Competent Crew

Our Competent Crew course is designed to give persons the ability to effectively and safely crew on a modern cruising boat.  The course is 5 days long. We highly recommend taking the Start Sailing course prior to this course.

Experience really get to know the boat. Virtually all the course is hands on. You are the crew – without you the sails won’t go up and the boat won’t be steered.

By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day duties on board. You will have also enjoyed some enjoyable and scenic anchorages along the East Coast of Ireland and had an enjoyable holiday.

Syllabus

The course covers the RYA Competent Crew syllabus.

  • Knowledge of sea terms and parts of a boat, her rigging and sails
  • Sail handling
  • Ropework
  • Fire precautions and fighting
  • Personal safety equipment
  • Man overboard
  • Emergency equipment
  • Manners and customs
  • Rules of the road
  • Dinghies & tenders
  • Metrology
  • Seasickness
  • Helmsmanship and sailing
  • General duties

There are two options for the 5-day courses, either Monday to Friday or over two weekends. All courses meet at Dun Laoghaire Marina at 9.30am on first day of course. Course finish times will vary depending on destinations and weather conditions

Our cancellation policy for this course can be viewed here.

To book this course:

Step 1:  Online payment, after which you will receive an email confirmation with a link to an online form.

Step 2:  Submission of the online form.

Your course booking will only be secured once both steps are completed.

This product is currently out of stock and unavailable.

This course is held on board either our Elan 36 ‘Beaufort Venture’ or our First 36 ‘Lulla Belle’. Both are 36-foot cruising yachts with 6 berths, full kitchen including stove and fridge, as well as toilet and shower facilities.

We provide foul weather waterproofs and lifejackets.

Courses Calendar

Course Date Spaces Left?

Course 9

Friday 6th May - Sunday 15th May

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Course 10

Monday 9th May - Friday 13th May

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Course 11

Friday 20th May - Sunday 29th May

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Course 12

Monday 23rd May - Friday 27th May

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Course 13

Monday 30th May - Friday 3rd June

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Course 14

Saturday 4th June - Sunday 12th June

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Course 15

Friday 17th June - Sunday 26th June

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Course 16

Monday 20th June - Friday 24th June

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Course 17

Friday 1st July - Sunday 10th July

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Course 18

Monday 4th July - Friday 8th July

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Course 19

Friday 15th July - Sunday 24th July

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Course 20

Monday 18th July - Friday 22nd July

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Course 21

Friday 29th July - Sunday 7th August

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Course 22

Monday 1st August - Friday 5th August

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Course 23

Friday 12th August - Sunday 21st August

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Course 24

Monday 15th August - Friday 19th August

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Course 25

Friday 26th August - Sunday 4th September

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Course 26

Monday 29th August - Friday 2nd September

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Course 27

Friday 9th August - Sunday 18th September

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Course 28

Monday 12th September - Friday 16th September

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Course 29

Friday 23rd September - Sunday 2nd October

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Course 30

Monday 26th September - Friday 30th September

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Course 31

Friday 7th October - Sunday 16th October

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Course 32

Monday 10th October - Friday 14th October

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Course 33

Friday 21st October - Sunday 30th October

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Course 34

Monday 24th October - Friday 28th October

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    Reviews

      star rating  Having done a few courses with the INSS over the summer of 2023, and some sailing on the Mediterranean, doing the Competent Crew course with others who were doing the... read more

      Maps57686967283
      August 20, 2023

      star rating  Firstly, Jess (our instructor) was amazing! I was a bit nervous starting this course as I didn't know what to expect but Jess made it so easy to understand everything... read more

      1V426
      September 12, 2022

      star rating  Excellent experience all round. Best of all was how real every dimension was approached, from sailing as a theoretical and practical activity, with complexity and simplicity in balance, to great... read more

      bobsS9026OX
      January 21, 2024