Can someone help me with a sailing question?

Basically yeah you do need some qualifications in order to work on a yacht if it is going to be going to sea. These aren't necersarily yachting qualifications but most firms will like you to have your first aid at sea, sea survival and also fire fighting at sea. All of these cost money (around £200 each) and take anything between 1 and 3 days. They would probably like to see you have some knowledge as well so I would advise you to enrol in evening classes and do your RYA Day skipper theory course, which is an introduction to Navigation, Course plotting and rules of the road, you can do this intensively but there is a lot to take in and it can be easier done over a period of time. Once you have done that you could then do an evening class to get your coastal skipper/Yacht master theory which is basically taking you onto the next level, but this can be done once you have a job, most firms will be happy with the day skipper. Once you have this companies will look at you a bit closer as you have shown willing to learn, this is good as you now need to get your sea hours up, I'm not sure how many you have to do for day skipper, but for yacht master you have to do either 1000 or 10000 nautical miles, you can then take your practical test which involves sailing over a day and night and you will have to navigate and skipper the yacht as directed by the examiner. You can get all your miles up by doing a couple of trans-atlantic crossings, however they don't like this so you now have to at least 2 night crossings and they like to see that you've done lots of shorter trips. WHENEVER you go out on a yacht make a note in a log book of where you have sailed to and from, how long it took, weather conditions, the role you played, how many nautical miles the trip was, then get the skipper of the day to sign it, this is your proof of your mileage!! Once you have this you will then be able to take people out sailing, it will take a good couple of years to get there but it's worth it. if you are struggling to get a job next year then why not trya local passenger boat company that does hour long or so cruises, they are often good for a foot in the door and a way of gaining valuable boat handling and mooring experience. whichever way it works for you fella,good luck, it's hard work but worth it.

July - October are the best months to sail in the UK, unless you are kitted out with the best oilies etc, it get's ******* cold the rest of the time. If you're near the Hamble, you're in luck, basically hang around any of the yachting clubs around there, someone is always looking for crew (check out the notice boards in said club - you shouldn't have to pay - if they ask you to pay more than the share of food tell 'em to bog off!). Get some racing experience, it will come in handy and is great fun, with great camraderie before, during and after the race. Read 'Competent Crew' ( if you haven't already done so ) to get an idea of what will be expected of you as a crew member. Finally to chartering... it seems like a nice idea but be warned, your vessel has to conform to MCA standards and be licensed by them. You need a whole swathe of equipment you wouldn't normally need as a bog standard 'taking my mates out for the day' kind of yottie - it can get horrendously expensive to kit out. Rather than save up to put a deposit on a good yacht, buy a house to live in until such time as you can sell the house/flat and put all the money into the yacht. If you're going chartering you won't get a marine mortgage and if you get a good enough yacht, living aboard is far preferable to living ashore... believe me! Hope this helps and best of luck for the future.

Ok, first of all, get your STCW95 qualifications. These encompass sea survival, first aid, fire fighting, and social responsibilities. Being on the South coast, i suggest going to Warsash near Southampton, but if not, contact the RYA for your nearest centre. The best way to get on a yacht (I know, I have done it and am now chief engineer on a very large one!) is to get yourself down to Antibes or Palma between March and May, or St.Maarten in the caribbean in the winter, and start walking the docks asking for work, you may only get day work, but it is all experience. At the same time, contact the crew agencies, email me for details of these. Be prepared for lots of knock backs, and when you do get work, it being bloody hard. Professional yachting, especially chartering is not as easy as it sounds, but there is a lot of money to be made if you go full time. A lot of boats wont consider you if you are only in it part time, and do put a picture of yourself on your CV, which you should be handing out when looking for work. Last of all, there are three categories of work on yachts, deck/stewardess.engineering, I guess with your experience, you will be looking for deck work. One of my mates bought a 70 foot sail yacht thisd season and is now chartering in Croatia, making a packet.

I am a kid and I take sailing lessons in the holidays. Also in Australia...there is a sailing course for people your age that takes place in the holidays ...your holiday is the same as ours. It is in Sydney and you sign up for a two week course and sleep on the yacht. U will have to find the name of it yourself...but if I find it I will get back to u. oh ...my big brother ..age 17 couldn't afford sailing lessons so he worked on a yacht for free in return for sailing lessons.

Belay there mate. You haven't tied a figure of eight in your jib sheet yet? Suggest you spend at least a month sailing dingys. You will find sailing schools on any sailing river. Sail the coast first and keep at it until you don't need to think what to do in a Squall or Force Six. Learn how to read the coast line, first day and then night. Learn the local sand bars, withies etc. Think like a sailor- Get two of everything leading to trouble. Reefing handle, Bilge pump, Compass etc. Dogsbodies and boats? There is no dogsbody singular. Everyone inboard is expected to be one. How to get experience? If you are strong and fit, show intelligence and aptitude, you need no more than someone who is looking for crew. Don't bluff be honest and you won't have any problems. In five years time you will look on chartering in a different light. Oh in case I forget. Be constantly aware of the sea and the glass. That balmy swell will become mountainous waves in 30 minutes.

You have had lots of answers - hope they have not put you off the idea because yes, it means lots of licenses and lots of money. My suggestion is that you go on aswers asking if anyone needs a crew hand, unpaid, to gain experience for what you are planning. I have been doing it for 50 years, chartering, teaching, surveying, atlantic crossing, caribbean cruising, you name it - I have many times needed, and had, lads of your age crew for me on the various boats I have owned and skippered. There are many of us "old salts" and "Master Mariners" who still own and love our boats but need help, we are not so young and active and some times would gladly give lads your age 'hands on' teaching in return for doing some donkey work like boat maintenance. Reply to me if you wish - I may have something to offer you myself.

Look up the RYA . You can take practical lessons and evening classes. You can offer to crew at sailing clubs but beware of skippers who have little knowledge or experience themsleves. Sailing with them can be unsafe. You can on the other hand learn a lot from good ones. You could offer to share expenses on board too. The Ocean Youth Club is also a great place to learn and have a great time. They ocean race as well.

1. you dont need qualifications to crew a yacht, just be keen 2.Join a yacht club 3 go to a marina and ask around if anyone needs crew, put a notice on the clubs notice board.

Do a navigation course a radio course and ultimately yacht master, but above all get some experience "learn the ropes" try dingy sailing the R.Y.A have plenty of courses in many places check them out. The season is coming to an end now so do a couple of courses during the quite time