Prepping for a weeks practical Baltic Sailing leasson

Soon it’s time for some serious sailing again. I will attend a 7 days practical sailing course next Saturday. The trip is operated by Segelschule Frank Lochte on 30 – 38 footer starting from Travemünde, Germany. We’ll be a crew of 4-6 and one trainer / skipper. At the end of the trip, I will take the practical exam to the German SKS-license (equivalent to RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence).

This trip will bring me one step closer to not crashing my Seascape on its first passage from Flensburg to Neustadt. I thought about taking the course somewhere warm or more exotic, but the Baltic Sea is the area I will really start sailing with my boat – knowing the hood already will have its advantages for sure.

We will have GPS on board, but the trip is about the fundamentals of sailing and being able to operate under exceptional circumstance, such as lack of electricity. As it’s been a while since I had to navigate using a chart and compass, I’m spending some time to refresh my navigational skills. Admittedly, they were a little rusty already but I am making good progress in my every day exercises. Just tell me – if the course is regularly of by 1 – 2° when the chart is placed on my steady table, how can accurate navigation become possible sitting in a boat which is rolling over the waves?

I will keep you posted how the trip went. I am hoping for some serious strong winds – better get used to it when somebody competent is around.