Duration: 3 x weekends (weekends do not need to be consecutive) or 5 day (Monday to Friday)

Previous experience required: None.

Course content: The Competent Crew course teaches the basics of yachting in more depth than the Introductory course. Students live aboard the yacht for the duration of the course as the yacht sails around the sheltered waters of Moreton Bay.

This is both a training trip and a holiday in one!

The yacht will visit different harbours and anchorages during the trip and students will enjoy the delights of spending the night on board at anchor and sailing at night under the stars. You will learn how to set the sails, steer the yacht, and live aboard a yacht whilst cruising. The course also covers the use of all safety equipment on board a yacht, the rules of the road, manners and customs, and how the weather effects the planning of a sailing trip. You will participate in "man overboard" drills, but don’t worry, we use a dummy, not a real person! Students are fully involved in all aspects of crewing on board the yacht from steering to cooking in the galley. (Ladies take note there is total equality on board a Southern Cross School yacht so the guys do the cooking and cleaning to!)

The yachts are comfortably fitted out for cruising to make this trip an enjoyable experience. Your fully qualified Instructor will guide you through the mysteries of sailing and you will emerge from the course a competent and confident crewmember, welcome on any yacht.

At the completion of the course you will be awarded the Royal Yachting Association ‘Competent Crew course completion certificate.’

Whether you undertake the course as a 5-day trip or over 3 weekends all expenses and meals on board are included in the cost of the course. As cruising is supposed to be a relaxing activity there is time to take it easy and enjoy the journey with at least one evening out onshore.

"I can honestly say that the whole experience with Steve, Southern Cross and all other members of the crew was fantastic. From the safety briefing on I felt confident on the boat and Steve had an air of quiet stability that put everybody at ease. The course was well structured and when the days sailing was over we were allowed to relax and enjoy the situation. It was a great five days and I learnt that sailing is a pastime that will be taking up more of my time in the futre. I hope to be over in Australia sometime next year and will definately be taking another course with you guys." Steve Burbidge

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