Competent Crew

Competent Crew is the entry-level course of the Royal Yachting Association for those who wish to be active crew members of a sailing yacht.^[1] It is a hands-on course and by the end of the course participants should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day-to-day duties on board.

No pre-course knowledge or experience are assumed. The minimum duration of the course is 5 days. It may be run over 5 days or over 3 weekends or 3 days plus a weekend. For those who have done the Start Yachting course, this course can be completed in 3 or 4 days. There is no minimum age.

Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, sail handling, ropework, fire precautions and fighting, personal safety equipment, man overboard, emergency equipment, meteorology, seasickness, helmsmanship, general duties, manners and customs, rules of the road, dinghies.^[2]

The Competent Crew course is one of a structured series of courses run by the RYA. Additional courses in the series include Day Skipper Shorebased & Practical, Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Shorebased, Coastal Skipper Practical, .^[3][4]

• Day Skipper
• Coastal Skipper
• Yachtmaster

• Rya Sail Cruising Syllabus and Logbook. Royal Yachting Association. 13 September 2002. ISBN 978-0901501875. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
• Competent Crew. John Wiley & Sons. 29 May 1997. ISBN 978-1898660323. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
• Competent Crew. Adlard Coles Nautical. 30 November 2000. ISBN 978-0713654370. Retrieved 13 April 2013.

• Royal Yachting Association