Example itinerary of 2 day Start Yachting course

FRIDAY

  • 1830h Arrive at Hamble and check in at school reception cabin.
  • Receive wet weather gear and pillows if required. Meet the instructor, collect food and move onto the yacht to settle in.
  • Stow away all provisioning and personal kit.
  • Instructor's safety briefing and yacht familiarisation talk
  • If the weather is good and everybody is on time you will set sail for a short trip to a nearby harbour such as Cowes or Southampton otherwise go ashore for evening meal and drink. A good chance to break the ice and have a relaxing evening before setting sail the next day. It's a good idea to have a late afternoon snack before coming down as you may not be eating until later on the first evening.

SATURDAY

  • 0800 Showers at marina facilities, breakfast, clean up and get weather forecast
  • Recap safety procedures on deck. Introduction to deck gear, ropes and rigging and various parts of the yacht
  • Engine start controls and rigging/slipping of mooring lines and fenders
  • Slip mooring and motor down the river giving everyone a chance to steer the yacht under power
  • Practice coming alongside and leaving various pontoons with everyone rotating jobs 
  • Short sail to an anchorage or mooring buoy giving everyone the chance to raise sails and control them using the sheets
  • 1300 Lunch at a mooring buoy or anchorage. Discuss the use of liferafts
  • Practice the basic points of sail with each person having the opportunity to helm or control sheets
  • Practice putting in and shaking out reefs
  • Practice headsail changes or furling
  • Sail to overnight destination practising what a crew member should do in the event of a Man Overboard situation
  • 1830 Enter a new harbour in the Solent and moor up. Stow sails and tidy up on and below deck
  • 1900 Debrief on day's events whilst dinner is cooking in oven
  • 2000 Supper followed by a trip ashore to a local pub 

SUNDAY 

  • 0800 Showers at marina facilities, breakfast, clean up and get weather forecast
  • 0900 Prepare the yacht for sea and undertake a passage to an anchorage for lunch. On route each crew member will experience helming the yacht on different points of sail 
  • Learn how to tie the basic 6 knots used by sailors and when they are used
  • Prepare to enter anchorage. Learn how to prepare the anchor and foredeck in anticipation of arrival
  • 1200 Lunch at anchor
  • Set sail for Hamble learning the basic collision regulations on route
  • Clean up yacht, return wet weather gear followed by debrief and issue of certificates 
  • 1600 Depart Hamble.

Click here to back to start yachting course page

Please note: All course itineraries are examples and do not form any part of the contract

Back to main page