UKWA Crocodile Training (Cruising)

A brand new event, so called because I needed a "snappy" title! This follows on immediately from the end of the UKWA Adventure Sailing and Cruising Conference (see here)

Are you ever put off going on a cruise because you're not confident in your boat-handling ability? Are you worried about reefing in those stressful situations, or do tricky manoeuvres with an audience watching fill you with dread? This is the event for you!

Bring your boat with all your cruising gear, and you and your crew will be mentored through two days of on-the-water training. Matt Sharman, John Mellor and Jonathan Ferguson will guide you through handling the boat confidently and calmly, both from the safety boat and also with one to one coaching on your own boat.

The course is likely to cover, amongst other things:

• Boat setup, stowage arrangements and rigging check (Sunday afternoon, immediately after the cruising conference)
• Social meal on Sunday evening (details TBC)
• Launching and setting off in difficult conditions
• Reefing for all weathers
• Mastering the basic manoeuvres (tacking, gybing, heaving to)
• Tricky manoeuvres (approaching a buoy, pontoon, landing on lee shores/weather shores)
• Anchoring
• Sailing in strong conditions
• Capsize/man overboard (the practical side of this will be entirely weather-dependent at this time of year!)

You will need to bring:

• Your boat - minimum requirements:
  • Wayfarer (any mark)
  • Mainsail with two (or more) reefs
  • Genoa/jib
  • Paddles
  • Bucket
• You and your crew
  • Sailing gear (bear in mind the likely temperature in late March! Please ensure you are suitably kitted out for spending up to 90 minutes on the water at a time, several times a day)
  • Your food for the event

Please note that the event does not include accommodation. The options for this are the same as the cruising conference and can be booked together.

In addition to the £100 attendance fee which includes 1 boat, helm and crew, a £50 two-day launching fee will be payable directly to Rutland Sailing Club at the event.

Unfortunately, we can only offer this event for over-18s. When booking, please book one "Boat" ticket and two "crew" tickets.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Jonathan

Last updated 11:05am on 21 December 2025