Hamble School of Yachting are running several specialist courses that are ideal for anyone preparing to cross an ocean. These take place in Hamble, near Southampton UK.
2-Day Weather Course
More details: hamble.co.uk/weather-course
Dates for 2025:
- Sat 04 to Sun 05 October 2025
- Sat 15 to Sun 16 November 2025
The Hamble School of Yachting two-day weather course is for
any sailors who would like to expand their knowledge on a complex
subject made simple by a marine weather expert. If you are a budding skipper or
an experienced sailor this course will build on your understanding and help you
improve your forecasting skills, whether you are sailing in the Solent,
crossing the Atlantic or sailing around the world.
Weather topics covered
- Principals of
Meteorology and what we understand by weather.
- Global circulation.
- Air mass and weather
systems (highs and lows).
- Weather forecasts and
what they tell us and what they don't!
- Wind, isobars and
clouds.
- Weather dangers Tropical
weather.
- Ocean weather - with
particular emphasis on Trans-Atlantic passages and around the world on the
trade wind route.
- Coastal weather.
- GRIB files and other
sources of forecasts once away from land.
- Ocean currents.
- Weather routing.
5-day Yacht Maintenance Course
More details: hamble.co.uk/yacht-maintenance-course
Dates for 2025:
- Mon 20 to Fri 24 October 2025
This programme is an intensive 5-day hands-on practical and theory course delivered by experience sailors and subject matter experts, which will equip each student with the basic fault-finding and problem-solving skills needed by any skipper.
Topics covered
- Electrical
- Engine
- Plumbing
- Rigging and deck hardware
- Sail repair and maintenance
1-day Offshore Safety (World Sailing/RYA)
More details: hamble.co.uk/isaf-offshore-safety-course
Dates for 2025:
- Sun 20 July
- Sun 24 August
- Sun 21 September
- Sun 12 October
The RYA/ISAF World Sailing Offshore Safety course covers the skills and knowledge necessary to both prevent and deal with emergencies offshore. In order to obtain the full ISAF World Sailing Offshore Safety Certification students will need to complete both this course and the one day RYA Sea Survival course.
Topics covered
- Care & maintenance of safety equipment
- Storm sails
- Damage control
- Crew routines
- Man overboard prevention and recovery
- Giving assistance to other craft
- SAR organisation and methods
- Practical fire precautions and fire fighting
- Distress alerting and survivor location aids
1-daySea Survival (RYA)
More details: hamble.co.uk/rya-sea-survival-course
Dates for 2025:
- Sat 19 July
- Sat 23 August
- Sat 20 September
- Sat 11 October
You will be taught about how to launch rafts, what the initial and subsequent actions in a raft are and receive some sound advice on longer term survival. Other topics covered include the design of lifejackets, hypothermia and Search and Rescue techniques. The RYA Sea Survival course includes a two hour practical session in a pool.