepare.  You are also asked to familiarise yourself with the boat ready for the next day.

On the Saturday morning you will be asked to give a safety briefing with some assistance from your Instructor.  For the rest of you time with us you will be practising your sailing skills.

On the evening of Thursday we have our end of course drinks in our classroom, with the certificate presentation.  A great chance to chat over the highlights of the week.

We ask our clients to arrive on a Friday between 10:00 and 18:30 so we can collect you from Tenerife South airport (we can collect you between 10:30 and 19:30).  Outside these times we ask you to get a taxi to the marina which costs about €15.

We ask you to get a flight home on the Friday between 12:00 and 21:00 (we can take you to the airport between 10:00 and 19:00).  Outside these times we ask you to get a taxi to the marina which costs about €15.

Bavaria 36
Hanse 400e
Prima 38
Sun Odyssey 39i
Sun Odyssey 45 DS

Notes: All our boats are commercially registered in Spain and are therefore fully insured according to Spanish law.  They also meet both Spanish, and the RYA’s safety standards.

As usual with Club Sail the following is included:

• Transfers from and to Tenerife South airport – no additional costs or waiting around for a taxi;
• Tuition from an expereinced Yachtmaster Instructor;
• All our courses are overseen by our Principle, Andrew Williams, himself a Yachtmaster Ocean Examiner for Sail and Motor;
• The knowledge that we will not be running Competent Crew or Day Skipper courses on your boat the same week;
• We have a maximum of 4 clients doing the course – so everyone gets the optimum amount of tuition;
• All our clients get their own cabin – no need to share, or sleep in the saloon like with some schools;
• Freshly laundered bedding and towels – no sleeping bags or any need to bring your own;
• Light weight waterproofs – just in case;
• Food and drink on board – including a gin and tonic or a beer after a days sailing.
• All mooring fees, diesel and gas – no hidden extras.

Notes: We do not include: flights, travel insurance or evening meals ashore.

Must bring your own:

Sun protection – Sun glasses, sun hat and non oily sun cream (without carotene) are a definite must!

Music / DVD – there is a CD on the boat (and a DVD player on Club Class boats), so please bring with you a CD / DVD or 2.

Mobile phone charging – There is a 12v “cigarette” style socket on board the yacht which is live even when sailing, and a 240v socket (Spanish type) for when connected to shore power.

Medication – If you are taking any medication please advise your Instructor on commencement of the course.

Health care – Health care in the Canary Islands is good, but it is a good idea to collect the EHIC form from your local post office or online at www.ehic.org.uk.

Seasickness - It is advisable to bring with you a seasickness remedy if you have suffered in the past.  There is a local chemist in the town of Las Galletas – ask your Instructor where it is at the Friday night drink.

Notes: All bedding, bed linen (sheet, duvet cover and pillow) and a towel are provided.  Please make sure that you let us know if you suffer from allergies as we provide feather pillows as standard.

Recommended clothes

The climate in the Canaries is temperate.  You are recommended to bring with you shorts and t-shirts, a jumper/cardigan, long jeans/trousers and jumper for the odd cooler evening in the winter months, shoes with non-marking bottoms for use on the boat, swimwear and something for dinners ashore.  As the boat has limited storage space a sailing bag / holdall is the most suitable luggage.

Following extensive feedback from our clients we have introduced some other options on our larger Club Class yachts according to which option you book: