International Bareboat Skipper – ICC Certificate Coastal Skipper

Docking is relatively easy to learn, once learnt practice makes perfect, this course will set you up with the correct techniques to bring a yacht into any berthing / alongside situation without stress. We teach techniques to take the stress away and keep your crew and yacht safe.

The course is hands-on over a full day. A 3 hour session as offered by some others is not enough. Emphasis is on short handed or single handed techniques, all controlled from the boat.

Skills covered include:

• Reading the wind and currents
• Benefits of bow in or stern in
• Setting docking lines
• Spring off in tight situations
• Boat handling in close proximity to other yachts
• Fender placement
• Docking practice
• Picking up moorings in heavy weather

MAN OVERBOARD

Man Overboard events are rare, but do occur. It is vital the skipper has some basic techniques and strategy to recover the person efficiently and safely. It is important not to make a bad situation worse.

We cover some basic techniques to address the issue, the manoeuvring required relates to the techniques we use when docking, so both sets of skills are taught on the same day.

This is for someone who is chartering a yacht or Catamaran for a few days to a few weeks, and will cover the types of situations and information you are likely to need for safety and practical day to day use. It is the essential stepping stone to a more involved Navigation Course.

The course is a one day course and is combined with the Night Sailing course. It is broken up into to three sessions, one class room based and the other two on the water. There is some home work to prepare for the course – comprehensive notes supplied. Finishes around 9:30 pm (10:30 pm daylight saving).

COURSE INCLUDES:

• Chart information, what symbols mean and how to interpret
• Using Latitude and Longitude
• Calculating, distance, speed and time
• Plotting a course
• Allowing for currents and drift
• Using transits
• Taking a bearing
• Using electronic charts including Navionics on iPad
• Understanding AIS on Chartplotters (Identifies commercial vessels and registered recreational vessels)

Navigating at night can be challenging and confusing for most sailors. Whether you are on familiar day time cruising ground or a new harbour, we show you how to interpret the many the lights you will encounter.

In busy harbours and closed waters such as Sydney Harbour it can be difficult to spot vessels or essential buoys due to background lights from buildings, roads and other structures.

Taking the time to go out on the Harbour with an experienced instructor will have you safely navigating and making your way.

This course is a one day course and is run in conjunction with Navigation for ICC . There are three sessions: one class room based and two on water. The course finishes around 9:30 pm (10:30 pm daylight saving).

You will receive detailed notes prior to the course and be asked to check some features on the chart we supply we need to look out for. The night takes us under Sydney Harbour Bridge, through the high traffic area of Circular Quay and on out to the heads, using the Eastern Chanel and Shark Island as key reference points. You will be asked to steer the yacht, use the leads on South Head to get a bearing, check the various Cardinal and other marks of importance. You will by the end be able to identify various marks, what they mean and why they are where they are.

This course is an essential part of piloting. (Navigation inside a Harbour)

Covered on the course:

• Marine buoys and lights: types, colours, characteristics
• Using leads to guide you
• Basic chart work (piloting)
• Establishing your position taking bearings
• Lights for different vessels

This session may be completed online at home. The review can take place at the end of day 4. This is available to those who find it hard to get days off work. Call us to explain, as there are some conditions.

Why do I need an ICC?
It is now mandatory to hold a recognised International Certificate of Competency (ICC) if you wish to use a yacht, charter a yacht in certain European countries. It is generally required for the inland and coastal waters of Mediterranean countries. It is strongly advised to check with your charter company as to the qualifications required.

The ICC is a product of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Resolution 40. The ICC provides documentary assurance from one Government to another that the holder meets the levels of competence laid down in Resolution 40.

Detailed information can be found on the IYT web site here

How experienced are your instructors?
Our instructors have cruised the Med, Croatia, Greece, Turkey and France. We are full time instructors and do not have jobs elsewhere. We will not call 3 days prior to a course and cancel due to lack of numbers. If you book a course, we run, (if we didn’t we would be sitting at our dock with nothing to do!) so book with confidence.

I am experienced – do I need a course?
Liquid Edge Sailing School will provide an exam only service.

Be sure you know the Colregs, docking techniques and have crew available to assist. We strongly advise you to purchase the RYA booklet called the ICC Handbook by Rob Gibson, the material in this book forms the basis of the exam.