Level 2 Coastal Cruising

Learn all you need to cruise the Hauraki Gulf this summer!

What To Expect

We are pleased to announce a collaboration with long standing member and owner of her own sailing school –  Suzanne at Sailing Away.

A little bit about Suzanne

Suzanne Bourke has been a member of the RNZYS since 2004 and is the sole owner operator of Sailing Away School of Sailing. Established in 2004 as a Yachting NZ Keelboat Sail Cruising School.

Suzanne holds Yachting NZ Instructors certificates for the Level one, two and three of the Sail Cruising programme. Also Yachting NZ Coaching certification for dinghy sailing instruction since 1992.

In 2005 Sailing Away became a Royal Yachting Association Sail Cruising School when Suzanne gained a Yachtmaster Offshore Instructor qualification.

Suzanne also holds a current SLO Maritime NZ Master Certification.

Prior to establishing Sailing Away Suzanne was a Primary School teacher for 26 years. This included teaching the Waterwise learn to sail programme at Okahu Bay.

We invite you to let Suzanne know your interest via this Expression of Interest Link, after this she will be in contact regarding available dates and how to pay. The price, $1395 includes a logbook that will be completed throughout your course.

As with our Level 1 courses you will receive temporary membership to RNZYS for 3 months after your course. Please see below the first set of dates available:

March

Saturday 16th March to Monday 18th March

Saturday 23rd March to 25th March

April

Saturday 20th April to Monday 22nd April

May

Saturday 4th May to Monday 6th May

Saturday 25th May to Monday 27th May

There is a minimum of 3 students per date and a maximum of 7 students per course. We do not have any overnight, stay on the boat dates at this time.

There may be dates after May, this will be weather dependent. Dates will be available again after Suzanne takes her holiday over winter and will resume at the end of September/ October time.

The rough outline of the level 2 course is as follows:

 

Day One 

Meet at RNZYS at 10am and move down to French Connection on H Pier.

You will receive your temporary membership card as well.

Completing a full day of on board practical set pieces.

Returning to Westhaven Marina at 4pm.

Day Two 

Students meet at the yacht on Pier H 24 at 10am.

Complete a full day of on water tuition and anchor for dinner in a sheltered bay – let Suzanne know of any dietary requirements for dinner..

Night sail back into Westhaven arriving approx 10pm – exact time will depend on the time of sunset.

 

Day Three

Students meet at the yacht on H24 at 10am

Complete a full day on the water and return to Westhaven and packdown the yacht by 6pm.

Head into the Members Bar for a debrief and presentation of certificates, log books and club handbooks

Please bring your own water bottle, lunch, sunscreen and hat. Warm clothes are a god idea too, sometimes the breeze makes the air temperature cooler. We advise wearing quick dry clothing and non slip, non marking/ light soled shoes. Please bring a rain jacket just in case – wet weather trousers/ pants will be provided if required.

Tea and coffee will be provided during the lunch break.

What the course covers

During the Level 2 cruising crew course you will gain an understanding of safety on the water, navigation and tides, ‘rules of the road’, using a VHF radio, engine maintenance and of course sailing skills;

  • Advanced knots
  • Recovering a person overboard
  • Hoisting and Reefing Sails
  • Anchoring and Mooring
  • Planning a voyage

What is included

At the beginning of your course you’ll receive a three month trial membership at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. You’ll be able to use the facilities and get a full taste of what being an active sailing member of the RNZYS is like!
The course includes all safety gear, food for Saturday evening, drinks during breaks and a log book.

On graduation you receive a Yachting New Zealand Level 2 certificate.

By the end of the course you will have an understanding (and appetite) for cruising around our wonderful Hauraki gulf.

The Sailing Office will provide help with the next stage of your journey: crew placement, Level 2 Race Crew Training course, Level 3 Cruising course or even volunteering in race management.

Click on the photos to see more 🙂

Common Questions

Where do we meet?

Main foyer of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, 181 Westhaven Drive.

What should I bring?

The Lidgard house is fully stocked with bedding and towels.

You should pack;

  • Warm jumper. Wool is best in case of colder weather
  • Warm jacket, wind and water proof if possible
  • Thermal top and bottom if possible because of cold weather (the night sail will be cold)
  • Sun cream (SPF 30+)
  • Sun hat, Beanie, Sunglasses
  • Drink bottle
  • Sailing gloves
  • Casual (off water) clothes, any personal items and toiletries.

Life Jackets and harnesses are provided, but if you have your own you are welcome to use it.

You are welcome to bring swimmers if you want to go for a swim in your down-time.

What is an SLC?

The International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC) is a recreational sailing license valid for all yacht charter companies worldwide including Europe and the Seychelles. To gain an SLC, the candidate must complete the RNZYS courses up to Level 3 Coastal Skipper, pass an online suite of theoretical knowledge courses and tests appropriate for bareboat chartering, log previous sufficient sailing experience, and demonstrate sailing skills according to internationally established sailing standards. After completion, the SLC can be issued electronically very quickly.

Why SLC rather than ICC?

The ICC (International Certificate of Competency) has come from an EU directive and is valid in Europe.

The SLC is issued by NauticEd, exceeds the requirements for the ICC and is valid worldwide not just Europe.

We have previously offered the ICC, but from 2022 have switched to the SLC as we believe it offers better value to our students, is accepted in more places, and can be issued quicker (there can be processing delays for the ICC).

What if it's bad weather will the course be cancelled?

If there is a very bad weather forecast we’ll be in touch and look at rescheduling the course.

Can the boats capsize?

No. Our boats are keelboats and are impossible to capsize.

 

How much of the course is theory versus practical?

Approximately two thirds of the time is on the water/practical, and one third theory.

Does RNZYS offer RYA courses?

We run YNZ (Yachting New Zealand) courses YNZ Level1 seamanship and YNZ Level2 seamanship; RYA (Royal Yachting Association) is the British equivalent of YNZ. Both are endorsed and recognised internationally by the sailing governing body ‘World Sailing’.

Will I get a certificate after my course?

Provided you pass the course (most do) you will get a YNZ certificate which is Internationally recognised by World Sailing.

Should I do any preparation before the course?

Most of the prep work will be done during the week night planning session. If you want to checking the weather forecast and tides can help.

Will I be able to skipper a boat on my own after the course?

After a Level 2 course you will have all the information you need to skipper a boat safely yourself. We still do recommend you gain more experience and confidence as a crew before doing any long trips as a skipper.

How do I continue to sail after I finish the course

We have a lots of frequent and cruising regattas at the club and we can help place you on a RNZYS member’s boat. We can also help you if you are looking to purchase your own yacht.

Should I become a member of RNZYS?

Yes! In fact if you sign up to a course you are already a member as the course includes one month membership to the RNZYS which allows you to use all the facilities at the club. After three months you can decide if you wish to carry on the membership, which we strongly encourage you to do. As well as sailing, the RNZYS offers great dining in the member’s bars and quarterdeck restaurant, rooms for meetings, fantastic social functions, family events, use of Lidgard house at Kawau island and it is an all round great club.