Intro to Yachting
Our Intro to Yachting Course covers the very basics of sailing onboard a yacht. Starlight provides the perfect platform as a serious world capable cruising yacht to teach a certified course under the IYT scheme. This course is designed to get you started on the road to more advanced sail training under the IYT scheme where you can pursue your dreams of sailing all the way to offshore and ocean qualifications if that's your goal.
Intro to Yachting (IYT) Course
Start Here for those with a strong desire!
Intro to Yachting (IYT) - Course Outline
During your 3 Day intro to sail, we'll cover lots of the things you always wanted to know about how a cruising sailing boat works. We'll cover the following subjects (and more) and all in a practical, relaxed environment on a world capable cruising yacht.
You'll learn how to properly prepare an ocean going cruising yacht for passage making, get an introductory understanding of the wind & weather patterns and how it affects the passage plan, maneuvering under power and sail, basic nautical rules of the road, some practical line work and knots and also some basic nautical navigation.
This course covers the first module of the IYT International Crew Certificate. If you're starting your International Crew Certificate with us, this Introduction to Yachting is included.
- Life jackets
- Flares
- Life raft
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguishers
- Safety harnesses
- Heads
- bilge pumps
- water pumps (manual and pressurized)
- Stove and LPG Gas
- Battery Banks and Selection
- Cabin and navigation lights
- General tips for living aboard
- Suitable clothing
- Effects of heat and cold
- Seasickness
- Do's and Don'ts on a sailing yacht
- Briefing about the intended passage
- Basics of reading a nautical chart
- Effects of wind, tide and current
- Courses
- Tracking Progress
- Basic line work and handling
- Handling sails, sheets and halyards
- Hoisting and lowering sails
- Winches - Electric and Manual
- Boom and associated dangers
- Tacking and wearing ship
- Anchoring
- Person Overboard
- Securing the vessel for sea
- Lookout duties
- Steering and general duties
- Slipping and coming alongside the marina pontoon
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Learn to sail in the Whitsundays onboard Starlight over 3 days and 2 nights of cruising the Whitsunday Islands. We teach from the very beginning, so no experience in necessary and you'll learn in a relaxed, fun and adult learning environment. There are no written exams. Everything is relaxed and hands on as we coach you through, step by step.