Yachtmaster Offshore Successes
We are delighted to report 2 more candidates have passed the ISA Yachtmaster Offshore Practical exam this year - Ivan Alcorn and Eoin Christiansen, to add to the growing list of South East Cruising School trained Yachtmasters. Others who we know about in recent years are - Jim Grey (now an Instructor), John Ahern, Colm Mac Fhionnlaigh, Ciaran Doyle, Nicky Keogh, Tommy Mc Aulay and Ansis Dimiters.
This Certificate is the highest practical cert available to Yachtsmen wishing to sail or motor vessels in offshore waters (YM Ocean is mainly a Celestial Navigation Cert) and is due reward for building up experience with over 2500 miles logged and your ability to take full charge of a vessel up to 24 metres in length.
Saltee Dog
Sail train on our safe and comfortable yacht Saltee Dog, from Wicklow to all corners of the Irish Sea and beyond................ We offer courses from beginner to Yachtmaster Prep. in the ISA Cruising Scheme. Whatever level you are at, we should be able to match your training needs. Check out details of Courses offered above or see our Schedule for dates pencilled in. If a particular date suits your needs, drop us an e-mail or phone us now. Remember, Toesun usually comes too.
Government "Safety" Warning
An unfortunate situation has been developing thanks to our Department of Transport (yes, its not Marine - only in Ireland!). The bureaucrats in the Dept. have decided in their wisdom to include ISA Yachtmaster Sail and Motor (practical) Course Providers under the Passenger Boat Regulations. The effect of this is to require leisure boats comply with specifications designed essentially for steel Ferries and Small ships. For whatever reason, many of these are not practical provisions for GRP leisure craft and in some respects, compromise safety, rather than enhance it.
The net effect is that schools who cannot (or are unwilling to) comply with these over-the-top regulations are effectively out of business (incl. this school). This has the knock-on consequence of putting 5 or 6 schools off the water (c50% of the industry) and seriously reduces the number of training places available to the public. This further reduces safety in our already very well regulated sport.
The ISA is working hard on our behalf to work out a compromise with the Dept. but its an uphill battle dealing with people whose only view point is to be seen to cover their backsides and not listen to the people on the ground who are dealing with these issues professionally.
South East Cruising School, along with the other Yachtmaster Course providers affected, cannot be sure whether they will be able to provide courses this coming season.
If you have any contacts in a position of political power, you might bring this issue to their attention.
Total Lunar Eclipse
A one time student of South East Cruising School, Michael Hogan, took these pictures of the total eclipse on March 3rd from the deck of Wicklow Sailing Club.
Having being privileged to witness the total solar eclipse in 1999 off the Scillies, this was also very spectacular, thanks to the clear skies for most of it.
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Summer 2007
Due to my UCD studies and Wicklow Sailing Club responsibilities, Summer 2007 has been rather quiet for scheduled trips and with the weather we've had, thats been a blessing. Most of our trips have been weekends with a few 5 day or specials thrown in for good measure. We've been to Carlingford, Caernarvon, Porth Dinllaen, Portmadoc (by taxi) and Lambay Island as well as Dublin/Arklow.
Have a look at these photos to get a flavour of life aboard a Sail Training boat - thanks to Ken O Toole.
At time of writing, there are only a couple of spaces left on the weekend 15/16 September, all other courses are now full.
Courses in 2007
Check our schedule for details of Weekend and 5 Day courses. Also we can assess you for the I.C.C. if you are planning to charter in the Med. Own boat and Exam preparation training are other options.
Sunshine Sailing In the Aegean
(S.S.I.A.)
Full
Sunshine cruising off Tenerife Jan 2004
Sail Train over 2 weeks in the Aegean (Greece/Turkey) this coming August - probably ex- Athens - Kusidasi - Athens: the course requires a minimum of 4 persons to go ahead. Cost will be c.€1200 pp (excl flights) and the proposed dates are Aug 18 to Sep 1st 2007. Enquiries should be made asap, please. Only suitable for persons with some previous sailing experience. This is an ideal option for you to spend your SSIA and treat yourself to a real sunshine adventure.
Read about previous trips in Croatia and the Canaries
(see schedule for regular courses running from Wicklow - see note opposite)
Tough times from BA to Rio
The life of a Yachtmaster Instructor has its share of ups and downs, and this year it was the ups that came my way. I was asked to help my pal and also one of my star pupils, Ansis Dimiters, to graduate from 1st Mate on board the luxury 72' ketch Celtic Spirit of Fastnet to being its professional skipper. Having already sailed with the owner/ skipper Michael Holland to Greenland and Iceland including a dip above the Arctic Circle and then down through the Atlantic to Antarctica over 4 years, he had a serious amount of experience and miles under his belt.
I am happy to report that he has taken to the role of professional skipper with flying colours and by the way, I joined the boat in Buenos Aires in late March, helped get her to Piriopolis in Uruguay for some necessary maintainence and on up the Brazilian coast to Paraty (near Rio) and then had a fabulous 36 hours exploring the wonderfully diverse city of Rio de Janeiro.
Tough times indeed spending 3 weeks on a luxury yacht with all mod cons, a young and able crew, including some talented musicians and to cap it all a wonderful 36 hours getting a handle on Rio. Well done Ansis. Anyone else out there needing to train up a skipper, keep me in mind (especially if the boat is in the Caribbean, Thailand or South Pacific).