"Joe" wrote in message
om...
"JN" wrote in message
. ..
Now you're qualified to take me for an evening sail next summer when I
spend
my annual week in the Keys and serve me a glass of wine when I demand
it,
serve me a snack when I want it, and in general put up with all my
garbage
because I won't give a tip if you don't ?????

Huh, cappy wappy? Is that what your paper gives you permission to do?


Thats the OZ yachtmaster ticket you must be talking about. I hear the
only pratical test a "yachtmaster" has to take, is how quick he can
get his knee pads on and off. Here in the USA licences are for working
mariners.

Joe, it appears that you know as much about the Yachtmaster qualification as
you do about international affairs.

One of the tests involves sitting at the chart table, with the ports blacked
out, and predicting your position to within a few metres.

In other words, you have to sail (and navigate) the boat "blind".

Do you have to do this for the USCG ticket?



Regards


Donal
--

The "chartwork" portion of the USCG test is actually rather demanding. Its not
so hard for those of us that learned to navigate the "old way," but a lot of
newcomers have trouble with running fixes, etc. I know several people that
passed the other portions but failed chartwork.

While its true that the Yachtmaster test has a real live "hands on" component
that is lacking in the USCG test, it is possible to get the highest level with
only 2 months experience. The "Coastal Skipper" only requires a few weeks.

On the other hand, 360 days of experience is required to get the lowest Master's
license. Its virtually impossible for the seasonal recreational sailor to get
this with less than 5 years experience. Even the "6-pack" Operators license
requires this. Neal's "Near Coastal" Master's license requires 720 days, half
of which must be "Near Coastal," which on the East Coast generally means 10
miles offshore, or outside of any protection. This is almost impossible to
accumulate without extended cruising or professional service.

The USCG license also has a series of tests, which take most of a day to
complete. The rules test, in particular, is closed book, requires 90% to pass,
and is rather tricky. In addition, there is a physical, drug test, first
aid/CPR class, etc.

And as Shen and Otn will point out, this is "entry level," and has little
meaning in larger vessels.



"Donal" wrote in message
...

"Joe" wrote in message
om...
"JN" wrote in message
. ..
Now you're qualified to take me for an evening sail next summer when I
spend
my annual week in the Keys and serve me a glass of wine when I demand
it,
serve me a snack when I want it, and in general put up with all my
garbage
because I won't give a tip if you don't ?????

Huh, cappy wappy? Is that what your paper gives you permission to do?


Thats the OZ yachtmaster ticket you must be talking about. I hear the
only pratical test a "yachtmaster" has to take, is how quick he can
get his knee pads on and off. Here in the USA licences are for working
mariners.

Joe, it appears that you know as much about the Yachtmaster qualification as
you do about international affairs.

One of the tests involves sitting at the chart table, with the ports blacked
out, and predicting your position to within a few metres.

In other words, you have to sail (and navigate) the boat "blind".

Do you have to do this for the USCG ticket?



Regards


Donal
--

"Jeff Morris" wrote:

The USCG license also has a series of tests, which take most of a day to
complete. The rules test, in particular, is closed book, requires 90% to
pass,
and is rather tricky. In addition, there is a physical, drug test, first
aid/CPR class, etc.

And as Shen and Otn will point out, this is "entry level," and has little
meaning in larger vessels.

So what kind of license do you have to have to buy a Nordica 30 and sail it
in the USA?

LP

"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
The "chartwork" portion of the USCG test is actually rather demanding.
Its not
so hard for those of us that learned to navigate the "old way," but a lot
of
newcomers have trouble with running fixes, etc. I know several people
that
passed the other portions but failed chartwork.

While its true that the Yachtmaster test has a real live "hands on"
component
that is lacking in the USCG test, it is possible to get the highest level
with
only 2 months experience. The "Coastal Skipper" only requires a few
weeks.

The "2 months" version is a recent course, that IMHO violates the spirit of
the Yachtmaster certificate.

AFAIK, only one school offers such a short course. It is used by people who
want to work at sea.

Most recreational sailors would have 5-10 years experience before doing the
practical test.
I've only done the shorebased element.



Happy Christmas

Donal
--

So what are the requirements? Whenever I search I find sites the talk about 15
days or 50 days (for the offshore) experience. Only the highest level requires
a long (600 miles) offshore passage. Whenever I look at them it seems I would
have been qualified after a year of ocean sailing (on top of 15 years of dinghy
experience!)

On the other hand, it took almost 10 years of cruising in my own boat to
accumulate enough sea-time for even the 6-pack. And one could do 5
trans-Atlantics and not come close to the required service for even the
"Near-Coastal" ticket.

There is, of course, a major loophole in the US system. If you own your own
boat, you can "self-certify" the time. It only has to be plausible enough the
convince the CG officer. Its easy to see that a number of 3 hour trips could
turn into full days, and somehow 51% of the time spent is 10 mile offshore. But
I can't believe that anyone would seriously abuse the system.

-jeff

"Donal" wrote in message
...

"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
The "chartwork" portion of the USCG test is actually rather demanding.
Its not
so hard for those of us that learned to navigate the "old way," but a lot
of
newcomers have trouble with running fixes, etc. I know several people
that
passed the other portions but failed chartwork.

While its true that the Yachtmaster test has a real live "hands on"
component
that is lacking in the USCG test, it is possible to get the highest level
with
only 2 months experience. The "Coastal Skipper" only requires a few
weeks.

The "2 months" version is a recent course, that IMHO violates the spirit of
the Yachtmaster certificate.

AFAIK, only one school offers such a short course. It is used by people who
want to work at sea.

Most recreational sailors would have 5-10 years experience before doing the
practical test.
I've only done the shorebased element.



Happy Christmas

Donal
--

"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
So what are the requirements? Whenever I search I find sites the talk
about 15
days or 50 days (for the offshore) experience. Only the highest level
requires
a long (600 miles) offshore passage. Whenever I look at them it seems I
would
have been qualified after a year of ocean sailing (on top of 15 years of
dinghy
experience!)

On the other hand, it took almost 10 years of cruising in my own boat to
accumulate enough sea-time for even the 6-pack. And one could do 5
trans-Atlantics and not come close to the required service for even the
"Near-Coastal" ticket.

There is, of course, a major loophole in the US system. If you own your
own
boat, you can "self-certify" the time. It only has to be plausible enough
the
convince the CG officer. Its easy to see that a number of 3 hour trips
could
turn into full days, and somehow 51% of the time spent is 10 mile
offshore. But
I can't believe that anyone would seriously abuse the system.


It's easy enough to tell if someone is experienced by simply watching them
board a boat.

The Yachtmaster exam requires 2000 sea miles(or should that be hours?).
Frankly, I think that the average examiner will assess your experience by
watching you as you board, and walk around the boat.


I'm just about ready to take the practical test. If I decide to do the
test, then I will need to do a three day course to brush up on various
aspects.


Regards


Donal
--

One of the tests involves sitting at the chart table, with the ports blacked
out, and predicting your position to within a few metres.

In other words, you have to sail (and navigate) the boat "blind".


Interesting, what if any inputs do you get?

Shen

"Shen44" wrote in message
...

One of the tests involves sitting at the chart table, with the ports
blacked
out, and predicting your position to within a few metres.

In other words, you have to sail (and navigate) the boat "blind".


Interesting, what if any inputs do you get?


Not much. ... The slapping of the waves on the hull??

Regards


Donal
--

"Donal" wrote in message
...

"Shen44" wrote in message
...

One of the tests involves sitting at the chart table, with the ports
blacked
out, and predicting your position to within a few metres.

In other words, you have to sail (and navigate) the boat "blind".


Interesting, what if any inputs do you get?


Not much. ... The slapping of the waves on the hull??


And the eTrex in his pocket.

"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
"Donal" wrote in message
...

"Shen44" wrote in message
...

One of the tests involves sitting at the chart table, with the ports
blacked
out, and predicting your position to within a few metres.

In other words, you have to sail (and navigate) the boat "blind".


Interesting, what if any inputs do you get?


Not much. ... The slapping of the waves on the hull??


And the eTrex in his pocket.

Awww, c'mon!!!!




Regards


Donal
--