Watchkeeper/Flotilla Skipper Syllabus

Learn to navigate
Learn the rules of the road
Take command of the yacht
Have fun and go night sailing

Watchkeeper Course Overview

The IYT Watchkeeper syllabus is set to give you a broad range of knowledge required to take command of the boat in fair weather, in daylight hours in sight of land. It covers all the subjects required to prepare the boat, plan the passage, instruct the crew and command the vessel at sea.

The syllabus separates theory and practical instruction and subjects covered in theory are then put into practice in the next practical session on a yacht. The course includes at least one night out at sea under way where ships lights and buoyage lights can be experienced.

During the crew course you will cover and log at least 130 Sea Miles on a variety of yachts.

IYT Watchkeeper course summary

Yacht sailing course for those with Crew qualification and some sea experience
5 day full time course consisting of 30% class and 70% sailing
One overnight sailing cruise on a night sailing passage to a remote Tropical island
Become a competent, safe and useful watch keeper or be competent to take command of a flotilla sailing yacht in the company of la lead yacht with competent captain.

The goal of the IYT Watchkeeper course is:

"Be an active crew member and leader of a watch on board an auxiliary powered sailing Yacht up to a maximum length of 80 ft /24 meters), worldwide in all likely conditions at any time night or day and....

To be a responsible flotilla skipper on an auxiliary powered sailing vessel up to a maximum length of 50 ft /15 meters and its crew, with a flotilla leader, within sight of land, in fair weather and daylight hours".

Watchkeeper course Prerequisites

Candidates should have completed the IYT International Crew Certificate or show evidence of successful completion of prior similar training courses provided by an accepted and accredited body.

What will I learn?

This course assumes that you know how a sailing yacht works already and this course covers all the subjects that will enable you to be a useful watch keeper in command of a group of yacht crew by day and night and those skills required to be in command of a flotilla yacht sailing in company with others under the command of a competent flotilla leader. During the five days you will learn....

The responsibilities of the watch keeper and the delegated authority of the captain
How to plot a course and instruct his crew member on the passage hazards and undertake such a passage by day or night
A good knowledge of marine first aid
A good knowledge on the rules associated with collision avoidance
The commands and responses expected to be given to the crew

What sort of qualification will I be awarded

Watchkeeper course Syllabus

Introduction

Importance of taking command of the watch
Brief your crew and answer questions
Ensure they are rested and fit for duty
Ensure they have adequate food and sleep
Be prepared to call the Captain if in doubt.

Nautical Knowledge

Naval Architecture
Centre of Effort
Centre of Lateral resistance
Lee Helm, Weather helm, Balance helm
Hydrodynamic lift

Ropes and Rope work

Types of ropes, qualities, advantages and uses
Learn to tie an know the use of the following knots:
- round turn and two half hitches, clove hitch, figure of eight stop knot bowline, reef knot, rolling hitch and sheet bend.

Basic Rules of the Road

Study Rules 4-19
Collision avoidance, lights, shapes and sounds afloat
Identification of collision targets
Actions required by stand on and give way vessels

Introduction to Weather

Weather identification, squall recognition, line squalls
Visibility issues
Cold weather, hot weather
Lee shore

Navigation

Students will plan all the details of an actual passage of a period including night sailing to be carried out during the following practical session including:

Course consideration of hazards, tidal gates, daylight hours etc.
Waypoints located and plotted
Bearings calculated for each waypoint including allowance for variation
Distance between way points
Time to reach each waypoint at estimated average speed
Total journey time
Expected tidal currents during the passage
Expected wind during the passage
Calculate probable impact of current and wind direction on proposed course and journey time
Estimated position plotting

Charts and Compass

Chart symbols
Light identification
Leading lights
Plotting courses and position
True North - Magnetic North
Variation and Deviation errors
Course, Track, Bearing and Heading
Tides - Tide Tables, Currents, rip tides, tidal gates
Electronic aids to navigation.

Sails and Sail Handling

Reefing systems
Furling systems
Sail selection, battened mainsail, storm sails, spinnaker, Genoa, ghoster, screecher etc
Decision to reef or unreef
Balance the boat
Sail Trimming

Boat handling under sail/power

Effects of wind, tide and currents
Commands to crew for all basic maneuvers
Man overboard (MOB)
Anchors and Anchoring

First Aid

All following topics are discussed together with the recommended remedy for first aid provider. Substantial review of treatment for cuts, bleeding, broken bones, heart attack, stroke, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, bites, eye injuries, near drowning, choking.

Additional practical

On the practical section each student will take the role of Watchkeeper for a portion of an extended cruise.

Vessel safety checks

Hull and Rig Checks
Machinery and systems checks
Instrument checks
Safety equipment checks
Spare tools and equipment
Fuel and water - capacity and state
Provisions, menus, galley equipment
Course plan lodged with responsible person

Sails and sail handling

Slab Reefing, furling reefing - in mast reefing
Storms sails and their advantages
Spinnaker, MPS and poling out

Sailing Vessel Handling Skills

Helming
Tacking and gibing with crew
Coming alongside under power with crew
Pickling up a mooring with crew
Heave to
Anchoring and retrieving
Short handed sailing
Safe haven
Sea room
Leeward shoreline
Heavy weather issues
MOB, anchoring, pick up a mooring buoy