As an island race it's inevitable that there's a long tradition with sailing in the UK. Sailing helped form the Empire, developed international trade and played a part in the industrial revolution which is easily overlooked. Sailing may be in our blood but that does not mean that we are natural sailors.
But then, we're not natural pilots either. For many years it has been more economical for aspiring pilots to go to Spain or Florida for their flying training because the weather in the UK means that too many training days are lost and so the costs of training shoot up. It's exactly the same with sail training in the UK; you would have to choose your dates and locations very carefully in order not to suffer from any cancellations due to the weather.
So why not book a week's sailing in Greece to guarantee sail training in the sunshine? There are wonderful sailing areas in the Ionian and Aegean seas where the weather is warm and the wind blows every afternoon. What's more, Greek hospitality is legendary and adds to the week's enjoyment.
There are regular Day Skipper practical courses available with the aim of giving you the skills necessary to skipper a yacht. Living on board a sailing yacht for a week gives you plenty of opportunity to take charge on short passages under instruction with the knowledge that you'll receive plenty of advice and help from your instructor. The syllabus is comprehensive and concentrates on pilotage, navigation and boat handling under both sail and power. You will also improve your sail setting and deck work while developing your knowledge and understanding of seamanship, meteorology, safety issues and the inevitable 'rules of the road'.
With your instructor's assistance, you'll be able to plan and execute coastal passages that extend into the night and thus have the chance to learning how to navigate after dark. This part of the training includes leaving and entering a harbour at night, with special considerations for pilotage plans and identifying marks at night. Believe me, there's nothing quite like the magical wonders of being at sea at night in Greece.
Because you are living on a yacht, there's plenty of time for your instructor to go through the 'nitty gritty' of seamanship. This includes explaining items of maintenance and repair work, daily and weekly maintenance of marine engines and the importance of accurate victualling for the crew.
The Day Skipper course also covers some of the 'what if' emergency situations such as man overboard and understanding which distress flare to use in a particular situation. You'll also get to grips with sending a distress message over the radio, how and when to deploy the life raft as well as setting up a tow and the procedures to expect during a helicopter rescue.
What could be better than learning to skipper a sailing yacht in Greece? One week with an expert who will introduce and assist you through a range of sailing experiences is an opportunity not to be missed for anyone who wants to improve their sailing skills and gain an internationally recognised qualification at the end of the course.
But then, we're not natural pilots either. For many years it has been more economical for aspiring pilots to go to Spain or Florida for their flying training because the weather in the UK means that too many training days are lost and so the costs of training shoot up. It's exactly the same with sail training in the UK; you would have to choose your dates and locations very carefully in order not to suffer from any cancellations due to the weather.
So why not book a week's sailing in Greece to guarantee sail training in the sunshine? There are wonderful sailing areas in the Ionian and Aegean seas where the weather is warm and the wind blows every afternoon. What's more, Greek hospitality is legendary and adds to the week's enjoyment.
There are regular Day Skipper practical courses available with the aim of giving you the skills necessary to skipper a yacht. Living on board a sailing yacht for a week gives you plenty of opportunity to take charge on short passages under instruction with the knowledge that you'll receive plenty of advice and help from your instructor. The syllabus is comprehensive and concentrates on pilotage, navigation and boat handling under both sail and power. You will also improve your sail setting and deck work while developing your knowledge and understanding of seamanship, meteorology, safety issues and the inevitable 'rules of the road'.
With your instructor's assistance, you'll be able to plan and execute coastal passages that extend into the night and thus have the chance to learning how to navigate after dark. This part of the training includes leaving and entering a harbour at night, with special considerations for pilotage plans and identifying marks at night. Believe me, there's nothing quite like the magical wonders of being at sea at night in Greece.
Because you are living on a yacht, there's plenty of time for your instructor to go through the 'nitty gritty' of seamanship. This includes explaining items of maintenance and repair work, daily and weekly maintenance of marine engines and the importance of accurate victualling for the crew.
The Day Skipper course also covers some of the 'what if' emergency situations such as man overboard and understanding which distress flare to use in a particular situation. You'll also get to grips with sending a distress message over the radio, how and when to deploy the life raft as well as setting up a tow and the procedures to expect during a helicopter rescue.
What could be better than learning to skipper a sailing yacht in Greece? One week with an expert who will introduce and assist you through a range of sailing experiences is an opportunity not to be missed for anyone who wants to improve their sailing skills and gain an internationally recognised qualification at the end of the course.