ECOLOGY CULTURE
CONSULTING SERVICES
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Courses Level 1
 
1 - Introduction to Sailing
Much more than just an Introduction: One of your friends has bought a yacht and invited you to come for a sail. If you want to do more than just putting lettuce and chicken in the bowl, this is the course for you! During this training you will learn about the vessel,safety, names, how things work, the wind, the points of sail, who has the right of way and most of all, what not to do. A great way to begin your sailing life !!!
We are running this course over 4 classes of 4-hours each. No more than 4 students per class. This, even though we could take twice as many students. Although this sail training course includes a lot of theory, it is very much a hands-on experience on the water all the time. A great way to begin your sailing life !!!
The syllabus includes:
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Personal safety - General safety procedures
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Vessel preparation
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Understanding the engine & cooling systems
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Handling the vessel - Berthing & Unberthing - Motoring techniques
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Equipment - How does everything work
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Sail theory - How does a yacht sails to the wind - Points of sail
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Understanding the wind, and how it affects the vessel
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The sails - Triming
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Steering - Tacking - Gybing
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Reefing - Why and How
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Ropework
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Relative direction - The compass
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The chart - Sailing to a destination
 
2 - Small Craft Safety
We recommend anyone serious about boating must complete this course. It is also a requirement for the Competent Crew and Inshore Skipper certificate programmes.
The Small Craft Safety course is a common syllabus with the National Powerboat Training and the National Motor Cruising Scheme, except with specific items directly related to sailing.
The syllabus includes, among other topics:
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Boating knowledge - Stability - Seaworthiness - Designs...
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Safety equipment - Fire prevention
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Radio equipment & procedures
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International Collisions Regulations
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Introduction to navigation - concepts, charts, lat/long, distance. ETA, plotting
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Introduction to marine meteorology
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Auxiliary engines
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Boat handling
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Emergencies
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Ropework
Duration: 3 x 4-hours intensive classes + homework. Lots of practical exercises + notes are given on CD.
 
3 - Competent Crew certificate
The Competent Crew Certificate includes two modules:
Module 1. Small Craft Safety
The Craft Safety course is the shorebased course for the Competent Crew Certificate. It must be run at an Yachting Australia approved centre. For details of the syllabus see the Small Craft Safety course above
Module 2. Practical Knowledge
The module consists of the 3 first classes of the Introduction to Sailing course + 4 intensive practical classes of 4-hours each to put into practice, as far as possible, the information received in the Small Craft Safety course and more..
The syllabus includes among other items:
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Helmsmanship and handling in various wind conditions
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Reefing in more difficult conditions - Steering
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Anchoring
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Man overboard - Picking up mooring under sails
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Emergency situations and handling
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Mechanical emergencies
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Seamanship
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Ropework
NOTE: Towards the end of the course we will help you go sailing onboard other people yachts (other students' yachts most likely) to gather more practical experience. There you will still have some outcomes to complete to ensure you maximise your training. It will also allow us to make sure you are in control of the syllabus, thus work on your weaknesses if needed. This is a free service available to all our students.
4 - Inshore Skipper certificate programme
This important and extensive programme aims at teaching the fundamentals you need to become a competent Inshore Skipper, without taking shortcuts
It comes in 4 modules + 1 optional 2-days practical:
Module 1. Small Craft Safety
(For syllabus details see the Small Craft Safety course.)
Duration: 3 classes of 4-hours each + homework (shorebased course).
Module 2. Practical Sailing Knowledge
Candidates will be trained to think and act as skippers. They will work with junior crew under the instructor supervision.
The syllabus includes, among other topics, the entire practical level of the Competent Crew certificate + 4 intensive practical classes.
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Vessel preparation for overnight conditions
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Conducting safety briefings
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Weather assessments
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Currents - Tides
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Sail tuning
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vessel handling
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Advanced anchoring techniques
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Man overboard
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Preparing and handling of mergency situations
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Crew management.
Students holding a Competent Crew Certificate will be assessed and the number of classes reduced based on their competence.
Module 3. Pilotage
Your first and most important step into navigation. You will learn how to prepare and execute a series of legs to help you navigate safely in the proximity of dangers possibly in restricted visibility. There you will use the chart's information and make your way along a predetermined track using a range of visual methods - backed by only one electronic means: the depth sounder indicating how much clearance is available under the keel. By the end of this class you should be able to give your position at any given time to the instructor and explain how you came to this conclusion.
The understanding of piloting will help considerably towards progressing confidently in unknown waters, and anchoring in those dream places that only competent sailors can reach. Great for the Whitsundays!!! This is also a important preparation for candidates to Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster certificates.
Duration: 2 x 4-hours classes each. 1 theory + 1 practical (Day/Night). Course Notes supplied.
Module 4. Marine Radio Operator's Certificate of Proficiency
This certificate is issued by the Australian Maritime College on behalf of the Australian Communications Authority. It is an official document accepted worldwide confirming the recipient's knowledge in the use of marine radio equipment.
Duration: 2 x 3-hours classes each + formal written examination (60 minutes) for the attribution of the licence. Course Notes supplied.
Module 5 (optional): 2-days (overnight onboard) Practical Sail
This two-day practical is a simulation of what future Inshore Skippers will be faced with when taking control of a vessel with crew/passengers in sheltered waters. This, plus a lot of fun!
2 days of real cruising with many situations to face.....
The Inshore Skipper Course aims at teaching the fundamentals needed by the students. From there on the new sailors must develop their knowledge through experience. Together with a level of competence, this certificate allows you to charter a yacht in sheltered waters in compliance with the International Certificate of Competency which is a requirement in many countries
NOTE: Towards the end of the course we will help you go sailing onboard other people yachts (our students' yachts most likely to gather more practical experience. There you will still have some outcomes to complete to ensure you maximise your training. It will also allow us to make sure you are in control of the syllabus, thus work on your weaknesses if needed. This is a free service available to all our students.
5 - International Certificate of Competence (ICC)
This certificate is becoming a requirement for chartering yachts. However, it can currently only be issued to British and Irish nationals or those who have a British or Irish residential address.
Ask Jonathan for details
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Students in action: Joanne learning the rules of the road and making fast decisions on busy Sydney Harbour. A must to become a Competent Crew..
Always new opportunities for improvised training...
Unexpected events can happen anywhere - even during a class. Students on a routine anchoring class encountered a discarded cable. This was a great opportunity to learn techniques to disengage the anchor and save it.
Introduction to Sailing
Our Introduction course will give you enough knoweldge to go onboard others' yachts knowing what you are doing. It is also a great basis for future advanced sail training, such as the Competent Crew .
"Many students have commented they learned more in the Introduction to Sailing course than their friends have done in many Competent Crew around." Jonathan Bogais
Small Craft Safety
In this course, you will learn to use the equipment, not just hear about it. We own the yacht you will use for training, hence equiped her as best as possible to help you. (Module alone or part of the Competent Crew certificate)
Student practising coiling mooring lines on a wharf... this under a resident's careful scrutiny..
Support to the Australian Heritage Fleet
We are a proud supporter of the Australian Heritage Fleet, which is a part of the Australian Maritime Museum. All students who enroll into our theory courses (navigation, meteorology, etc..) conducted onboard Kanangra at at the Australian Heritage Fleet base in Rozelle Bay will receive a year free membership to the Fleet. Ask for details...
Gaff rig... We are running special sailing classes onboard the oldest working sailing boat in Australia
These special classes are conducted onboard Tribal Warrior, a 65ft traditional gaff rig design owned by the Tribal Warrior Association. You can learn to sail on this traditional vessel buit in 1896.
While sailing on this well-known vessel that circumnavigated Australia in 2002/03, you will be able to see the extensive engravings made by the elders of the communities visited during this unique sea voyage. Ask for details...
Tribal Warrior under sails on Sydney Harbour
What about sailing after courses?
All our students who have completed practical courses benefit from a free membership to the Pyrmont Heritage Boating Club. This will allow you to practice sailing on tradional wooden boats, which are part of Australian maritime history. Ask for details...
Homework
Training is not just about attending classes. All students have the opportunity to join in our internet interactive homework programme. There, you will have assignments to complete between classes, then email the results back to us for markings. This is a great way for you and us to monitor your progress...
We limit the number of students per class..
This to make sure you maximise your training and work all the time. No-one sitting on the side of the boat waiting for a turn. Maximum 4 students per practical class on a 35ft yacht. No more than 8 students per theory class to maximise interaction.
Learning to use the equipment..
It is important to learn to use the equipment properly for safety and efficiency
Yellow marker: Special mark. Any competent crew must know all the marks..
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