| aod |
| (regular) |
| 14/01/2003 12:16 |
Zero to Hero Yachtmaster courses
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Firstly let me say that I have been a member of the RYA for over 20 years and I am a YM with commercial endorsement and also a cruising instructor with some 60,000 miles experience.
Question!
There is ample anecdotal evidence contained withing the YBW forums of the rising concern amongst many experienced yachtmasters about the zero to hero courses affording very inexperienced sailors a yachtmaster with commercial endorsement after a 16 week course.
The issue for a crew has now moved from being being a blanket acceptance that the YM with Com End is sufficient proof of competence to one of, what experience do you have as a skipper?
Accepting the truth that the company's undertaking such courses also market their newly qualified yachtmasters as being available and qualified for employment in the industry, leaves the selection process to the charter companies with whom such persons may seek employment. As many charter companies are by definition profit driven and they are aware that newly qualified yachtmasters are hungry for employment and experience they offer employment with much reduced remuneration.
My concern is that the industry is being flooded with inexperienced commercialy endorsed yachtmasters and there is a disaster in the wings.
My motive for submitting this letter is irrespective of the mumblings within the industry my inexperienced children took part in the Manches Cup with a newly qualified zero to hero yachtmaster and endured a frightening and terrible time of it.
I accept that the RYA have no juristiction over these courses but surely, common sense and vision would suggest that this matter is worthy of proper investigation by the RYA, and if appropriate, recommendation to the MCA that newly qualified yachtmasters should have a 5000 miles log of skippering before they are eligible to receive the commercial endorsement.
If however the perspective of the RYA is one of 'this is not our problem' then please let me know, and in return I will graciously accept that the RYA has lost its way.
Yours sincerely
Richard M Houghton
| **DONOTDELETE** |
| () |
| 14/01/2003 17:43 |
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Re: Zero to Hero Yachtmaster courses
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This is a difficult issue and the RYA recognises that there are some relatively inexperienced skippers now commercially qualified.
Experience is not always the same as competence and doubling the mileage is not always a guarantee of doubling ability - see the response to 'Leisure and Commerical'.
The purpose of the pre-entry requirements for Yachtmaster is to discourage candidates from taking the exam before they are ready. However, the real test on the day is whether the candidate can take charge and has sufficient knowledge and skill to skipper a yacht. The mileage requirement has to be set somewhere between accessible and very experienced.
Sixteen week candidates range from being the incompetent, who fail, to the experienced who may pass to the exceptionally talented who do pass.
In general, 16 week candidates have been well taught, but if they qualify tend to sail within their ability.
It is important to remember that there was never a golden era when professional skippers were all highly experienced. Twenty five years ago the mileage for YM's was 500 and the test was an oral exam.
The RYA also accepts that there is the occasional qualified skipper who is incompetent. In serious cases the certificate can be removed.
If you have had an unsatisfactory experience, we would very much like to receive the details.