Snowboards – Wakeboards – Skateboards

The International Recreational Crew Certificate is divided into 6 modules, module 2 gets us under way and you will be learn about safety on board a boat and the use of the life raft and first aid kit, fire extinguishers, flares, life jackets and safety harnesses. What clothing and footwear is suitable for the varying conditions met while sailing. Seasickness and it’s symptoms, cause and prevention. How various equipment works including: battery selector switch, bilge pumps, cabin lights, cooker & butane/propane gas, heads and water pumps together with general housekeeping rules. You will learn a very basic theory of how a diesel engine works and maintenance procedures such as checking the level of the oil, changing the oil, changing filters, ensuring the flow of cooling water to the engine and how to change impellors. You will be taught how to keep a good and effective lookout, which should be maintained at all times, while under way. You will take a look at basic navigation, course plotting, nautical charts, safe passage conditions, tides and currents and weather forecasts.

On the practical side, module 3, you will learn how to coil a line and secure it to a cleat, tie a number of knots and use the winches. You will learn how to secure the boat for sea and then how to leave a berth, once under way you will undertake the duties of a lookout, learn how to hoist and set the sails and while helming the boat go through tack and gybe routines. You will anchor the boat and go through man overboard recovery drill.

Module 4 is theoretical and you will look at the International Regulations for Collision Avoidance or the “rules of the road”. Specifically looking at lights, shapes, and sound signals. You will look at some more sail handling techniques, there is more work with charts and compass and to conclude you will take a look at marine customs, etiquette and manners.

The next practical module includes safety checks and look at the through hull fittings, engine warning lights and alarms and the emergency fuel cut off. You will learn deck seamanship with more docking and mooring routines. More sail work, bending on, hoisting, lowering, reefing mainsails, handling sheets, lines, halyards, outhauls and sail trim. You will learn more skills at the helm, tacking, gybing, sailing a triangular course, sailing a compass course and heaving to.

Module 6 looks at both theory and practise of Dinghy/Tender handling. You will learn the different types of tenders, engines, spares and maintenance and safety equipment. On the practical side you will learn to row, how to move under power, launch and recover and transfer to and from the dinghy to the boat or dock.

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Prepping one's sailboat is essential for enjoying the perfect vacation for sailors cruising along familiar and foreign coastlines. Although outfitting a sailboat with the proper sailboat parts is extremely important, it is also important to equip sailors with efficient navigation tools and safety gear.

Venturing out on the sea for an extended period of time offers both adventures and risks. However, with the proper equipment, some of these risks can be avoided. Specifically, charting a course for one’s journey may be difficult if the sailor is new to the region. Specifically, sailors are utilizing modern sailing navigation technology as it becomes increasingly available.

Aside from popular boat GPS units, improvements in navigation software for PCs have become another favorite in the latest navigation technology. Particularly, Maptech offers software such as the “Chart Navigator Pro” that promises to be easy to use and clear. Its special features include: new GPS planning and navigation software, best cartography, complete coverage on all U.S. coastal areas and major rivers, free chart updates and weather forecasts. Knowing the right course and direction for one’s sailboat is imperative in both safely steering the vessel and reaping all the fun benefits from the sailing vacation.

Although it may be frightening to even conjure up the idea of needing to abandon one’s sailboat, a sailor must be prepared for all emergency situations. For these situations, safety and survival gear such as lifejackets and buoys are required for all sailing vessels. Other sailboat safety gear include: fire extinguishers, first aid kits, safety harnesses, and Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB). With their EPIRBS, ACR Electronics are guaranteed to ensure one's safety and survival when overboard one's sailboat. This tool works as an internal GPS receiver that transmits a sailor’s GPS position and identifier to SARSAT satellites, immediately notifying search and rescue (SAR) forces. Special features include: 100 m GPS position accuracy, FastACQTM GPS engine, provides a GPS acquisition test, a full functional self test of internal circuitry, and battery voltage test, and automatically activates when out of bracket and in the water or can be manually activated. Both safety hardware for sailing (e.g. lifejackets) and technological devices facilitate in aiding a sailor’s survival.

It is very crucial for sailors and their families to be ready for their sailing excursion by not only practicing caution but also by possessing the appropriate sailing tools. With the proper navigation equipment and safety gear, a sailor and his or her family can fully enjoy long vacations out on the sea.