Training

1. Learning to sail with the CSSA
2. Offshore Training
3. Non-RYA Short 1-3 day Yacht Courses
4. RYA 5-6 day Yacht Courses
5. The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate
6. Seatime Cruises
7. Dinghy Training
8. Sailboard Training
9. Shorebased Certificates
10. RYA National Cruising Scheme - Sail Cruising Courses
11. RYA Certificates of Competence by Examination - Sail Cruising
12. CSSA Skipper Approvals
13. The Skipper Approval Scheme for Chartering a CSSA Yacht

Learning to sail with the CSSA. (Back to top)

The Civil Service Sailing Association (CSSA) has various clubs around the country and three yachts of its own which it uses to offer opportunities to members to learn dinghy and yacht sailing at all levels from novice to Ocean Yachtmaster. The CSSA is recognised by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) as an approved sail training establishment and hence runs courses which lead to nationally recognised RYA Certificates. All members are encouraged to steadily improve their sailing proficiency and become approved yacht skippers or dinghy instructors. The courses are lower in cost than commercial courses run by sea schools because our skippers and instructors are volunteer members of the CSSA.

Offshore Training. (Back to top)

The CSSA owns three modern sailing yachts, two based in the Solent area and one on the East Coast near Ipswich. All three are used for training, racing, cruising and private charters by CSSA approved skippers. Some of the training leads to various RYA qualifications, and other courses include yacht handling for cruising and racing. On all courses safety is always a priority, and the content of the courses will be adjusted according to the crew and the weather conditions.

The yachts are all modern production yachts less than 5 years old, very well equipped to the latest standards as set by the RYA and other authorities for sail training vessels or for racing offshore. They are regularly maintained by club members, and the fees for sailing on the yachts cover the costs of purchase, maintenance, and the fitting and replacement of equipment, although crews may have to contribute towards the cost of damage!

Non-RYA Short 1-3 day Yacht Courses. (Back to top)

Introductory Cruises and Daysails - Short sails in sheltered waters of 1-3 days, with novice crews living and sleeping aboard to get the feeling of yachting and enable them to decide whether to continue with sailing as a pastime.

Boat Handling Courses - Also short sails of 1-3 days for crews who have sailed before and wish to learn the practical skills of maneuvering under sail and engine, berthing in marinas and picking up mooring buoys under various conditions of wind and tide.

Introduction to Racing Courses - The Civil Service Offshore Racing Club (CSORC) sometimes runs short courses specialising in the crewing skills required for racing, such as sail trimming, tactics, starting procedures, and spinnaker handling. These are sometimes followed by participation in a short inshore club race.

RYA 5-6 day Yacht Courses. (Back to top)

Competent Crew, Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper - These are all 5-day courses to an RYA syllabus with instruction by a n RYA qualified skipper. If competent, all pupils receive an RYA Course Completion Certificate.

Pre-exam refresher Courses for RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Certificates - The full RYA Yachtmaster and Coastal Skipper Certificates require candidates to demonstrate their abilities in a practical 1-day examination with a professional RYA examiner who is not a CSSA member. The CSSA runs preparatory courses for these examinations, usually followed by a weekend examination on the CSSA yachts. The total duration is usually 6-7 days including the 2 days for examining 3-4 candidates. These qualifications then allow members to charter the CSSA yachts in either coastal or offshore waters.

The RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate. (Back to top)

This certificate requires the candidate to complete a 600-mile offshore passage out of sight of land as navigator or watch-leader, using a sextant for astro-navigation. Each year one of the CSSA yachts may organise a long distance cruise which is suitable for this requirement. Candidates must first have attended a course of evening classes on the theory of celestial navigation.

Seatime Cruises. (Back to top)

Although these are not strictly training courses, the cruises on the CSSA yachts with approved skippers can be used to gain seatime, mileage and night hours in a RYA logbook as required for the certificates. It may also be possible to get sections of the logbook signed-off for specific practical abilities.

Dinghy Training. (Back to top)

The CSSA has coastal dinghy clubs in Plymouth Sound and Southampton Water, and has inshore dinghy clubs on lakes in Berkshire, Essex, Lancashire and Middlesex. All of these clubs offer some informal dinghy training for their new members. Several of the larger clubs also offer formal RYA courses which provide RYA dinghy certificates at several levels for those who meet the required standards in both the theory and practical aspects of sailing. For example the courses at Littleton SC near Chertsey, SW London last 50 hours each spread over 7 consecutive Saturdays, for either combined Dinghy Level 1&2 or Dinghy Level 3 Certificates.

Sailboard Training. (Back to top)

The CSSA dinghy clubs mentioned above offer facilities for boardsailing, but there is little organised training available, except at Littleton SC where there are 2-day courses for members for RYA Level 1 and Level 2 Sailboarding Certificates.

Shorebased Certificates. (Back to top)

The RYA sail training scheme also provides certificates for shorebased theory courses (Day Skipper or Yachtmaster Theory and Yachtmaster Ocean) which are usually taught as a series of weekly evening classes at schools and colleges during the winter. Many CSSA members are involved as tutors in these classes, but details of your local classes should be obtained from the RYA or your local Adult Education Authority.

There are also various 1 day RYA courses for VHF Radio Operator, First-Aid, Diesel Engine Maintenance, Radar, Safety at Sea etc.

RYA National Cruising Scheme - Sail Cruising Courses. (Back to top)

These courses provide a Course Completion Certificate as appropriate.

RYA Certificates of Competence by Examination - Sail Cruising. (Back to top)

These examinations provide a Certificate of Competence as appropriate.

CSSA Skipper Approvals. (Back to top)

From 1999 there are now three types of CSSA Approved Skipper qualifications, namely CSSA Coastal Skipper, CSSA Offshore Skipper and CSSA Assistant Instructor. The sailing waters for CSSA Coastal Skippers on both the South and East Coast Yachts will be UK Territorial Waters from Portland Bill to Great Yarmouth. A CSSA Coastal Skipper can only cruise elsewhere (e.g. cross-channel) with specific permission from the committee of the Yacht Division concerned. The Assistant Instructor grade is for CSSA Approved Skippers who are willing to assist with RYA courses by instructing pupils at Competent Crew and Day Skipper level. Further details are available from the CSSA Training Principal.

All the above CSSA Skipper qualifications are now only given to holders of a full RYA Certificate of Competence as Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster, as issued by an RYA Examiner, and the corresponding CSSA grades for these two RYA qualifications will be Coastal Skipper and Offshore Skipper respectively. There is also a requirement to have sailed on the appropriate yacht, and to obtain references from two existing CSSA skippers with whom they have sailed. Upgrade to Assistant Instructor is by the Division Committee with authorisation from the CSSA Training Principal.

CSSA Approved Skipper cards will be issued on approval by the Committee marked with the appropriate grade authorised.

Experienced skippers who do not yet hold either of the above RYA Certificates of Competence should apply to take the RYA Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster practical examination directly, either directly to the RYA or through the CSSA training scheme. Further information may be obtained from the CSSA Training Principal or yacht Crew Bureau Secretaries.

The Skipper Approval Scheme for Chartering a CSSA Yacht. (Back to top)

To charter any of the CSSA's club yachts you must be a "CSSA Approved Skipper". Applications by members for approval as a skipper at either the Coastal or Offshore grade will be considered by the CSSA Offshore or General Committees, and only approved if the appropriate qualifications and references are received.

To apply please write to the current CSSA Offshore Secretary Anna Wetherell anna.wetherell@btinternet.com enclosing the following:

1. Your full name, address, home telephone number, e-mail address and CSSA membership number.
2. A copy of your RYA Certificate of Competence as RYA Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster.
3. A copy of your VHF Radio Operator's Short Range Certificate.
4. A copy of your current RYA approved first aid certificate.
5. The names addresses and telephone numbers of two skippers of equivalent qualification to that required (or higher) with whom you have sailed, and who have agreed to act as referees.
6. Information on any illnesses or disabilities which might affect your abilities as a skipper. Such information will be treated as confidential.

The approval process is not automatic, the Offshore Committee have to be satisfied not only with your sailing abilities but also with your capacity to lead others and guide the yacht safely. Information will be sought from your referees.

No CSSA yacht may be raced without prior approval of the club or division managing the yacht, and without a competent knowledge of the current racing rules by the skipper.