Cruising crew

The Cruising Crew course follows on from the Learn to sail Keelboats course. As this is a level 2 course, completion of a level one Learn to Sail course is a pre-requisite. The course focuses on seamanship skills – the skills needed to go cruising on board a yacht. It will allow you to develop a better understanding of seamanship, and introduces the wonderful world of cruising in a yacht.

The course forms part of the Yachting NZ National Sailing Scheme and on completion participants will be awarded a YNZ National Sailing Scheme Level 2 Basic Skills (Cruising Crew) Certificate.

Modules

New skills taught include:

  • coming alongside
  • anchoring
  • picking up moorings
  • making fast/towing a dinghy
  • basic chart work
  • sail handling
  • preparing a boat for sea
  • safety at sea
  • engine maintenance
  • night sailing

Upcoming courses

CC 249: Saturdays: December 2nd 9am-4pm, 9th 9am-4pm, 16th 3pm-10pm afternoon and Night Sail. $790. Fully booked, please email ocean@rpnyc.org to be added to the waitlist.

CC 250: Sundays: January 14th 9am-4pm, 21st 9am-4pm, 28th afternoon and Night Sail 3pm-10pm. $790. Fully booked, please email ocean@rpnyc.org to be added to the waitlist.

CC 251: Sundays: February 4th 9am-4pm, 11th 9am-4pm, 18th afternoon and Night Sail 3pm-10pm. $790. Two seats available.

To book, please select the course start date and number of people attending from the book now box on this page.  If you need help check out our booking help.  Please note all courses are subject to minimum booking numbers to run.

If these course times don’t suit please email ocean@rpnyc.org.nz to be notified when new courses are scheduled.

What to wear

This is a hands on course that spends lots of time on the water. For on going out on the water dress warmly, even in summer. A wool or polypropylene base layer is a good idea, with at least one more warm layer on top. We provide you with a good quality set of breathable waterproof gear (pants and jacket) along with a lifejacket. A hat and sunglasses are also a good idea. Make sure that you have a strap or similar so that you don’t lose these overboard!

Weather information

We are subject to the joys and challenges of Wellington’s wind and weather. Course components are flexible and instructors will use their best judgement to adjust the course components to suit the weather. If the weather is unsuitable for sailing, often we can get ahead on some of the classroom based sessions. On rare occasions where we have sustained bad weather we may have to reschedule a session.