005 Degrees West

Pre-course experience	Boat handling to the standard of the Day Skipper practical course
Assumed knowledge	Theory knowledge to the standard of the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore shorebased course, a VHF/SRC certificate and first aid
Minimum duration	2 days including 1 evening
Minimum age	17
Course content	Passage planning, preparation for sea, pilotage, passage making and responsibility as a skipper (daylight hours), use of radar, boat handling, dealing with adverse weather conditions, dealing with emergency situations, night cruising
Ability after the course	Able to undertake more advanced passages by day and night

Further Information

Areas covered during this course are:

Passage planning

You will gain an understanding of the following:

• Victualling
• The importance of identifying ports of refuge
• The publications required
• Strategy
• Customs procedures
• You will be able to calculate the fuel required, including reserve and plan a coastal passage at the end of this session.

Preparation for sea:

Candidates will be given a full understanding of safety equipment required for offshore passages, prepare a motor cruiser for sea and give an effective safety briefing.

Pilotage:

Ensure that candidates are fully aware of the limitations of GNSS in pilotage and the importance of tidal considerations.

At the end of this session you will be confident to prepare a passage plan taking into consideration soundings, transits, clearing bearings, back bearings, buoyage and port or harbour regulations by day or by night.

Passage making and responsibility as a skipper (Daylight hours)

This session covers the importance and significance of meteorological trends, crew welfare, safety and control on passage.

Candidates will gain confidence and can take charge of a motor cruiser and direct the crew, organise the navigational, deck work and domestic duties on board, organise watch keeping and integrate the use of traditional and electronic aids to navigation.

Radar/AIS:

Briefing on the knowledge, uses and limitations of AIS and understanding the advantages and limitation of radar.

Boat Handling:

Overview on the characteristics of various hull forms and propellor configurations.

Candidates will be able to control the boat effectively in a confined space, including all berthing an un-berthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide.

Demonstrate berthing and un-berthing a twin engine boat on a single engine with lines.

Demonstrate a practical understanding of power and trim tabs.

Adverse weather conditions:

This session covers the action to be taken in rough weather, the importance of boat control in waves and positioning to minimise the risk of injury, preparing for heavy weather and handing in strong winds and also navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility.

Emergency situations:

An overview on how a vessel may assist in a search.

This session will provide an understanding in how to react in the following situations:

• Actions to be taken when abandoning to a life raft, during helicopter and lifeboat rescues
• What to do in a medical emergency
• Towing and being towed
• How to issue distress signals by all available means in an emergency, including distress flares and a VHF radio
• You will be proficient in recovering a man overboard dummy by day and night in all conditions at the end of this session

Night cruising:

On completion of this session you will be able to take charge of a motor cruiser at night including entering and leaving a harbour and be able to demonstrate the ability to keep a proper lookout and identify lit marks and nominated positions by night.

If you require further information about this course, contact Phil on +44 7971 546378