Sailing West

A one-day course for anyone going to sea, providing an understanding of how to use the safety equipment on board your boat.

A genuine lifesaver

Cruising is one of the safest leisure sporting activities, and 99.9% of those afloat will never use their liferaft. However, if you are part of the unlucky 0.1% your chances of survival will be greatly increased if you understand how to use the equipment and how to help yourself.

It is a well-proven fact that, in the event of an emergency at sea, people with training are more likely to survive.

An important part of the course is a practical session in a swimming pool. Experience first hand the problems of entering an uncooperative liferaft and assisting others while fully kitted out in wet weather gear and a lifejacket.

Course topics include:

liferafts and the equipment they contain

survival techniques

the design of lifejackets

medical aspects of sea survival

search and rescue techniques

Only €195 

A two-day course designed for people who want to be able to operate marine radio

The Short Range Certificate is the qualification required by law if you operate a VHF radio fitted with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) on any Irish vessel voluntarily fitted with a radio.

A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures. Unnecessary transmissions could block out a Mayday distress call.

All new VHF sets are either fitted, or can be interfaced, with DSC allowing calls to specific vessels. If you hold the ‘old’ VHF licence (pre-1999) you need to upgrade your qualification if you purchase new equipment. This can be done by attending this one-day course or, if no tuition is required, you can enter for direct examination.

Course topics include:

the basics of radio operation

the correct frequencies (channels) to be used

distress, emergency and medical assistance procedures

making ship to shore telephone calls

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) using simulators

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)

Search and Rescue (SART)

The course will be taught using radio simulators and will be examined by an external examiner. 

Course Fee €235 (Inc Exam Fee) + MRAU Admin Fee 

This course is ideal for candidates for the Coastal Skipper practical course and Yachtmaster Offshore® exam. Some revision of the Day Skipper shorebased course is included, plus more advanced skills in offshore and coastal navigation by day and night, pilotage and meteorology. Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course

Pre-course experience
Knowledge equivalent to the Day Skipper shorebased course

Assumed Knowledge
Navigation to Day Skipper standard and some practical experience is recommended

Course content
Navigation, meteorology, collision avoidance, safety and passage planning

Ability after course
Understands the principles of navigating for coastal and offshore passages

Minimum duration 40 hours plus 3 assessment papers

Cost: €535 includes Shorebased Pack, excludes Training Chart Plotter

Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Syllabus

• Position

Dead Reckoning & Estimated Position

Satellite-derived position

Use of waypoints to fix position

Radar Fixes

Techniques of visual fix

Fixes using a mixture of position lines

Relative accuracy of different methods of position fixing

Areas of Uncertainty

• The magnetic Compass

Allowance for variation

Change of variation with time and position

Causes of deviation

Swing for deviation

Allowance for deviation

Different types of compass

• Tides

Causes of tides – springs & neaps

Tide Tables – sources

Tidal levels and datum

Standard & Secondary Ports

Tidal Anomalies

• Tidal Streams

Sources of tidal information

Tidal Stream information in sailing directions and Yachtsman’s Almanacs

Allowance for tidal streams in computing a course to steer

Tide rips, overfalls and races

Tidal Observation buoys, beacons etc

• Buoyage

IALA system buoyage in Region A

Limitations of buoys as navigational aids

• Lights

Characteristics

Ranges – Visual, luminous & nominal

Rising & Dipping Distance

Light Lists

• Pilotage

Harbour regulations and control signals

Methods of pre-planning

Clearing Lines

Use of Soundings

Transits & Leading Lines

• GPS & Chart Plotters

Principles of operation and limitations of use

Raster & Vector Charts

Datum

Importance of Confirmation of position by an independent source & keeping a separate record of position

Importance of paper charts

• Echo Sounders

Principles of operation and limitations of use

• Logs (Speed & Distance Measuring)

Principles of operation and limitations of use

• Deck Log

Importance of log as yacht’s official document

Layout of log, hourly and occasional entries

• Meteorology

Basic Terms, the beaufort scale

Air Masses

Cloud types

Weather patterns associated with pressure and frontal systems

Sources of weather forecasts

Ability to interpret a shipping forecast, weatherfax and weather satellite information

Land & Sea Breezes

Sea Fog

Use of Barometer as a forecasting aid

• Rule of the Road

A sound knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, except Annexes 1 and 3

• Safety at Sea

Personal Safety, use of lifejackets, safety harnesses and lifelines

Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting

Distress Signals

Coastguard and Boat Safety Scheme

Preparation for heavy weather

Liferafts & Helicopter Rescue

Understanding of capabilities of vessel and basic knowledge of stability

• Navigation in Restricted Visibility

Precautions to take in fog

Limitations to safe navigation imposed by fog

Navigation strategy in poor visibility

• Passage Planning

Preparation of charts and notebook route planning and making, and use at sea

Customs regulations as they apply to yachts

Routine for navigating in coastal waters

Strategy for course laying

Use of waypoints and routes

Use of weather forecast information for passage planning strategy

Sources of local and national regulations

• Marine Environment

Responsibility to minimise pollution and protect the marine environment

A comprehensive introduction to chartwork, navigation, meteorology and the basics of seamanship. Invaluable for learning how to start making decisions on board and if you are considering taking the Day Skipper practical course. Day Skipper Shorebased Course

Pre-course experience
Some practical experience desirable

Assumed Knowledge
None

Course content
Basic seamanship and introduction to navigation and meteorology. A basic knowledge of lights, weather and IRPCS is also included.

Ability after course
Sufficient knowledge to navigate around familiar waters by day.

Minimum duration 40 hours and 2 assessment papers

Cost: €535 inc Shorebased Pack

This course gives a basic introduction to navigation and safety for anyone new to boating: sailors, powerboaters, sea anglers, divers and boatmasters. Also useful for experienced dinghy and keelboat sailors and inshore racers.

Pre-course experience
None

Assumed Knowledge
None

Course content
Charts and publications, safety, buoyage, tidal awareness, basic navigation and pilotage, rules of the road, electronic navigation, anchoring, weather forecasts, passage planning

Ability after course
A basic awareness and understanding of navigation and safety

Minimum duration 16 hours. Can be taught over 2 days or a series of shorter sessions

Cost: €280 inc Shorebased Pack