Newbie... saying hello and asking for advice reg RYA and YA certificates...

[svass]

Hi to all cruisers and sailor...

I am new in this forum, found it on google... I will be in Sydney from October to Februar and plan to do some sailing courses over there...

I have been on boats several times but do not really a lot of experience...
My dream is to charter a yacht someday and sail the oceans with my friends and find the worlds nicest kitesurfing spots...

However, I think the best way to make that dream come true is to get started with some sailing courses and getting the right certificates that will allow me to charter a yacht everywhere in the world...

Now I am at a point where I need some advice from you...
1. I know that I can do RYA courses and YA courses. I have been told that they are both recognized worldwide but the YA courses are much cheaper... I also heard that RYA is THE highest qualification you can get?!?! What yould you recommend me, getting the YA certificates or the RYA?

2. Would anybody recommend a specific sailing school in Sydney?

thx for your tips!!!

Greets from Germany
Sven

[Pblais]

Sven,

Welcome to Cruisers Forum. Around the world there are many different approaches to sailing schools. The good news is the RYA and YA course are well thought of so you can't go wrong. Having more training is never a bad idea if followed up with some actual experience on the water. Time on the water smooths out all the holes in the training. There is the component about actually sailing a boat and I think most people learn those skills quickly. Then there are the other skills associated. Navigation is clearly a skill you may never truly master. Other skills related to boat equipment, maintenance, and repairs are skills developed over time as well. Given we have over 96,000 posts here you can get an idea that it covers a lot of stuff. No one knows all of it but you need a good familiarity of the basics of all of it.

Your ability to charter will first be based on past experience and second by training. With a little of both you may be required to do a day of check out where you pay a skipper to go along for a day and they decide if you really know how to manage a boat. It's a total thing. Not if you can trim the sails but can you anchor or operate all the equipment and act like you are comfortable. After that it comes down to the money. The charter companies do want the money too.

I don't live in Sydney so I can't suggest a good school, but my normal advice is go to the school and meet the actual instructor that would teach your class first. You will do better if you can communicate well with the instructor. No matter how good the school is it's only one instructor that matters to you. You might try and find the better one if they several.

[Weyalan]

Greetings Sven,

Welcome aboard.

I will preface my comments with the caveat that I am not from Sydney and so the following will be a combination of heresay, speculation and 2nd hand gossip:

I don't know about sailing courses per se, but you can gain very valuable experience from getting out on the water and sailing. The CYCA offers weekly twilight sailing through the summer for inexperienced / novice sailors. They provide the boats (I think from the local charter fleet) and a somewhat experienced skipper, and have low-key "round the bouys" type racing and an opportunity to socialise and drink a few beers afterwards. The CYCA (Cruising Yacht Club ofAustralia) is in Double Bay (Close to the infamous Kings Cross). It is certainly worth a visit even if only to walk around the marina oggling the amazing yachts berthed therein.

[Pblais]

I would agree with Weyalan on one point. Getting out on the water is where it's at. There is a lot to be gained from training but using it and perfecting it is done on the water. The other side of it is this is supposed to be whole lot of fun too. Being out there is a where the real fun is or maybe this isn't for you. I would find as many ways to get out there just because you just can't help but learn a whole lot and have more fun doing it.

[Steve Kidson]

Sven,

I am a member of CYCA and can advise that twilight (late afternoon) sailing is very popular in summer.

As a casual crew member, the best way to get a ride is to register with the Sailing Office who maintain lists of crew looking for a boat. They attempt to match these with boat skippers requirements for crew.

Pacific Sailing School, next door to the CYCA at Rushcutters Bay, is a recommended sailing school. You can check both out at:
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia ..
Pacific Sailing School - Sydney Harbour - Cruising Yacht Club of Australia

Enjoy Sydney, summer sailing in Sydney is great, warm weather, steady NE sea breezes, and fantastic scenery.

Fair winds

Steve

[Steve Kidson]

Sorry, forgot to mention, any training courses undertaken at Pacific Sailing School is YA acredited, and could - depending on courses taken, count towards a formal qualification.

Fair winds

Steve