Start Yacht Sailing (Cruising Level 1) Syllabus

Our Level 1 Cruising course is taught on our tuition yacht in the Greek Ionian. It’s a great introduction to sailing and suits beginners with no experience. It will give pupils a basic understanding of yacht sailing and handling a yacht under sail. The course is 16 hours and generally taken over 2 to 3 days for guests living aboard our tuition yacht or staying at our Vassiliki Beach Club.

We recommend taking the Level 1 and 2 courses together as a complete week-long ‘Start Yachting’ course - whilst living aboard our tuition yacht - so you will have an extra day to practice important yacht handling techniques and yacht manoeuvres. The syllabus below (although not exhaustive) contains many of the things that you will learn.

Practical Course Syllabus

1. Rigging and Wind

• Knowledge of Spars and rigging; parts of the sail and sail controls
• Wind awareness and topographical effects of wind
• Understands: The use of halyards and their associated winches

2. Sailing Technique and Manoeuvres

• Knowledge of: The Four Essentials (sail setting; balance; boat trim; and course made good)
• Understands: Wind awareness afloat, sailing upwind, controlling speed, sailing downwind
• Understands: Tacking – turning the front of the boat through the wind
• Understands: Gybing – turning the back of the boat through the wind, from a training run
• Understands/can perform: Reaching – sailing across the wind
• Understands: The importance of good communication when manoeuvring
• Understands: Stopping the boat - heaving-to

3. Slipping and Coming Alongside

• Knowledge of: The actions to be taken as a crew member when departing or arriving at the yacht’s mooring

4. Ropework

• Knowledge of: Round turn and two half hitches; clove hitch; bowline
• Can tie a figure-eight knot, secure a rope to a cleat; secure a fender to the yacht

5. Clothing and Equipment

• Can use and correctly fit life jackets
• Can use a safety harness if fitted

6. Emergency Equipment and Precautions

• Knowledge of: How cold-water shock can affect a casualty in the water
• Understands: The potential hazards of fuel and gas
• Understands: where safety equipment is stowed and how it is used
• Can perform actions to be taken as a crew member to recover a man overboard (MOB)

Sailing Theory Syllabus

1. Clothing and equipment

• Knowledge of: The importance of personal safety, clothing and buoyancy

2. Sailing Background

• Knowledge of: how to be aware of other water users
• Knowledge of: Basic rules of the road – collision avoidance; power/sail; port/starboard; overtaking boat; windward boat
• Can use visual methods to attract attention

3. Meteorology

• Knowledge of: where to obtain a weather forecast, how to interpret a forecast