I recently completed the RYA Sea Survival course as part of my level two Clipper Race training. The Sea Survival course is tough. But I highly recommend it to anyone that spends a fair amount of time out on the water. As the saying goes…
LUCK FAVOURS THE PREPARED.
AND THEE WHO IS PREPARED, SHALL NOT FEAR.
– Louis Pasteur
I have always been an adventurous sort, and along the way have been trained on emergency first aid for various situations, including becoming a PADI Rescue Diver a few years ago. I have had to use my rescue diving skills many times, and have been so thankful of having the necessary skills to help others, to stay calm and to keep myself safe. I have been the first responder on the scene of a serious motor bike accident, and have also helped someone who I suspected of having a heart attack – in both of those situations, no one else had a clue what to do. And that really highlights why it is important to have such skills.
I’ve just completed my RYA Day Skipper Theory with Elite Sailing in Chatham and thought I’d do a quick blog post to let you know how it went and what you can expect if you’re considering signing up for it.
I choose the distance learning option as I am pretty busy at the moment, so it made sense to sign up and just fit it in around everything else. I’ve mainly been able to find time on my commute to work! In terms of the time commitment, I’ve been pretty slack in terms of finding time, so I’ve probably just done an hour or two per week over the last 6 – 8 weeks. If you knuckle down and find the time, you could study intensely and get it it done very quickly.
I recently completed the RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman course with Thames Boat Training.
Thames Boat Training is run by an awesome guy called Paul, who is an incredibly experienced sailor. He’s based on a narrowboat in Shepperton and will tailor courses to meet your needs. The training takes place onboard one of his two narrowboats, and due to the sheer size of the boats offer the perfect training experience for any future motor cruiser.
The Thames Boat Training narrowboat which I learnt on
