Helming
LENGTH 12-hour Two Day course (2 x 6 hr days)
HELMING OUTCOMES
| Sailing Element | Criteria |
| Preparation | ∙ Understands the importance of the correct wearing of lifejackets, knows the rules for wearing lifejackets and can demonstrate the use of safety harness and personal safety equipment. ∙ Understands the importance of appropriate clothing and footwear. |
| Boats and Equipment | ∙ Can prepare the sails and rig the boat ∙ Knows correct use of halyards, sheets and associated deck hardware |
| Rope work | ∙ Ability to tie the following knots and know their correct use: figure of eight, bowline, round turn & two half hitches, clove hitch, reef knot |
| Skills and Techniques | ∙ Can helm and trim sails effectively on all points of sail ∙ Can helm effectively around a triangular course ∙ Can tack and gybe effectively as helm ∙ Can heave-to ∙ Understands the effect and importance of heel and trim ∙ Understands how to anchor a boat ∙ Can reef and shake out sails whilst underway ∙ Use of anchor including under sail and in various conditions |
| Safety and Emergencies | ∙ Can recover a man overboard under sail as helm ∙ Knows the location and correct operation of all safety equipment on board ∙ Knows how to raise the alarm in the event of an emergency |
| Sailing Theory | ∙ Has a working knowledge of the general, steering and sailing rules and their application ∙ Knows how to source information on local regulations |
| Weather and the Environment | ∙ Understands where to obtain a weather forecast ∙ Has basic knowledge of factors such as: buoyage, depths, suitable anchorages and tides. |
HELMING PRE-REQUISITES
- Water confident.
- Over 16 years or 12 years with a participating guardian.
- Completed Start Crewing including all outcomes (or equivalent skills)
WHO SHOULD DO THIS COURSE?
Anyone wanting to learn the fundamentals of helming on a small keelboat.
NEXT STEPS
Following the Start Helming Course there are a number of options to continue your sailing:
- Repeat your Start Helming course to consolidate your knowledge and achieve all outcomes.
- Consider a Spinnaker course to learn more about using Symmetrical or Asymmetrical Spinnakers
- Continue onto a Start Racing course to learn the basics of racing a small keelboat.
- Join a crew looking for members and start club racing.
COST $550