Skills Improvement

charts Finishing one RYA course is not usually sufficient to prepare you for a course at the next level up. Hands on experience is invaluable and what counts, above a certificate, once you are out on the water, is the knowledge within your skills “toolbox”. These skills accumulate each time you go sailing but sometimes its good to have it in mind to practice certain elements when you go sailing. Because Salana Sailing skippers are all qualified instructors we can offer you a sailing holiday with training so you learn as you holiday.

 

Specific topics

Here are a few potential areas in which you might wish to improve your skills:

Parking is one area where even experienced sailors can find scope to practice – different scenarios, new techniques … smaller spaces! A dedicated boat handling course will give you plenty of time behind the wheel and opportunity to review the key factors that influence how a yacht behaves at slow speed within a confined space.

• Any crew member who can make a yacht sail faster or closer to the wind by just a few tweaks to the sail trim is welcome aboard most boats. Learn the properties of each rope that affects the sail shape and how to tweak to best advantage.

• If you’re considering a Flotilla holiday but feel the need to learn or refresh a few skills first then we can tailor a week to develop the skills required for a flotilla skipper and crew. A flotilla training week won’t bog you down with unnecessary theory but will provide opportunity to practice, among other things, anchoring, stern-to parking, using lazy lines and essential navigation. We can also advise you what to take on flotilla and how to make the most of your holiday.

• If navigation isn’t your strong point then let us help develop your passage planning and pilotage skills whilst you travel around the many harbours of Malta. Charts, GPS, pilot books, hand bearings, waypoints, depth soundings and transits to name just a few of the tools we can use to add to your skills toolbox.

 

Prior Experience

Your level of prior experience is determined by the skillset that you wish to improve – we can teach you the basics through to more advanced techniques.

 

Afterwards

You might wish to consider the RYA Day Skipper Practical course, RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course or RYA/MCA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence following a skills improvement week.

 

Prices

Prices for skills and RYA training courses may be found on the prices page. Please contact us if the sailing experience you have in mind is not listed and we will be happy to discuss your requirements.

 

If you are wanting to improve your skills in a particular area and would like to discuss how we can help please don’t hesitate to contact us.