In February, 2011 I attended the Langkawi Sailing School again and after six very intensive days of learning and examinations, completed the RYA Yachtmaster/Coastal Skipper Tidal land-based theory certificate course.

This course thoroughly covers the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea, commonly called the “Colregs”, nautical charts and publications, understanding compass variation and deviation, tidal theory, standard ports and secondary ports, tidal streams, tidal over-falls, races and eddies, dead-reckoning and estimated position, fixing your position, GPS position fixing and waypoints, other GPS functions, GPS good practice, other electronics, plotting a course to steer, traffic separation schemes, vessel lights and shapes, safety equipment, stability, fire-fighting, distress signals, VHF Voice and DSC Calls, emergency procedures, the IALA maritime buoyage system, special marks, lights, sector lights, leading lights and directional lights, pilotage and pilotage techniques and planning, anchoring, the principles of weather including depressions, anti-cyclones, winds, clouds and weather patterns, how to read a synoptic weather chart, barometric readings and meanings, terms used in weather forecasting and the Beaufort Force Wind Scale, passage planning and restricted visibility.

The course was held at a conference room at Telaga Harbor Marina each day from 9am until we finished, usually about 9pm each day. Several of the course participants stayed at Pantai Cenang in a nice little guest house at the modest amount of MYR65 per night. This location was great, right in the heart of the very active beach area and close to many restaurants and bars. Unfortunately we did not have much time to sample their wares! Gudrun came to join me for the final weekend and we stayed on for a couple of days after the course to visit our good friends at www.bluewaterstarsailing.com.

Gerd and Eva Zimmerman run a yacht charter business based at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club in Kuah and Eva operates daily sunset dinner cruises on the beautiful old coastal sloop “Damai Indah”.

The next step up the ladder of RYA certificates, working towards the ultimate RYA Yachtmaster Ocean certificate of competence, is the Yachtmaster/Coastal Skipper Tidal Practical so with that objective firmly in view I booked a three week passage on “Kay Sira” so that I could get the necessary miles and experience to qualify for my RYA Coastal Skipper certificate. This qualification also requires that the candidate holds a Restricted (VHF only) Radio  Operators certificate and an RYA First Aid certificate. We arranged with the school that both Gudrun and I could do these two one-day courses in Penang immediately before I set off to do the three week practical course requirements. On March 5 and 6, Gudrun and I attended the VHF Radio Operator and First Aid courses and examinations run by Debbie Cole on behalf of the Langkawi Sailing School. We are both now proud holders of our VHF Radio Operator Licence and a current First Aid certificate.