Many people learn to sail yachts as racing crew or on the occasional yacht charter...
...then they become boat owners... and realise they need to learn a few additional skills to be fully competent.
SmartBoating's On-Water Workshops are specifically designed for existing yacht owners.
The courses are practical, bite-sized sessions conducted on your own yacht.
We give you a little theory where it's needed, but we concentrate mostly on learning by doing.
You'll be amazed how much an intensive course will move your understanding forwards...with the result?...
... you enjoy your time out on the water more.
You can choose just one workshop, 5 or all 12...
Here's the Workshop Format
Each On-Water Workshop (except VHF and Offshore Courses) is a three hour, practical course with course notes provided for reference.
The courses are conducted on you own yacht or catamaran on Pittwater and Sydney Harbour. You can learn alone, as a couple or arrange a group of up to 4 people.
There are 12 for you to choose from
Pre-requisites
Our On-Water Workshops are specifically designed for existing yacht owners. They are conducted on your own boat... so what you learn is completely relevant to you!
We expect your boat to be in good working order so we can instruct with confidence.
If you're not already a boat owner take a look at our Bronze, Silver and Gold Learn to Sail courses which will help you progress from beginner to confident yacht skipper or any stage in between.
What Happens and What's Provided
- 3 hour (except VHF and Offshore Courses) confidence building, practical course with SmartBoating instructor
- Course notes
- SmartBoating Certificate of Completion
Cost
One On-Water Workshop costs $399 - bring along your partner, the family or some friends to share the cost (NB Max group size is 4)
We offer 5 Workshops for $1599 - 1 course free
And all 10 Workshops for $3599 - 2 courses free
The Marine Operators VHF Certificate of Proficiency (MROVCP) course costs $245 per person
The Offshore Sailing Course costs $699 - you'll need to cater for yourselves and your instructor too please.
More Detail
Want to be able to anchor confidently and quickly?
Want to have a good sleep at anchor knowing your yacht will stay put?
Our Anchoring with Confidence On-Water Workshop covers
- Choosing a spot
- Pre-anchoring checks
- Communication between crew and helm
- How to let out chain and how much to let out
- Checking the anchor is held fast
- Laying a second anchor
- Weighing anchor
- Trouble-shooting
It's a hands on course with heaps of chance for you to practise the techniques until you are happy.
You love nothing more than a great day out on your yacht.
But as soon as you come down the channel and prepare to berth in the marina your mouth goes dry...
Why is berthing your yacht such a challenge?
If this is you you'll be amazed how learning a few Smart tips from us will drop your stress levels and help you build confidence.
Our Marina Berthing On-Water Workshop covers
- How your yacht boat handles under power including the effect of the prop
- Preparing fenders and lines
- Wind and tide
- Berthing practise
- Leaving a berth
- Different conditions
And as with all our Workshops there's heaps of chance for you to practise and build your confidence.
So you can sail your yacht. But do you really know what's happening under sail?
Would you like to go right back to the beginning and get a full understanding of how yachts sail and how you can sail them well?
Our Sailing - Back to Basics Workshop covers
- Points of sail and no-go zones.
- Tacking and gybing.
- Ropes, knots and winches.
- Main up and down, headsail furling and unfurling.
- Stowing halyards.
- Dealing with a winch over-ride.
It's a practical hands on Workshop with heaps of chance to practise out on the water.
In our Advanced Sailing Workshop we take things to the next level.
We look closely at the physics behind yacht sailing and armed with that knowledge we look at ways to balance your yacht and get her sailing well with balance and control.
Our Advanced Learn to Sail Workshop covers
- How boats sail, driving force, sideways force, role of the keel, heeling force, true and apparent wind, understanding lee-way.
- How the two sails work together.
- Turning effects of rudder and sails.
- Sail balance
- Boat tuning
- Ways to increase and decrease power
As always this is a practical course with time for you to put the theory into practice.
Every yacht skipper needs to be able to cope with heavy weather.
The key is preparation and planning.
Our learn to sail in Heavy Weather Sailing Workshop covers
- Dealing with gusts when reaching and sailing upwind
- Ways to decrease power
- Reefing - when and how
- Broaching
- Preparing your yacht for heavy weather at sea
- Safety gear, harnesses and lines
- Heaving to
This On-Water Workshop is weather dependent - we reserve the right to re-schedule or replace it for another Workshop or re-schedule if there is insufficient wind on the day.
Do you turn the engine on, check for water from the exhaust and then think no more about it?
Do you know what to do if your engine doesn't start? Or if there's no water from the exhaust?
Basic engineering skills are really useful for every skipper.
Our Basic Engineering Workshop covers
- Basic workings of inboard diesel engines
- Fuel, cooling and exhaust systems
- Identifying the parts of your yacht's engine
- Basic pre-departure checks
- What to do if the engine doesn't start, there's no water from the exhaust or a light remains on at the panel.
- Checking sea water filter
- Checking oil levels
- Checking drive belts
- Looking after your outboard
After this Workshop your engine will be more than just a box under the stairs that makes a noise.
Do you really know your way round a yacht? Do you know the basics of how the plumbing and electrics work?
Could you unblock a toilet?
Having basic yacht maintenance skills can make the difference between a comfortable week away on your yacht and a miserable time for your crew.
Our Yacht Maintenance Workshop looks at
- Electrics - nav and coms equipment, lighting and fridge
- Navigation and Comms Equipment
- Battery banks, alternator and invertors
- Plumbing system -sea cocks, bilge pumps, holding tanks, marine toilets, showers and sump pumps.
- LPG gas system
This three hour, on-board Workshop can only cover the basics of yacht maintenance.
Sometimes groups are interested in more detail - we can arrange more detailed courses for you - just ask.
Clearly all yacht skippers need to know where they are and where they are heading.
Our Basic Navigation Workshop will give you enough knowledge to plan a passage using line of sight navigation
The Workshop Covers
- Reading a chart
- Electronic charts use, benefits and limitations
- Planning a route
- Plotting a course on a chart
- Depth speed and wind instruments
Avoiding collisions is every skipper's responsibility.
If you don't know the Collision Regulations then now's your chance to get to grips with them.
This one's really important on those busy weekend afternoons on Pittwater and Sydney Harbour.
Our Collision Regulations On-Water Workshop covers
- Manners, customs and rules of the road
- Buoyage systems including cardinal marks and special marks
- Common lights seen at night on Pittwater and Sydney Harbour
- Common shapes
As always we get out on the water for this workshop and make it practical and fun.
The course that could save your life...
We recommend this Workshop for all skippers and regular crew members
It covers
- The hazards on your yacht (winches, fuel, LPG, confined spaces, movement on deck in rough weather)
- Emergency response planning in case of collision, fire, damage to hull, loss of steering or power, sinking or grounding, man overboard and injury
- Man overboard recovery
- Life jacket types, how to put them on, safe jumping from yacht, avoiding and treating hypothermia
- Fire risks, causes, prevention, suppression and use of fire extinguishers
- Lifebuoy - how to use and stow
- Emergency signals - when and how to use.
- Abandon ship procedures
- Survival at sea including epirbs, life rafts, flares
Heaps of information that's too important to miss.
The Marine Radio Operators VHF Certificate of Proficiency (MROVCP) is the minimum mandatory qualification for anyone operating marine VHF radio equipment.
This course is a full 1 day seminar and includes a ½ hour exam. You will cover VHF radiotelephony and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) operating procedures, particularly those relating to distress, urgency and safety.
The course fee includes the AMC Marine Radio Operators VHF Handbook, course notes and the examination fee.
This course is for a minimum of 4 / maximum of 6 people
Have you been sailing round Pittwater for a couple of seasons?
Are you ready to take the next step and venture out onto the ocean?
This course covers the knowledge you need to enjoy plain ocean sailing... and to be able to cope when things go wrong.
The Offshore Sailing Course is for a minimum of two people and includes two full days offshore with an overnight stop in Sydney Harbour.
- Passage preparation and planning
- Preparation for sea
- Pilotage
- GPS - advanced techniques
- Port entries
- Advanced meteorology
- Preparation for adverse weather
- Restricted visibility
- Safety at Sea
- Gear Failure
- Emergency and distress situations
- Collision regulations
- Engineering
- Maintenance
- Lights and light characteristics
Want More Detail?
To book a SmartBoating On-Water Workshop call Sarah on 9997 5344 and she'll be happy to help.
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