How can you offer such an excellent service on a superior boat for such a great price?
I keep overheads to an absolute minimum. I run the business from the boat and from a bedroom, converted into an office and classroom, in our home. My wife, Annie, and I handle all the administration and logistics between the two of us, using the Internet as much as possible. We created and administer our own web-site. Apart from the RYA Training Guide and tiny amounts of advertising in local publications, we focus all our marketing efforts online and, in our own way, have become experts in pay per click advertising. Kipper is kept on a river mooring, rather than in a highly-expensive marina. I do as much of the maintenance myself as I can. Because she is a modern classic, built in 1990, she doesn’t suffer high levels of depreciation and I work her hard in order to spread annual running costs over as many bookings as possible. Finally, we’re not VAT registered.
Which course should I book?
If you have no previous sailing experience, you should book on our Competent Crew Course. By the end of your 5 days, you will have learned enough to become a useful crew member on any yacht and will know whether sailing really is for you.
If you have some previous sailing experience, perhaps gained in dinghies, on a Competent Crew course or through sailing with friends you can book on a Day Skipper Course. Ideally you should take our 9 Day Combined Theory & Practical Day Skipper Course however if you can either: competently sail a yacht around a triangular course without prompting and are confident that you know the theoretical aspects of the Day Skipper syllabus (Navigation, Meteorology, Rule of the Road), you can book on our 5 Day Practical Day Skipper Course.
What about Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Exam Preparation courses?
As a one-man-one-boat school we must maximise our occupancy and the vast majority of the market is for Day Skipper and Competent Crew Courses. Put simply, we can virtually guarantee to fill a Day Skipper or Competent Crew course, whereas, when we schedule Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster Exam Preparation courses, we struggle to find enough people who want the same course and/ or dates. Some schools handle this by mixing aspiring Coastal Skippers and Yachtmaster candidates in with Day Skippers but this really doesn’t work (whereas Competent Crew can mix in with Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper candidates). So we don’t advertise Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Exam Preparation courses but rather schedule them when we’ve got a quorum on existing customers who want to move up to that level.
Does Kipper Sailing offer “Theory Only” courses?
No. Sorry. I need to sweat our biggest asset, Kipper, and this means that I have to spend my time teaching as many practical courses as possible, rather than leaving Kipper unutilised on her mooring. The exceptions, of course, are the shorebased phase of our 9 Day Combined Theory & Practical Day Skipper Course and our VHF Courses, which give me some time at home with my wife!
What are my chances of passing?
Very few people fail Competent Crew. The only real reasons for failure are if you are totally debilitated by seasickness, such that you are unable to play a part in crewing the yacht, or if you choose not to participate fully.
In order to pass Day Skipper, you need to demonstrate that you are safe to skipper a small yacht on short, daylight passages in familiar waters. This means that you have to be able to sail the boat confidently on all points of sailing and through all manoeuvres under sail and power; to take charge of the crew when setting, reefing and stowing sails; preparing to come alongside and anchoring. You also need to be able to: perform basic navigation tasks, sufficient to keep you safe from danger and to plan short passages; create and execute a simple pilotage plan; perform engine checks and effect simple repairs and have a working knowledge of the rule of the road. Approximately 80% of people manage to achieve this standard after participating in a Day Skipper Course. Those that fail have usually started the course without sufficient previous sailing experience (See: Which course should I book?) or have attempted the 5 Day Practical Day Skipper Course without studying the theoretical aspects of the Day Skipper syllabus beforehand.
What about the International Certificate of Competence (ICC)?
The International Certificate of Competence (ICC) is an internationally recognised qualification that can either be examined by a RYA Registered Sea School (much like a driving test) or awarded to holders of the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course Completion Certificate or other RYA Certificates of Competence (Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster). It is issued free of charge to RYA members. Non members can apply to the RYA for one for £39 (which is also the annual RYA membership fee!).
What do I need to bring with me on my practical course?
Foul weather gear (oilskins) if you have them or you can hire them from us for £15 payable in cash when you arrive. Please advise us of your size in advance. Please note that golf, walking and leisure wear isn’t generally substantial enough for sailing
Soft soled shoes (not black soles please!). Ideally “proper” sailing shoes or boots. Trainers or plimsolls are a good 2nd best
Woolly-hat, sailing gloves, scarf
Warm clothes to sail in (according to season) Technical fibres (e.g. fleece material) perform substantially better than natural fibres such as cotton or wool as they wick moisture away from the skin and also dry very quickly if they get wet
Sleeping Bag & Pillow or we can hire them to you for £15 payable in cash when you arrive. Please advise us in advance
Pyjamas if you wish to preserve you modesty at night
Wash Kit & Towel
Sun-hat, sunglasses, sun lotion (at least Factor 15)
Earplugs (in case anyone else snores or it’s windy at night)
Seasickness Prophylaxis
If you use spectacles or contact lenses, a spare pair
A small, pocket-sized torch (a head torch is ideal)
Swimming kit, if you think you are likely to want to take a dip
Any prescription medicines you need
If you’re brining a mobile phone (and who doesn’t these days), the charger
Notebook and pen
A bottle of wine, if you want to drink wine with your supper!
With the exception of foul-weather gear, everything should be packed in one soft holdall, not measuring more than 75cm by 40cm by 40cm. No Wheelie Bags Please!
What do I need to bring with me for shorebased course?
2B pencils
rubber
biro
A4 notepad
A4 ring-binder
calculator
I have a supply of Portland Plotters and Dividers. You can borrow a set if you wish or many people choose to buy their own, in which case I can supply them for £30.34 cash payment (which is the RYA price). Please let me know in advance if you wish to purchase.
What are the sleeping arrangements on Kipper?
Kipper has 6 single berths. 2 are in the forecastle, 3 are in the saloon and there’s a quarter-berth, where I sleep. If we have a couple or at least 2 women on board they are normally allocated to the forecastle.
What about accommodation for the shorebased part of 9 day courses?
For traditional B&B try:
Wendy Couch,
Cornucopia, 49 Haglane Copse, Pennington, Lymington, SO41 8DQ
Tel: 01590 677505
Approximately 5 minutes drive or a pleasant 30 minutes walk from Kipper Sailing’s Training Centre
From £30 per night
or
Carol Baddock,
The Rowans, 76 Southampton Rd, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 9GZ
Tel: 01590 672276
Approximately 5 minutes drive or a pleasant 15 mins walk or a from Kipper Sailing’s Training Centre
If you prefer to stay in a pub, which can also provide evening meals, try:
The Bosun's Chair
Station St, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 3BA
Tel: 01590 675140
Approximately 5 mins walk from Kipper Sailing’s Training Centre
or
The Mayflower Hotel
Kings Saltern Rd, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 3QD
Tel: 01590 672160
Approximately 10 mins walk from Kipper Sailing’s Training Centre
What about seasickness?
Modern seasickness prophylaxis such as Stugeron are remarkably effective, especially if you start taking them 24 hours before setting sail. Ginger, in the form of ginger-nut biscuits or crystallised stem ginger also works very well.
What about parking?
Parking for the shorebased part of our 9 Day Combined Theory & Practical Day Skipper Courses is either in the public car park on Lymington Quay or in one of the other nearby car parks or possibly in nearby side streets. Parking during practical courses is either on very quiet, safe residential streets, close to Lymington Quay or the Yacht Clubs or in Lymington Marina car-park which is free.
