The course was a very useful combination of sailing tuition and some theory, including a very interesting introduction to chart work and weather charts by our instructor, which was actually in addition to the syllabus requirements. Apart from learning how to plot a course, calculate the distance to a destination, and read weather charts, we also did some extremely useful practice in knots during an afternoon when we were kept in the marina by strong winds – with me accomplishing a bow line for the first time in my brief sailing history!!.

Four complete weekends are set aside for the course to ensure a minimum of three weekends sailing which is required to cover the ISA Competent Crew syllabus. The training takes place on Glenans’ cruising boat, a Beneteau First 31.7 yacht, “Rhythm in Blue”.

It was really fabulous to begin and end the day by motoring and on one occasion sailing on a run up the Liffey, keeping a polite distance from Irish Ferries and other rather large sea going vessels!!

It’s a great buzz to be sailing effectively in the middle of the city!!! We were extremely lucky to have some glorious sunny, fresh, breezy weather, which made for great cruising. Dublin and the bay looked really beautiful as we sailed at different times around Howth Head, up towards Dalkey Island or to Dun Laoghaire and back.

We sailed for a period of around 6-7 hours on each session stopping for lunch in either Howth or Dun Laoghaire and in the process having plenty of practice sailing or motoring on to and off a mooring. Lunch was prepared in the galley of Rhythm in Blue by one of the crew in turn on different days. We also got plenty practice leaving from and tying the boat up safely at the pontoon with the appropriate warps - on one occasion taking a berth at Dun Laoire and at the beginning and end of each day at Poolbeg Marina.

We had plenty of practice tacking and gibing through the points of sail, reefing and changing headsails while under sail, retrieving (or not!) “men” overboard and steering by compass around different parts of Dublin Bay.

We ended the day, tired but satisfied, after leaving Rhythm in Blue ship-shape - at the Poolbeg Marina which is a very nice friendly and welcoming club with some very good Guinness and other refreshments with which to finish the day!

This course is great way to re-enforce the skills our SID skippers so patiently teach us during the summer sailing season aboard the trusty Ruffian!!! It makes for a good extension to the cruising season and has certainly given myself and Gary great enthusiasm for the next season to arrive.

Note: While this course provides an extremely thorough coverage of the Competent Crew syllabus, Glenans Sailing Club is not currently in a position to actually provide an ISA Competent Crew certificate on completion of the course. This situation may change for future courses.