RYA Competent Crew

Course syllabus

Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails

• Understand orders given concerning the sailing and day-to-day running of the boat

Sail handling

• Bending on, setting, reefing and handling of sails. Use of sheets and halyards and their associated winches.

Rope work

• Understands:
• How to tie a rolling hitch, single and double sheet bend, and knows their correct use
• Can:
• Use sheets and halyards and their associate winches
• Handle ropes, including coiling, stowing, securing to cleats and single and double bollards
• Handle warps
• Tie the following knots and knows their correct use: figure-of-eight, clove hitch, bowline, round turn and two half hitches, and reef knot

Fire precautions and fighting

• Awareness of the hazards of fire and the precautions necessary to prevent fire.
• Knowledge of the action to be taken in the event of a fire.

Personal safety equipment

• Understands and complies with rules for the wearing of safety harnesses, life jackets and personal buoyancy aids.

Man overboard

• Understands the actions to be taken to recover a man overboard and how cold water shock can affect a casualty in the water 

Emergency equipment

• Can operate distress flares and knows when they should be used.
• Understands how to launch and board a life raft.

Manners and customs

Understands accepted practice with regard to

• Use of burgees and ensigns, prevention of unnecessary noise or disturbances to the harbour including courtesies to other craft berthed alongside.

Rules of the road

• Is able to keep an efficient lookout at sea.

Dinghies

Understands:

• The loading rules and complies with them
• The use and importance of a kill cord
• Safety equipment for tenders

Meteorology

• Awareness of forecasting services and where to obtain a forecast and knowledge of the Beaufort scale.

Helmsmanship and sailing

• Understands the basic principles of sailing and can steer and trim sails on all points of sailing. Can steer a compass course, under sail and power.

General duties

• Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel.