Thank you for booking your training with Chieftain Training. Please read these details, which will help you get the most from your instruction with us.
You are paying for your instructor by the day and it is worthwhile having everything in place by the time he/she arrives. By filling up with water, fuel, oil and gas in advance you will be able to get more instruction time afloat. We suggest that you also do the victualling (food shopping) before hand. Water can be topped up at marinas during the course if necessary.
Fuel costs and berthing fees are obviously down to yourselves and your Instructor will discuss with you suitable destinations based on your budget. As a guideline, overnight visitors berths for a 36’ motor yacht range in price from £20 to £45 per night depending upon location and facilities. You will need to provide your Instructor with a berth onboard or accommodation ashore if commuting daily is not a viable option. You will also need to provide meals for the duration of the course.
If your course is following an RYA syllabus then the awarding of certificates is at the discretion of your Instructor and our Principal. A full debrief will be given at the end of the course. Do not forget to bring you logbook if you would like your course recorded.
WEATHER
When faced with less desirable weather (rain/cold), training may still go ahead. If in the Instructors opinion weather conditions, safety or any other consideration renders it imprudent to slip a berth or mooring then the Instructors decision not to depart is over-riding. Fog, light winds and heavy weather are part and parcel of the sports of sailing and powerboating. While heavy weather may limit our teaching area, it is very unusual for us not to be able to continue the coaching. We cannot offer refunds based on the weather, however we may consider postponement if we feel that high winds or visability will make your course unsafe. If we do offer/agree a postponement based on a forecast, this should be at least 24 hours before our Instructor leaves to join you, not part way through a day.
SAFETY KIT
Beneath is a comprehensive list for your reference. It is your responsibility to equip your boat for its intended area of operation. If you are in doubt about any details then do not hesitate to contact us for advice. Alternatively your instructor on the day can offer advice and will be happy to accompany you to your local chandlery. If the instructor considers the boat un-seaworthy they may have to cancel instruction.
INSURANCE
While the centre carries an extensive public liability policy it is clearly your responsibility to insure your craft. If you have not already then you will need to contact your insurance company and explain that an instructor will be on board to teach you and/or your family. Most Insurance companies are happy to add a “training” indemnity free of charge as it is in their interest for you to undergo training. As this is own boat tuition our Instructor is not your skipper but rather a guest on board. He/she will therefore offer advice but the final decision lays with you, the skipper.
LAUNCH & RECOVERY BY TRAILER
If your powerboat (or PWC) requires launching we can cover this as part of the course, please arrive at the centre (or alternative pre arranged site) with your boat/ski on the trailer on the back of your vehicle. Although we will not drive you vehicle we can provide tips on towing and show you how to launch without putting the vehicle in the sea. You will need a lock for your trailer and some change for car parking at the launch site/slipway.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT LIST
(This list does not claim to be exhaustive)
X=Required R=Recommended
| ITEM | PWC (Jet Ski) |
RIB | Open Powerboat |
Yacht / Workboat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifejackets | X | X | X | |
| Impact Vest | X | |||
| Goggles & wetsuit/dry suit | X | |||
| Wetsuit boots | X | |||
| Helmet | X | |||
| Foul Weather Gear + Footwear | R | R | R | |
| Anchor, chain and warp | X | X | X | X |
| Mooring warps | X | X | X | X |
| Fenders | R | R | X | X |
| Auxiliary engine or paddles | X | X | ||
| Flare pack | X | X | X | |
| First Aid Kit and Thermal Protective Aid | X | X | X | X |
| Fog Horn | R | R | X | |
| Whistle | X | X | X | R |
| Sponge or bailer | X | X | X | X |
| Navigation Lights | R | R | X | |
| Fixed or hand held compass | R | X | X | X |
| GPS | R | X | X | X |
| VHF or DSC set (fixed or hand held) | X | X | X | |
| Hand Held VHF or Mobile Phone in Aqua Pack | X | R | R | R |
| Air pump / bellows | X | |||
| 15- 20m line (if trailer launching) | X | X | X | |
| Tender and oars or engine (with fuel) | R | |||
| Cooking utensils and crockery | X | |||
| Spare fuel and funnel | X | X | X | X |
| Spare gas bottle | X | |||
| Spare water | R | X | ||
| Spare anchor (kedge) | R | R | X | |
| Nav tools, pencils, paper etc | R | R | X | |
| Ships papers and manuals | R | R | X | |
| Charts, Almanac etc. | R | R | X | |
| Winch handles (sailing only) | X | |||
| Binoculars | R | R | ||
| Boat hook | R | X | ||
| Deck brush and buckets | X | X | X | |
| Stirrup pump | R | R | X | |
| Life raft | R | R | R | |
| Knife | X | X | X | X |
| Fire Blanket | X | |||
| Fire Extinguishers(s) | X | X | X | X |
| Torch | X | X | X | X |
| Kill Chord (and spare) | X | X | X | |
| Basic engine tool kit | X | X | X | X |
| Manual starting chord (for outboard engines) | X | X | ||
| Engine spares (belts, impellor, oil, filters) | X | X | X | X |
The list above is very generic so your particular boat may require other items. Further information is available from the RYA Boat Safety Handbook (Ref:C8) which lists the RYA recommended equipment for sail and motor.