Competent Crew is where the cruising scheme really begins. You live aboard for five days, stand your share of the sailing, learn to steer a compass course, trim sails, reef, tie the important knots, take part in man-overboard drills and keep the boat running. By the end you should be someone a skipper is glad to have on board rather than someone they have to look after. It is also the first block of logged sea time and night hours for the ladder above it.
At a glance
| Type | Practical course |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5 days on board (or 3 weekends) |
| Minimum age | No formal minimum; most centres take adults and teenagers |
| Stage in the pathway | Stage 2 of 10 |
Before you start
| Experience needed | None |
|---|---|
| Theory needed | None, although reading a beginner sailing book beforehand helps |
What it covers
- Knots, ropework and mooring lines
- Steering under sail and power, including to a compass course
- Sail trim, tacking, gybing and reefing as crew
- Man overboard recovery as crew
- Basic meteorology: reading a forecast and understanding wind strength
- Rules of the road at crew level: keeping a lookout
- Emergency equipment and safety procedures
- Seasickness, clothing and living aboard
What you get
Competent Crew course completion certificate. You are ready to crew on coastal passages and start building miles.
Where it sits in the pathway
Before this: Start Yachting. After this: Day Skipper Theory.