RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety Course

RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety

RYA Offshore Safety Course - also known as the ISAF Offshore Racing Crew Approved Course for Personal Survival

NOTE: The ISAF regs. have changed. First Aid is no longer part of the RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety course. Consequently there is now a requirement for a percentage of the crew to have a First Aid certificate. Check with race organiser. Click for our RYA First Aid courses.

As required by ISAF special regulation 6.01 = Fastnet race & AZAB

The RYA/ISAF Offshore Safety Course provides training for skippers and crews who may encounter rough weather and problems at sea. The course, also known internationally as the ISAF Offshore Racing Crew Approved Course for Personal Survival, consists of two parts: one day of sea survival training, in the guise of the RYA Sea Survival course. And a day long session covering heavy weather seamanship and emergencies.

The certificate awarded confirms crew eligibility under section 6.01 of the ISAF Special Regulations for category 0, 1 and some category 2 offshore races.

ISAF

For the latest amendments to the ISAF regs go to the ISAF website: www.sailing.org

Or talk to Henry Thorpe, ISAF Technical Coordinator. Telephone 023 80 635 111 or email: technical@isaf.co.uk

RORC

For the ISAF regs with RORC prescriptions (Fastnet race) go to: www.rorc.org

Or talk to Ian Loffhagen. Telephone 0207 518 3156 or email: il@rorc.org.uk

ISAF Offshore Special Regulations

Section 6 - Training

• 6.01 At least 30% of a crew including the skipper shall have undertaken training within the last 5 years before the start of the race*
• 6.01.2 Except as otherwise provided in the Notice of Race, an in-date certificate gained at an ISAF Approved Offshore Personal Training course shall be accepted by a race organising authority as evidence of compliance with Special Regulation 6.01*

* See race organiser for exact requirements, these regs are subject to variation.

Travel & Accommodation

Crews travelling from abroad will find that a range of accommodation is available locally, see the 'Travel & Accommodation' page. We are easy to get to from London Gatwick and Heathrow airports. Rail links are excellent, Lewes is our local station.

Why choose Mustang Sailing for your Offshore Safety course?

• 3 Hour pool session - see our Sea Survival page
• Flare demo - every student discharges a hand held flare

Useful Links

• Crewsaver Industrial and Leisure Safety Equipment Manufacturers
• Ocean Safety - Marine Safety Equipment Specialists
• Essentials of Sea Survival book
• Cold Water Survival

Format

The course is delivered over two days. One day is RYA Sea Survival. A morning briefing followed by an extended pool session, our pool sessions are three hours, not the usual two. Instructor is RN Chief Instructor-Sea Survival. You won't get better. The remaining day is the ISAF 'briefing' - see syllabus tab.

Sailors who already hold the an RYA Sea Survival Certificate are excused that part of the course, however the Offshore Safety certificate will be dated from the qualifying date on the Sea Survival Certificate. We must 'have sight' of the original certificate, not a copy. The Offshore Safety certificate is valid for 5 years.

Holders of the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Commercial are excused the Offshore Safety course. You apply to the RYA for the certificate. There is no fee. RYA Tel. 0845 345 0400.

Remember that your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Commercial must be in-date. Check the First Aid certificate, valid for 3 Yrs, and medical, 5 Yrs for ML5, 2 Yrs for ENG 1. Renewal fee £25.00. RYA Tel. 0845 345 0400.

This information is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility for it's accuracy.

Syllabus

• 6.02 Training topics for theoretical sessions
  • 6.02.1 care & maintenance of safety equipment
  • 6.02.2 storm sails
  • 6.02.3 damage control & repair
  • 6.02.4 heavy weather - crew routines, boat handling, drogues
  • 6.02.5 man overboard prevention & recovery
  • 6.02.6 giving assistance to other craft
  • 6.02.7 hypothermia
  • 6.02.8 SAR organisation & methods
  • 6.02.9 weather forecasting
• 6.03 Training topics for practical, hands-on sessions
  • 6.03.1 liferafts & lifejackets
  • 6.03.2 fire precautions and use of fire extinguishers
  • 6.03.4 communications equipment (VHF, GMDSS, satcomms, etc)
  • 6.03.5 pyrotechnics and EPIRB

Reading list, as recommended by ISAF

Heavy Weather Sailing

A. Coles & P. Bruce
A & C Black. ISBN 0713644257

The Grab Bag Book

Frances Howorth
A & C Black. ISBN 0713662212

Instant Weather Forecasting

Alan Watts
Adlard Coles. ISBN 0713668687

Essentials of Sea Survival

Frank Golden

Human Kinetics

ISBN 0736002154

First Aid at Sea

Douglas Justins
Adlard Coles. ISBN 0713667095

Testimonials

Nigel for offshore safety was fantastic, with stories of his personal experience he made what could have been quite a dry course very interesting. Keith and Chris for Sea survival were also great, very enthusiastic and helpful - especially during the pool time. All instructors were very approachable and I felt comfortable to ask questions. Thankyou for another fantastic sailing course

Amy C,

The usual enjoyable and high quality training.

Jim,

This was a very worthwhile course. It was not a required course, but we decided to do it to consolidate our knowledge of safety. It achieved our objectives.

Richard,

Very good instruction, loved it! Please say thank you to the instructors. Loved the weekend and really sad that it ended so quickly

Caroline,

Good supply of refreshments and comfortable learning environment. All instructors were excellent. They had a massive amount of experience and Knowledge, that facilitated my learning tremendously. Cant praise them highly enough! The best part of the course was Learning from the personal experience and guidance of the instructors, whom provided information and insight that was often beyond the 'basic syllabus'. Practical sessions (especially the pool session in the RYA Safety Course) were invaluable; they provided the opportunity to practice drills 1st hand, instilling confidence and reinforcing 'the theory'. Excellent courses. Thoroughly enjoyable and invaluable. Would highly recommend them and Mustang Sailing to others.

Steve,

Both instructors were totally amazing! I can't imaging how you could find more expertly qualified instructors for each course. By end of week-end end I felt very lucky to have had such instructors.

Andy,

Instructor very good - most enjoyable day

Desmond C.

Thank you for a great course on Saturday. It was so well run and I really learned a lot. Nice informal feel to your school as well.

Fiona S.

Practical in pool very good. Wonderful instructor

Jeremy C.

Both instructors were a pleasure to listen to. They passed on their considerable knowledge and experience in an enjoyable, light hearted (where possible) and professional manner. The practical session in the pool was very good at getting across the potential problems of using liferafts.

Andrew

A very good top up of knowledge that made you think of the the problems you might encounter. The deployment of flares takes any fear away from setting one off in the future.

Paul M.