PYC is an RYA Training Centre and as a sea school we are able to provide the following practical courses to our all members: Competent Crew and Day Skipper.  We also run Advanced Skipper Training and Development for our Club Skippers: Coastal Skipper and Preparatory courses for the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster^TM Exam (to book onto these skipper courses, you must be a PYC Club Skipper).

In addition, we provide a number of our own courses covering areas such as: Boat Handling, Radar, Navigation and Pilotage Training.

Also the Trainers, and experienced Club Skipper provide informal coaching to other members.

Below we share some experiences from our courses.

This is a taught course for people who have the miles, the first aid and radio certificates and a want to progress. It involves sailing through the night and using a watch system for the crew.

We all set off on Relax on with a good afternoon tide taking us down to Yarmouth, with a plan to exit the Needles on a full ebb tide and head across the bay to Portland through the night.

We all had a cracking night sail past old Harry and along to Portland and entered Portland approximately 0200hrs on Thursday; a very memorable sail.

Heads down and a slow start Thursday - and off back eastbound. Wind and tide were kind, so we belted through the Needles gap and up the Western Solent, tucking up finally in Yarmouth for Thursday night. Friday up to Ocean Village to try and avoid the force 7-8 on its way.

Sunday saw us whizzing along en route to Haslar. Belting along in Relax in a force 7, with the sun up and no one else to dodge – couldn’t be better. A great time was had by all. They well deserved their Coastal Skipper certificates and were easy recommendations for club skippers.  (AM, instructor)

I had a lovely time, and the instructor made me feel comfortable making decisions on the boat. I particularly remember the beautiful night sail out to Portland, with just the right amount of wind and the moon lighting the cliffs. I was nervous about handing Relax in close quarters, but after some good tips and tricks this feels a lot more comfortable now. (AC, student).

A night sail

Over dinner we prepared for a night sail to Port Hamble Marina via Cowes. Navigating at night is truly a different experience from day sailing, particularly when there are so many shore lights. We learned the importance of identifying the sector lights that lead up the Hamble. At the marina, the crew received more valuable lessons:

• When requesting a berth, check is it port or starboard side on? Open or closed?
• Make sure ropes are ready to use. Coil warps with a long tail and store at the top of locker for easy access in the dark with a tired crew.
• Be aware of tide and be prepared for a small finger pontoon.

Recovering a person in the water

Doing this exercise under sail in Southampton Water taught me a valuable lesson to always keep aware of the wind direction and not rely on instruments. Later, in our berth we tested using the handy billy and spinnaker halyard to recover a casualty. We concluded the best option was to bring the casualty to the stern. 

Top learning points

• Weather: Look at the Met Office synopsis and inshore forecast first. 
• Safety: Make use of the great documentation on the boats (start-up, safety briefing and shutdown checklists)
• Departure: Take time to think about springing and pivot points. Consider a Dutch spring and test before slipping.

• Overall: don’t take things personally, treat everything as a chance to improve.