One week skipper training trip in October
Ralf Uka 
You can find an example of a skipper training trip in the trip reports.
Skipper training is comprehensive preparation for commanding yachts and involves more than harbour manoeuvres. The aim of the training is to gain experience, competence and confident handling of the yacht even in difficult situations. During the week-long trip we have plenty of time to deal with assessing marine weather and of course with passage planning. In October it can get a bit rougher.
Skipper training is practical experience on board in constantly changing roles and requires preparing yourself and the crew for manoeuvres, leading calmly and confidently, and being led at the bow line, at the fender or at the helm. All manoeuvres are evaluated with the instructor and the crew, and naturally one's own role is also reflected upon.
The training for a maximum of four people begins with a thorough safety briefing, the emergency plan and dealing with sometimes unexpectedly necessary measures. Bleeding the fuel line, changing the impeller, replacing a toilet seal and assessing the marine weather report are all part of it.
We practise all manoeuvres in offshore and onshore winds, as well as in beam winds. This includes casting off and coming alongside in the berth with wind-dependent line handling strategies. The yacht is turned forwards and backwards around the pile and brought into the berth.
We make fast alongside the pontoon in forward and reverse motion and motor into the fore or aft spring when casting off. Making fast with just one line over the midship cleat is also trained. We raft up, make fast at floating pontoons and with a stern line to a mooring.
In the practical sailing part, all points of sail are covered, sail trim and reefing and unreefing are practised. The figure-of-eight, the reach-to-reach and the quick-stop manoeuvre are trained as emergency manoeuvres. This also includes the most realistic possible recovery of a person overboard using a recovery sail or lifting tackle – a survival suit is available for this purpose. Skipper training includes harbour manoeuvres in unfamiliar harbours and during an 'exemplary' night passage, navigating and 'steering by lights' – without a plotter.
One more thing: the calm, competent skipper, who as a former professional seaman has experience across all seven seas, is the specialist for sailing trips on the North Sea and Baltic Sea. This pleases absolute beginners, crews in practical SKS training and especially the over-50s generation. In almost all training courses, 'beginners' without any sailing experience can also try things out. The 'Kalami Star' is recognised as a training vessel by the BG-Verkehr and the BSH (Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie). There is no higher safety standard for training yachts. In addition, the yacht is inspected by the BG-Verkehr every two years. Charter yachts are not subject to these high standards. You should check this before deciding on a training course.
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More InformationMap from OpenStreetMap. When the map is displayed, data is transmitted to the provider.
More InformationBav. 37/3
37 feet
