COURSES - Level 2 - Coastal Skipper - Yachtmaster Offshore

1 - Coastal Navigation - 2 - Marine Meteorology - 3 - Passage Planning - 4 - STCW95 - 5 - Seamanship Nautical Knowledge - 6 - Radar - 7 - Offshore Practical

Coastal Navigation

"A good navigator gathers information from every available source, evaluates this information, determines a fix, and compares that fix with a predetermined 'dead reckoning' (DR) position. A good navigator constantly evaluates the ship's position, anticipates dangerous situations well before they arise, and always keeps 'ahead of the vessel'. He/she must also understand the basic concepts of the many navigation systems used today, evaluate their practicality in specific circumstances and outputs accuracy, and arrive at the best possible navigational decisions." (Bowditch)

Being competent in all forms of navigation is essential. It has been proved so many times that reliance on GPS only can be a disaster in the making. There will be many instances where visual observations are indispensable to safe pilotage, which is the most challenging form of navigation for example.

It is a requirement for the Coastal Skipper Certificate and the Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate.

Course Syllabus

• Positions and Directions on the Earth's Surface

• Navigational Publications

• Fixing the ship by all available means

• Visual and audible aids to navigation (Colregs)

• Tide Theory and practical execises (set, rate, drift). Secondary ports. A very important part of this course!!

• Leeway

• Sextant: understanding, use. Horizontal and Vertical sextant angles.

• Practical Navigation

• Electronic navigation and wheelhouse equipment

• Emergency Navigation

• Formal written and practical examination.

Duration: 5 classes of 3 hours each + internet interactive homework (shorebased and onboard classes). A practical session is included. Course notes supplied on CD (pdf format).

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Cyclone Isbella - the wall of the cyclone	500 Hpa map for mid-range forecasting

Marine Meteorology

An accurate appreciation of weather signs and prognostics, the ability to read and understand meteorological instruments, the understanding of weather reports and charts, and a necessary knowledge to put these into an overall picture can sometimes be a matter of life or death to the mariner.

The purpose of this course is to help you develop the knowledge and the ability to make relevant observations to be able to forecast cahnges likely to happen within 2 to 3 days, at time longer. This is not a substitute to offical forecast, however, many students have reported they have been able to assess changes with a great deal of precision on their own. Most of the course is based on visual presentations, both videos and stills, showing the evolution of weather systems, from early stages to the event. All visuals have been recorded while onboard to make it as realistic as possible. There will be a lot of theory to back up the visuals.

Material projected on screen in classroom

Course Syllabus:

• Weather Elements - Meteorological concepts - Instruments

• Air masses

• High and Low Pressure Systems - Fronts - Troughs - Ridges

• The "Weather Map" - Special maps (500mb)

• Winds - Cloud - Fog

• Waves

• Visibility

• Tropical Revolving Storms

• Weather Services

• Practical observations gathering and forecasting

Duration: Two full-day theory classes followed by a period in which students have to complete assignements to put things into practice, then another one full-day class to assess results and address issues. Students are required to make their own observations during the course. Course notes supplied.

We use a lot of visual material in this course to re-create on screen the sequences of meteorological events

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Passage Planning

In this course you will learn to put all elements of meteorology, navigation and seamanship together to plan a safe passage. This will include strategies and vessel/crew preparatuion

Duration: 2 classes of 3 hours each + homework

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STCW 95

Basic Safety Training Course - International Yachtmaster Training

Standards of Training and Certification of Watchekeepers ‘95

Personal Survival course module which is instructed in compliance to STCW ’95 Code A – VI/1-2 and consists of a half day in the classroom covering subjects such as emergency situations, evacuation, survival craft and rescue boats, personal lifesaving appliances, survival at sea, emergency radio equipment and helicopter assistance.
The remainder of the course is spent in a swimming pool performing the simulation of abandon ship procedures. The theory and practical are both followed by an exam.

Fire Prevention module which is instructed in compliance to STCW ’95 Code A – VI/1-2 including shipboard fire fighting organization, the elements of fire and explosion, types of ignition, fire and smoke detection, breathing apparatus use and automatic alarm system familiarization.  Yachtmaster certificate trainees will fight and extinguish actual fires using personal equipment, practical instruction taught by licensed and

certified fire fighting professionals. It takes two days to complete and is followed by an exam.

First Aid and CPR which is instructed in compliance to STCW ’95 Code A – VI/1-2 and consists of approximately seven hours of theory and practical covering basic First Aid and CPR in marine situations. The course is followed by a written exam.

Personal Safety and Social Responsibility which is instructed to STCW ’95 Code A – VI/1-2.  The course covers working relationships on board, health and hygiene, drugs and alcohol, shipboard management structure and responsibilities, emergencies and safe working practices.  The course is followed by a written exam.

Duration: 5 consecutive days + homework

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Seamanship/Nautical Knowledge

Good seamanship is primarily about self-sufficiency and the ability to adapt to any situation in a calm and efficient manner. Seamanship is about attitude! It is so vast a field that learning and practising it will take a lifetime. This course aims at teaching you some of the fundamentals by breaking the notion of seamanship into several sections - keeping in mind that there is no substitute for experience.

The training is extensive and very technical including in great details: the vessel, stability, engineering, steering mechanisms, emergency procedures and repairs at sea, heavy weather preparation and handling, ropework and more.

Duration: 5 classes of 4 hours each + homework. Course includes shorebased and onboard classes. Course notes supplied.

Note: The schedule of this course is flexible to match training requirements with weather conditions.

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Radar

Operation and adjustment of a small radar, Set for optimum performance, Importance of clear scanner rotation, warming up set, Recognition of controls and symbols, obtaining optimum display on screen, including correct tuning and tuning checks, Ranges and scales and their applications, Recognition of correct patterns, echoes, clutter, blind sectors and shadows, false echoes and interferences, Bearing and ranges of targets, relative, ships head and true bearings, Fixing position of vessels by cross bearing, range and bearing and two or more ranges, Application of collision avoidance and collision regulations.

Duration: 5 classes of 4 hours each + homework. Course includes shorebased and onboard classes. Course notes supplied.

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Offshore Practical Classes

As the skipper of a vessel you will be solely responsible for making decisions and for their consequences. As a crew you will be expected to show competence and adaptability in all situations, even the most difficult.

Whether you are a first timer or not, giving careful thought to planning is always seamanlike when thinking of an offshore passage: equipment, people, provisions, navigation, safety, communications, weather, survival.

We design our offshore programmes to suit the specific needs of our students. These come in the following categories:

General knowledge of offshore conditions for crewing
Fundamentals of offshore competence for yacht owners/skippers
Improvement on existing offshore knowledge
Yacht and crew preparations for offshore and ocean passages
Specific areas: heavy weather management, man overboard, Search and Rescue support, emergency navigation, etc..
Emergencies at sea and survival
Classes are held on our vessels or yours.

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