All sounds very serious for those who have never found themselves living in close proximity with others and in areas of the world where traditions/cultures and security is of importance. This course gives you an over view of how to respect your crew mates and understand the possible vulnerability of being the foreigner and keeping you, the crew and the vessel you’re on safe.
Elementary First Aid
The Elementary First Aid course module combines theory and practical training for basic first aid and lifesaving skills. The course aims to provide an introduction to the principles of first aid and details how to respond to common medical emergencies.
Subjects covered in this module include:
Types of accidents and emergencies on board that may require first aid
Methods of raising the alarm
Immediate actions when accidents or medical emergencies occur
Minimising risk of further harm
Body structure and functions
Emergency first aid equipment and its use
Priorities of treatment (Triage)
Casualty positioning and transportation
Basic Life Support (CPR)
Shock management
Bandaging
Wounds/Bleeding
Burns/Scalds
On successful completion of this course the student will receive an MCA approved STCW certificate in Elementary First Aid (STCW Regulation A-VI/1-3)
$195usd pp. Please click on the 'Training Dates & Booking' button on the right to check available dates.
This is a one day course and gives you the introduction of what to do should you ever need to abandon ship and take to the liferaft. The course covers basic survival afloat, what to take with you and how to best survive whilst awaiting rescue. The practical part of the course, takes part in the sea where you will don on a lifejacket and practice your skills in and out of the liferaft.
It is one of the modules of the MCA Basic Safety Training and relevant for both professional and leisure vessel users
You will be required to wear your swim suit, shorts a, whilst completing the pool session. Please also bring a towel.
The aim of the sea survival module is to provide seafarers with the essential education and training in personal survival techniques to maximise the chances of survival in the event of an emergency or abandonment
Subjects covered in this module include:
Emergency situations such as collision, fire and flooding.
Different types of life-saving appliances carried on ships.
Equipment in survival craft.
Location of personal life-saving appliances.
Principles concerning survival at sea.
Donning (putting on) a life jacket.
Immersion suits.
Safely jumping from a height into the water.
Righting an upturned life raft while wearing a life jacket.
Swimming while wearing a life jacket and keeping afloat.
Boarding a life raft from a ship or the water while wearing a life jacket.
Taking initial actions on boarding a survival craft to enhance chance of survival.
Streaming a sea anchor.
Recovering an injured person to a survival craft.
On completion of this course the student will receive an MCA approved STCW certificate in Personal Survival Techniques (STCW Regulation A-VI/1-1).
$245usd pp. Please click on the 'Training Dates & Booking' button on the right to check available dates.
Ondeck provide a comprehensive, professional training curriculum, covering all aspects of Ocean Sailing from the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory course to the qualifying Ocean Passage and Oral Exam.
The Yachtmaster Ocean Theory course is run over 5 days and covers astro-navigation and worldwide meteorology. You will learn the art of using a sextant as well as what to do in heavy weather and hurricane situations. Passage planning is also covered as part of this course and you will be ask to consider everything from your choice of yacht to victualling and fuel management and much much more.
The usual sequence is to complete the theory and exam papers; follow this with a 650 nm qualifying passage during which you should take sights and then arrange for the oral exam. There are some allowed variations to this so please call for more information.
We have prepared some notes which cover the Ocean exam pre-requisites, including certification required, minimum seatime and more. Please click here for the qualifying passage RYA requirements.
Students wanting to complete the Yachtmaster Ocean Exam will need to hold a Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence.
Please click here to see the progression and recommended path for RYA theory courses.
Classroom $1450usd pp - Oral exam only $150usd pp. Please click on the 'Training Dates & Booking' button on the right to check available dates.
2nd January 2017 – 15th April 2017 and 4th September 2017 – 22nd December 2017
Ondeck’s Fast Track course is built to take sailing novices through to Yacht Master Offshore with STCW & Engineering Qualifications – ideal as a stepping-stone for a career in the sailing industry.
We are based in the Caribbean on the beautiful island of Antigua, a unique place to do our Fast Track programme, as it is a hub for super yachts looking for skilled & qualified crew. Antigua & Barbuda is one of the principal yachting & sailing centres in the Caribbean.
Our Ondeck Maritime Training Centre offers the complete STCW 2010 course curriculum, while the new engineering training centre offers engineering and yacht maintenance qualifications. Our programme also involves visits to other islands/countries so not only interesting but invaluable in terms of learning customs and immigration procedures for yachts
We have a flotilla of modern 40 ft yachts plus a 65 ft training vessel – ideal for training & building your experience before working on larger private yachts. Our crew house is available to rent for the shore base courses. We also offer dinghy sailing level 1 & 2 at Sailing Academy in Falmouth, which can be taken ahead of the Fast Track course to help develop basic sailing skills & wind awareness.
The course culminates in the Yachtmaster Offshore Exam by an independent RYA Yachtmaster Examiner. This is a 10 hour practical and oral examination on all aspects of sailing a yacht in difficult circumstances. With your hard working & our experienced instructors, you can be fully prepared and confident of passing the exam.
After the course we offer agency help in finding work in the sailing industry.
These courses are timed to finish at the end of the 2017 season in April which means that delivery jobs back to Europe or North America will be plentiful. The second courses starting in September 2017 will finish in time for candidates looking for work in the Caribbean at the beginning of the busy season there.
Pre-Requisites
Before arriving in Antigua, suggest you have the following:
> ENG 1 or equivalent Medical which is a requirement for working on many yachts
> B1/B2 Visa for the USA. This allows you to sail into the US and so opens up more work opportunities
> Dinghy course – if no previous sailing experience. This can be booked at the Sailing Academy in Antigua ahead of the start of the Fast Track Course.
Course Details
Module 1 – builds a strong foundation, introducing novices to the theoretical & practical side of sailing. Acquire the qualifications & licenses to run a yacht with confidence & pursue a profession in the sailing industry.
| Module 1 | Practical | Shorebased |
| Competent Crew | 5-days | |
| STCW | 5-days | |
| Weekend Off | ||
| Day Skipper Theory | 5-days | |
| Mile and Experience Builder | 7-days | |
| Weekend Off | ||
| Day Skipper Practical | 5-days | |
| SRC | 1-day | |
| Powerboat Level 2 | 2-days |
Module 2 – builds your experience & level of skills, continually broadening the conditions & circumstances in which you get to practice handling & running the boat.
| Module 2 | Practical | Shorebased |
| Coastal Skipper Theory | 5-days | |
| Weekend Off | ||
| Coastal Skipper Practical | 5-days | |
| Distance Sail | 7-days | |
| Weekend Off | ||
| Coastal Skipper Assessment Week | 5-days | |
| Yacht Maintenence | 7-days |
Module 3 – Focus is on completing the miles required for your exam & then honing you skills so you are as prepared as you can be for the exam.
| Module 3 | Practical | Shorebased |
| Distance Sail – 65 ft training vessel | 21-days | |
| Distance Sail | 7-days | |
| Weekend Off | ||
| Yachtmaster Prep | 12-days | |
| Yachtmaster Exam | 2-days |
From July 2021 there is no longer a shortened conversion exam as such
The exam that will be undertaken by the candidate is a full exam, however the fact that the candidate already holds an RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence in one discipline, means that we can accepted a reduced amount of mileage and sea time in the discipline for which they will now be examined.
Holders of the RYA Yachtmaster® Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence in a particular discipline (sail or power) are eligible for a “discount” in terms of the mileage and sea time that is required for the exam in the other discipline.
The sea time shown below must be in the discipline in which you are to be examined (sail or power). All qualifying seatime must be within 10 years
It is essential that candidates for any exam be fully conversant with the entire syllabus relating to the relevant type of vessel (sail or motor) and that they have adequate experience to be confident in the capacity of skipper of that type of craft.
The course builds on the navigation and other theory knowledge acquired on the Day Skipper Course. It is intended for cruising yachtsmen, motor boaters, and those who are looking to undertake more complex passages, perhaps offshore or at night.
It is a demanding theory course covering advanced navigation techniques such as – Position Fixing, Course to Steer, Passage Planning, Pilotage, Meteorology, IRPCS, Stability and Buoyage. By the end of the course the successful student will have a comprehensive knowledge of what is required to navigate to Yachtmaster standard, and will have passed 3 exams on chart work, passage planning, and IRPCS.
It is highly recommended that you revise the collision regulations before attending the course and have acquired the Day Skipper Theory knowledge before doing this course, to ensure successful completion.
Please click here to see the progression and recommended path for RYA theory courses.
The course is 6 full days but candidates can choose to continue their study before taking the final exams.
If you are planning to follow this course with the Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore practical preparation and exams do ensure that you have an acceptable First Aid and VHF certificate - if not these can be booked with Ondeck.
Online - $475usd pp - Classroom $1500usd pp. Please click on the 'Training Dates & Booking' button on the right to check available dates.
| Duration: | 6 Days | No. Students to Instructor: | 6:1 |
| Previous Experience: | Day skipper theory or similar | Minimum Age: | none |
| Locations: | Antigua | Dates: | This course is run all year round |
The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal follows a very similar process to Yachtmaster Offshore in that we offer a 5-day practical preparation followed by an externally examined practical exam, usually over 2 days assuming 3 or more candidates.
The minimum seatime is less than the Yachtmaster Offshore and is detailed below.
The Yachtmaster Coastal is often a stepping stone before YM Offshore but it is not mandatory. Many people choose to continue to build experience and skip the YM Coastal and step straight into the Yachtmaster Offshore.
We also have put together some detailed notes on Yachtmaster Coastal exam here.
We run this concurrently with the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore so search for those dates on the booking system. Candidates can do the 5 days Preparation and then choose at the end of that period whether to aim for the YM Coastal or YM Offshore exam.
A GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC) or higher grade of marine radio certificate is required as is First Aid.
Course Dates and Prices $2150 + RYA Exam fee. Please click on the 'Training Dates & Booking' button on the right to check available dates.
| Duration: | 5 preparation + 2 Days for the exam based on 3 + students | Max students | 4 |
| Previous Experience: | 30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours (if you hold the Coastal Skipper course certificate this is reduced to 20 days, 2 days as skipper, 400 miles, 12 night hours). Half the qualifying sea time must be conducted in tidal waters. | Minimum Age: | 17 |
| Locations: | Antigua | Dates: | All year |
This course covers more advanced skippering techniques for those with a good knowledge of sailing and navigation wanting to undertake longer coastal passages at day and night. 5 days , 4 nights and food for Day 1. After that students are encouraged to take part in the provisioning and planning for the week.
Like the Day Skipper Course, the RYA Coastal Skipper course consists of skippered passages in a variety of situations. Each trainee will skipper more challenging passages and learn more about passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations.
We would expect candidates to have completed the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory beforehand.
An RYA course brochure is available here.
Coastal Skippers should be able to undertake more difficult passages by day and night and handle the yacht in more demanding conditions. By the end of the course you should have the knowledge, if not the experience, to become a Yachtmaster™.
Partner courses to consider would be VHF SRC Radio, STCW PST - Sea Survival & Elementary First Aid
Cost is $1650usd pp. Please click on the 'Training Dates & Booking' button on the right to check available dates. Alternative dates are available for group bookings upon request, please call the office or use the enquiry form below.
| Duration: | 5 Days normally 9am monday to 5pm Friday | Max students | 5 |
| Previous Experience: | 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours | Minimum Age: | 17 |
| Locations: | Antigua | Dates: | All year |
| Course Content: | Passage planning, Preparation for sea, Pilotage, Passage making and ability as skipper, Yacht handling under power, Yacht handling under sail, Adverse weather conditions, Emergency situations, |
The RYA Day Skipper Theory course is an introduction to chart work, navigation, meteorology and seamanship. You will learn how to figure out tidal heights and streams and how they affect your course.
You will also learn about how to identify the ‘give way vessel’ when there is a risk of collision, ‘dead reckoning’ and ‘estimated positions’ as well as buoyage, safety equipment, passage planning and much more.
The first time you successfully navigate to a destination will give you a fantastic sense of achievement!
You can do the course in our classroom in Antigua over 5 days and we will work with you to be flexible on timings.
Alternatively you can do the RYA Day Skipper Theory online class before you arrive. This is RYA approved and truly a world class online training experience.
Before attending the RYA Day Skipper Theory course, it is useful that you have had some previous sailing or motor cruising experience.
Please click here to see the progression and recommended path for RYA theory courses.
Online $475usd pp - Classroom $995usd pp. Please click on the 'Training Dates & Booking' button on the right to check available dates.
| Duration: | 5 Days [40 hours plus exam times] | No. Students to Instructor: | 6:1 |
| Previous Experience: | None but some boating experience is useful | Minimum Age: | none |
| Locations: | Antigua or online . | Dates: | This course is run all year round |
