Whether you are looking to get your commercial MCA/RYA Yachtmaster Ocean or your recreational RYA Yachtmaster Ocean, this voyage will allow you to gain more valuable offshore and ocean experience. On top of that it will be a great ocean adventure and learning experience. Our RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Instructor will help you learn anything you need to know to expand your experience and skill level
What are the details?
12 Day Lord Howe Island Return . This cruise consists of a passage aboard one of our fully equipped ocean going yachts and is ideal for those who wish to sample blue water cruising first hand. After a period of passage planning and preparation this exciting blue water adventure sets sail bound for spectacular Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. Ideal for those of you want to practice celestial navigation at sea or need to undertake a 600nm passage navigated by sextant to qualify for the Yachtmaster Ocean. Or build your offshore sea miles and experience ocean sailing at its best! Experience everything an ocean passage has to offer from watch systems to cooking at sea and plenty of time to work on your helming and sail trim .
When you get their have 2-3 days to explore the island and all it glory.
Price includes all food & accommodation whilst onboard, GST, RYA log book and certificate.
What will I learn?
- Passage planning
- Victualling
- Celestial navigation by day and night
- Crew management and command
- Practice pilotage
- Accessing local knowledge
- Accessing weather information
- Understanding sky signs
- Ocean currents
- Ocean meteorology
- Sun, moon, planet and star sights and the use of other navigational aids including GPS
- related to living aboard an ocean passage
What do I bring?
Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, bathing suit, a warm jumper, change of clothes (minimal wardrobe needed), towel, sleeping bag and pillow, spray jacket, toilet kit and any personal medication you may require all packed in a flexible soft bag.
You must have completed the RYA Ocean shorebased course to fully understand and get the maximum from this qualifying passage. Practical ability to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore level is highly recommended. Candidates should hold a HF/VHF Radio Operator’s Certificate and a Senior 1st Aid certificate.
During the course your instructor will cover subjects such as watch keeping, deck work, sail trim and how to cope in emergency situations. Improve your understanding of navigation, from the basics through to advance coastal hopping techniques.
A skipper is totally responsible for the management of a yacht, so the course could include meteorology, basic engine checks, passage planning, preparing the yacht for sea, and rules of the road. In addition night sailing will be experienced to give you a taste of sailing in the dark out of sight of land.
By the end of this specially designed program, you the Skipper, will have a better understanding of your own parameters, you will have a deeper understanding of the skills and techniques required to make you more confident allowing you to be a safer and smarter skipper.
‘Having done all the theory up to RYA Yachtmaster Offshore, I then turned to John to accompany on my ocean qualifier from Brisbane to Port Villa – principally to provide a confidence factor for my first ocean passage. My seamanship improved dramatically, the theory became reality and the desire to tackle more oceans increased.
As a classic baby-boomer retiree trying to pack years of experience into a compressed time frame so that dreams can be realized with maximum safety and enjoyment, my association with John and Sunshine Sailing Australia has been indispensable [this is, apart from his ability to eat hearty meals in gale force conditions!] Peter Johnson, ‘Ika-tere’
Previous experience necessary:
No experience necessary, though a good understanding of your own vessel is recommended.
What will I learn?
- Knowledge of boat systems
- Pilotage
- Collision Regulations
- Operating under power
- Sail Trim
- Boat handling
- Basic coastal navigation
- Radio Operation
- Meteorology
What do I bring?
Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, clothing, bedding and any personal medication you require for 12 days.
What about meals?
All meals are provided.