NorthumbriaSailing

A New Way to Start Sailing Successfully

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Royal Yachting Association Theory Courses

These are at the 2009 built Life Centre of Heaton Baptist Church, Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 5HN (54°58´59.05N, 01°34´53.14W) which provides comfortable surroundings, on the level, and makes chart work a lot easier!

Shore Based Courses will take place Evenings, Saturdays and Weekdays with a mixture according to the aspiring sailors’ commitments and, as an extra, will include half a day on a berthed yacht to see a working boat.

Basic Navigation & Safety

An introduction to the basic skills required before taking a small boat to sea or taking an active part in running a boat.

Minimum time to be spent is 16 hours and will come with a Course Completion certificate. Subjects to be covered include; Charts, Navigation, Safety, Anchoring, Tides, Electronic Navigation, Weather and how to plan a voyage.

No previous experience is needed and this is ideal for someone wanting to have some knowledge but without a large commitment in time and expense.

Cost £125

Day Skipper

A comprehensive introduction to skills on the water, often required, in conjunction with the practical version, when chartering a boat.

Minimum time to be spent is 42 hours and includes a written and course assessment before attaining the certificate. Subjects to be covered include; Nautical Terms, Rope work, Charts, Navigation, Safety, Regulations to avoid Collisions, Anchoring, Tides, Electronic Navigation, Weather and Passage Planning.

No previous experience is needed and this is for someone keen to either acquire further knowledge or becoming more committed to the whole experience.

Cost £260

'Thanks for a well run Course which I have really enjoyed' - Chris, 'I found the rooms and facilities excellent.....the classroom (hands on aids) also being a great help' - Tony, 'I would highly recommend you to anyone who is seeking to learn about sailing or to gain any RYA certification' - Stuart

Next Course is an Intensive Evenings 6 - 9pm/Saturdays 9 - 5pm on 21,22,23,25,28,29 & 30th September and 2,5,6 & 7th October 2010, to be held at the Life Centre with a half day visit to an 11 metre yacht. - 30 August - still places available but lots of interest. £100 reservation cheque secures.

Compare Northumbria Sailing with the Local Authority, for a similar price

            Local Authority Evening Class                                            Northumbria Sailing Intensive

                15 weeks September to March                                              5 days over two weeks

                No time spent on board a boat                                              Half day on yacht included

                Class size 10+                                                                       Smaller Class sizes

                Lessons in a Classroom                                                        Congenial surroundings

                Limited scope for demonstrations                                         Emphasis on seeing items discussed e.g. ropes

Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster® Offshore

Now we are getting more serious. Sailors will want more in depth knowledge in preparation to owning or skippering a boat, or just that they have realised, like so many before them, that there is a lot involved here and risks should be kept to an absolute minimum.

Time to be spent is 44 hours and includes a written and course assessment before attaining the certificate. Subjects to be covered include those from the Day Skipper syllabus, but much more in depth.

Sailors should have already acquired knowledge up to Day Skipper standards.

Cost £275

6 Day Course over three weeks, including half day visit to a yacht - 9am to 5pm November 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20th

Yes, a half day visit to his boat (not sailing though), http://www.hallberg-rassy.com/hr36/hr36.shtml

How do I Book?

£100 confirms the reservation with the balance due six weeks before the start of the Course. Cheque made payable to ‘MSF Wallhead’ or cash, to 1 Anscomb Gardens, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7BB.

Any cancellation by myself will involve a full refund, if the Course is cancelled, for example.

In the case of you withdrawing or failing to pay the balance I will try to adopt a humane attitude and find a replacement.

International Certificate of Competence (ICC)

Often required and, for coastal waters, can be obtained upon application accompanied by a Practical RYA Course certificate e.g. Day Skipper.

For European Inland Waterways familiarity with their Code Européen des Voies de Navigation Intérieure (CEVNI)  is necessary, requiring a short test to gain endorsement for the ICC.

Self preparation, by reading, is the norm and the test lasts about an hour. This can be done in premises which provide refreshment of an alcoholic nature.

Cost £25, excluding drinks.

Practical Courses

         Enjoy a sail on a quality 11 metre yacht operating out of North Shields and within easy reach of the scenic Northumberland Coast.

Start Crewing

This follows the theme of the RYA ‘Competent Crew’ but is more flexible. A five day Course aboard the yacht and you will become experienced in seamanship and be a useful Crew member. Many and varied skills will be learnt, such as sail handling, safety, rope work, meteorology, dinghy handling and steering a boat.

No prior experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn and have a good time, in company.

The package includes full board (excluding a celebratory dinner out) and instruction from a RYA Cruising Instructor. The Course does not carry an RYA certificate but sea miles will enhance your logbook and where else can you get full board for £60 per day?

The full five days costs £295 and consideration will be given to crew only able to do half.

Learn to Sail

Or just brush up your skills before that sail in the Greek Isles. Tuition is on a one to one (or one to two for couples) basis on board the 11 metre yacht, based at Royal Quays marina, North Shields. Dates arranged by mutual agreement. Tuition is followed up with a written resume of the salient points. Cost £100 for the first day and £85 (£50 half day) thereafter

Trips & Treats

These can be arranged - just let me know what you are thinking about and I will do my best to oblige. Try this, for example;

Melvyn Wallhead, Yachtmaster, has over 25 years of experience with boats and would like to share it with you so you can also enjoy the ‘highs’ of sailing a boat on a warm day with a favourable breeze.

Melvyn is an RYA Instructor, although leaves the sextant in the box, preferring GPS!

Now approaching 60, sadly from the wrong direction, Melvyn lives in Newcastle upon Tyne with wife and son and considers the North East and Northumberland to be an underestimated sailing area. There is a fine coastline, complete with islands and castles, and if the weather is a bit unfavourable there’s still plenty of level sailing in the River Tyne to enjoy in comfort.                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Over 18,000 sea miles with 500+ days at sea have taken Melvyn, as skipper, to four continents, around Britain and across Biscay to the Med and back. Norway, Baltic Germany the Orkneys and Scottish Islands have also been explored. You can be nearly sure that he has already made your mistakes at some stage and can sympathise.

We aim to be safe at sea but to learn and enjoy a challenge. A bit of fun too is all part of the scene and a drink in the bar of a new port after a day at sea is a delight to be savoured.

Links

Video Links

Sailing on board Lian in Scotland 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG8i-nMRhIg