Courses → Sail Training

Yacht Crew

Course Requirements

Experience required prior training: None
Certification required prior training: None
Minimum age required: 10 years old
Suggested number of training hours: 20 hours (minimum 3 days)
Who can run the training: ISSA Instructor or minimum Offshore Skipper
Who can do the examination: ISSA Instructor or minimum Offshore Skipper
How to submit the application: Only through authorized ISSA school

Skills and knowledge required for a Yacht Crew

Yacht’s construction

1. Knows the basic parts of yacht and what are they designed for:
a. Cockpit
b. Bildge
c. Heads
d. Galley
e. Bow
f. Stern, aft etc.
g. Boom
h. Mast
i. Rigging
j. Haulyards

2. Can operate elementary yacht’s systems:
a. Toilet
b. Gass oven
c. Sink
d. Shower

3. Can fill up the water and diesel tanks

4. Can operate the inboard engine
a. Start it
b. Switch it off
c. Check whether cooling system works
d. Inspection before starting

Line and spring handling

1. Can combine two lines of the same and different diameter
2. Can make:
a. Bowline
b. Fast a line on a cleat
c. Fishermen’s bend
d. Coil mooring lines

3. Can:
a. Hand over
b. Take
c. Make fast on cleat
d. Let go mooring lines

4. Can describe different ways of taking a mooring.

Handling sail sheets and haulyards

1. Can:
a. Set and bring down the sails
b. Reef down and shake off the reefs

Handling fenders

1. Can:
a. Fix them by applying adequate knots
b. effectively operate the manouvering fender

Operating the anchor

1. Can:
a. Prepare anchor for weighing (switches and controls)
b. Operate the windlass (letting out and taking in the chain)

Operating the dinghy

1. Can:
a. Take the dinghy off the deck and pull it in onto the deck
b. Secure the dinghy to the yacht
c. Use paddles effectively
d. Secure the dinghy to the deck

Safety

1. Can:
a. Safely move arround the deck
b. Use the safety equipement
c. Use the distress singalling equipment (pirotechnics, mirror, flags etc.)
d. Use the fire fighting equipment (fire extinguishers – with consideration of various types available, fire

blanket)
e. Apply various methods to make a distress signal (at least 4 methods)

Other skills

1. Can:
a. Keep observation of the sailing area and pass over information about the direction and distance to objects
b. Knows the lights of their own yacht in the night
c. Make adequate signals in fog
d. Effectively hold the helm