Adventure Sailing Holiday: The British Virgin Islands

Ask one of our regular crew members what distinguishes the Rubicon 3 experience from other sailing they have done, and they will invariably reference our three golden rules. They are the foundation on which the whole experience is built and they are the one area that never changes and is non-negotiable.

1. We keep our environment calm and never shout

   Unfortunately many sailors have experienced shouting on board, and they know the unnecessary tension and anxiety that it causes. You will never find one of our skippers or mates shouting and no one else is allowed to either. Shouting is a clear sign of an inexperienced sailor who is not in full control.

2. No one takes a task off someone else

   We never step prematurely in to take a task off someone, thereby allowing them the space to think and (safely) make mistakes to best support their growth. There is nothing more frustrating than a keen fellow crew member telling you what to do, how to do it, or taking the job off you. You will always have the time and space to stop, think and come up with a plan.

3. No one must ever be nervous to ask for help

   Sailing is both blissfully simple and a sport that benefits from a great deal of experience. Especially on these larger, expedition yachts there are lots of ropes, winches, clutches and bits of equipment that can quickly become overwhelming. In a new environment, it can be hard even to remember one’s own name at times! No matter how straight forward the question, our skippers and mates are always there to help and will never look down on your for asking. It is what they are there for.

• Life on board an expedition yacht is unlike any other type of holiday you could choose: it allows a totally new way to explore the world, all whilst learning to sail and building new friendships. From the moment you step on board, you are part of a small if temporary community and how we all act is key to the environment we enjoy.
• Everyone gets involved in every task. We all cook, clean, prep, navigate, steer and trim sails. Of course, the skipper and mate are there to show you how and keep things nicely organised. If you are looking for a beach holiday or a skippered charter, this is not for you. But if you want to be an integral part of an exciting expedition, then you will thrive.
• It is physical, but anyone with day to day fitness and agility will find it more than manageable. Do check our 5 step physical checklist on  the Essential Info tab before you book. Where a crew member may struggle with one task, whether physical or technical, they will no doubt shine at another. This is the essence of the team and no one should worry about needing to be good at everything (or anything!)

• Life on board an expedition sailing yacht is very different to what you will be used to at home, but once you adjust to it you will find you are in an amazing team environment, with good friends and a support and camaraderie that you will often struggle to find elsewhere in life.
• Everyone has their own bunk. There is no ‘hot bunking’ and each bunk has it’s own personal light and USB charging point. Various bunks also have 12v cigarette lighter sockets, should you need to plug in a sleep apnea machine or similar.
• All bunks are in one main accommodation area, in four sets of two bunks – one above, one below.This gives much better space and privacy than being squeezed into a cabin with someone you don’t know and having to lie alongside them. Trust us – this way is much, much better!Each yacht has two heads (toilets) where you can change and a shower with plenty of hot water.
• It’s great fun and very relaxed.

• There is no typical Rubicon 3 crew member: instead, the people who sail with us come from all walks of life, and are of all ages and nationalities. Some have had years of experience on their own boats, whilst others have never been to sea before in their life. But differences aside, what does unify them all is their adventurous mindset and a shared goal.
• The trips run with 9 paying crew aboard, plus a skipper and mate.
• Almost everyone joins solo, but couples or groups are absolutely welcome if there are a few of you who’d like to come (right up to whole boat charter). There is something magic about coming together as a team on board a boat that really strengthens the bonds formed, and many of our past crew have left with amazing friends to meet and sail with again in the future
• We get a full age range joining, with plenty of people in their 20s, 30s, 40, 50s and 60s.
• There is nearly always a 50:50 mix of men and women.
• Crew join from all around the world and are a wonderful mix of cultures, professions and backgrounds, all brought together with the same desire to tae part in one of these adventures. You are all but certain to make long lasting friendships.

General

• Whether at sea or alongside, all crew are in a rota for cooking and cleaning to ensure we have lovely food to eat and a constantly high standard of hygiene. There are also daily jobs of navigating, skippering and engineer, allowing everyone to try their hand at every aspect of running a yacht.
• With no set itinerary, we will have a look at the weather and tides as a crew and decide where we’d like to go. It keepsit fun and spontaneous and is the reality of expedition sailing, which is always at the vagaries of the wind!
• With breakfast at 0800hrs, we’ll try to be sailing by 0930hrs each day, arriving at the destination for the day around 1700hrs. This gives a great day’s sailing but also allows everyone to shower, have a beer, explore ashore and have a nice dinner.
• Some days, if the weather is crappy or we’re at a wonderful place, we can just decide to stay there and explore some more, relax, do some training, get the fishing rods out, explore in the RIB…. the time is ours and we can decide as we go!
• Night sailing is nearly always limited to the Ocean and Offshore passages and the Coastal Passage Making Course.

Offshore sailing:

• If you are on an offshore sailing trip, you will likely spend the first few days sailing and training in coastal waters while the crew builds its competence, both individually and as a team.
• Our two week sailing trips, you can then expect to do one long passage of about 6-700nm which takes 4-6 days.
• You will normally be on one of 3 watches, allowing you to do 3 hours on and then have 6 hours off. This keeps you fresh and having a good time rather than sitting in a state of continual tiredness.
• Get ready for life at an angle, being up at strange hours, being hundreds of miles offshore and living the dream!

Coastal Passage Making Course:

• On a Coastal Passage Making Course, the absolute focus is on super charging your skippering skills and seamanship.
• Therefore get ready for lots and lots of information, learning, tests and lessons. Days are definitely longer and when you get in to port, you may be asked to put together a talk on a subject one night while everyone else goes to the pub.
• It’s supportive, exceptional training but we will also encourage you to push yourself just a bit further than normal.
• You are likely to have 2-3 overnight passages over the course of the course.

• Everyone takes their turn at cooking. Don’t worry if you don’t consider yourself much of a chef – you’re likely to be paired up with someone else, and we’ll provide recipes as needed. One of the many things that makes Rubicon 3 so special is our commitment to ensuring the meals we have on board are nutritious, delicious, and local.
• We shun the industry-standard pasta and frozen pies, instead opting for fresh and colourful meals, with each menu adapted to make the most of the varied produce on offer in the countries we’re visiting.
• In Norway maybe you’ll have roast lamb with all the trimmings, in the Caribbean we’ll whip up baked plantain with ackee and butterbeans, and in the Azores, we’ll look to find some of their famously sweet pineapples.
• We’re also experienced with catering for all different dietary requirements such as vegans, coeliacs, and allergies – please do tell us your specific requirements. However despite our best efforts in some countries, it may be difficult to victual for these, so it would be wise for you to bring some things from home.
• If you have severe allergies, you may not be suitable to join the crew. You must get approval from us before signing on.

Qualifications

On Coastal trips, you can earn the RYA Competent Crew certificate. The price is included in the trip price.

Training syllabus

General knowledge

Identify and describe the following cruising sailboat parts, areas, or systems and their functions:

• Turnbuckle
• Chainplate
• Stemhead Fitting
• Rudder Post
• Transom
• Compass
• Binnacle
• Cockpit Locker
• Emergency Tiller
• Saloon
• Companionway
• Galley
• V-berth
• Auxiliary Engine
• Bilge
• Bilge Pump
• Seacock
• Anchor
• Windlass
• Hatch
• Through-hull Fitting

Safety Equipment & Procedures

• List the safety equipment you should have on a 33-foot recreational yacht equipped with an inboard diesel engine.
• Describe the characteristics and benefits of Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s), both Wearable (Life Jackets) and Throwable.
• List the ASA / RYA recommended safety equipment for a recreational sailing vessel.
• Describe ways to keep gear and equipment secure and in their proper location.
• Describe the purpose and proper use of a safety harness and tether.

Navigation & Weather

• Demonstrate understanding of basic coastal navigation terminology and practices, including:
  • Essential navigator’s tools
  • Use of navigation charts and symbols
  • Depth soundings
  • Bottom types
  • Hazards
  • Aids to navigation
  • Latitude / Longitude
  • Determining magnetic direction
  • Measuring distance
• Describe how to prevent undue magnetic influence on a compass.
• Describe the dangers of, and how to avoid, a ‘lee shore.’
• Obtain and interpret marine weather information; describe the impact that present observations and forecasts may have on sailing plans for the next 6 -12 hours.
• Describe and identify Cumulonimbus clouds and what dangers they may signify.
• Define ‘small craft advisory’ and ‘gale warning’ and describe precautions to be taken for each.

Sail Plan

• Describe the appropriate sail combinations to carry under the following wind conditions: light (0-11 knots), moderate (12-19 knots), and heavy (20-33 knots).
• Describe the procedures for reducing sail using a roller furling jib and a mainsail reefing system.
• Describe the benefits of, and procedures for, heaving-to.

Seamanship

• Describe the primary responsibilities of skipper and crew.
• Describe, using diagrams as appropriate, the applicable rules for a 33-foot recreational sailing vessel, as found in the IRPCS:
  • Proceeding at a safe speed (Rule 6)
  • Determination of collision risk (Rule 7)
  • Taking early and substantial action to avoid collision (Rule 8).
  • Sailing vessels (Rule 12)
  • Overtaking (Rule 13)
  • Power-driven vessels in head-on (Rule 14)
  • Crossing (Rule 15) situations.
  • Give-way and Stand-on vessels (Rules 16 & 17).
  • Location, colour and illumination angles of required navigation lights at anchor, under sail, and under power.
  • Actions to be taken when operating a vessel in restricted visibility such as fog or haze including adaptation of speed and use of sound signals.
  • Basic maneuvering and warning signals (short and prolonged whistle blasts)
  • Describe the appearance and purpose of the ‘Diver Down’ and ‘Alpha’ flags.
• Describe common anchor types, major considerations for anchorage selection, and proper scope for short term and overnight anchoring as well as storm conditions.

Emergencies

• Describe the three stages of hypothermia; name symptoms and treatment for each.
• Describe two methods for getting a person out of the water and safely back on board the vessel.
• Identify common sources and prevention of fires and/or explosions, as well as appropriate actions to be taken if these situations arise. Describe different types of fires and procedures for operating a fire extinguisher.
• Describe immediate actions to be taken when the following urgent situations arise:
• Cabin filling with water
• Failed steering system
• Fouled propeller
• Failed running or standing rigging
• Dragging anchor
• Grounding at anchor
• Running aground under sail
• Engine failure

 SKILLS

 Preliminaries 

• Locate and examine for compliance the vessel’s legally required and ASA / RYA recommended safety equipment.
• Demonstrate on shore or aboard the vessel the correct method for putting on a life jacket while in the water.
• Identify the vessel’s battery selector switch and power distribution panel and ensure all switches are in the proper position for getting underway.
• Ensure navigation lights (sidelights, stern light, steaming light, and anchor light) operate properly.
• Perform a radio check using a working channel on the VHF radio.

Navigation 

• Visually pilot the training vessel in and out of a harbour, correlating nautical chart symbols to actual landmarks and aids to navigation.
• Steer a compass course (+/- 5 degrees) under power for a minimum of five minutes.

Under Power 

• Visually inspect the auxiliary engine and demonstrate safe engine starting, operating, and stopping procedures. Demonstrate proper gearshift and throttle usage.
• Ensure vessel & crew readiness and depart dock or slip smoothly and under control.
• Approach a mooring buoy (or other mark as a simulation if no mooring available); stop the vessel within boathook reach; attach the vessel to the mooring using an appropriate line or bridle; cast off from the mooring and get underway.
• Set a bow anchor in water depth 3m or greater, using correct procedures including hand signal communication, vessel manoeuvres, safety in handling ground tackle, and proper operation of windlass (if equipped). Anchor should hold with engine in reverse gear at one-half throttle. Raise anchor and get underway smoothly using correct procedures.
• Describe and demonstrate the correct actions to be taken while under power from the time a person falls overboard until safely recovered.

Under Sail 

• Hoist or unfurl sails correctly using halyards and / or furling devices. Describe the effect on sail trim or performance while adjusting each of the following lines and controls (if available on the practice vessel):

• • downhaul or cunningham
  • outhaul
  • boomvang
  • mainsheet
  • traveler
  • jibsheets
  • jibsheet fairleads
• Discuss ways to reduce heeling.

• Demonstrate correct winch operation, including safety considerations for line tension / breakage, hand / finger position, winch handle insertion / removal, and clearing overrides.
• Without coaching or assistance, verbalize appropriate commands and demonstrate competence, safety and good seamanship in the role of Skipper / Helmsman during the manoeuvres listed below.
• Honour all aids to navigation and use properly the Navigation Rules.

• Ensure sails are trimmed correctly and the vessel is in control at all times. Adjust sail controls appropriately as the vessel’s heading changes and wind / sea conditions evolve.
• Get out of ‘irons’ then select and maintain a given tack and course.
• Head Up, Tack, Bear Away, and Jibe while pausing briefly at each of the following points of sail: Close Hauled, Close Reach, Beam Reach, Broad Reach, and Run (with sails “wing on wing”).
• Heave-to and get sailing normally again.
• While underway, reduce sail area by reefing mainsail and genoa; then shake out reef.
• As crew, give appropriate verbal responses and perform correct actions during the manoeuvres listed above.
• Describe and demonstrate the correct actions to be taken while under sail from the time a person falls overboard until safely recovered.
• Lower and/or furl all sails and coil or flake and stow all lines properly.

Return to Dock/Slip 

• Ensure vessel / crew readiness and use the auxiliary engine to bring the vessel smoothly and under control to a stop next to a parallel dock or into a slip; secure the vessel using appropriate lines and fenders.

Knots 

• Describe the purpose of, and construct without assistance and in a timely manner, each of the following knots:

• • Figure-8
  • Square (Reef) Knot
  • Clove Hitch
  • Round Turn & 2 Half Hitches
  • Cleat Hitch
  • Bowline
  • Sheet Bend
  • Rolling Hitch

Basic sailing skills

• Can describe true and apparent wind, understands which we refer to, when and why.
• Can describe the key sailing forces using diagrams. Can show where to find the center of effort and center of resistance of sails and keel.
• Knows the causes of lee and weather helm and how to correct them.
• Understands when and how to effect sail shape and sail interactions using:
  • Luff tension
  • Outhaul
  • Leech line
  • Boom bang
  • Backstay tension
  • Headsail car
  • Sheets
  • Mainsheet Traveller
  • Downhaul / Cunningham

Meteorology

• Knows when to use a barometer and a thermometer and why.
• Recognises cirrus, cirrostratus, altocumulus, stratocumulus, cumulonimbus and cumulus clouds and the weather expected to be associated with each.
• Knows the difference between gradient and localised winds and what effect to expect on the weather.
• Knows when and where to get reliable weather information and understands the limitations of the various sources.

Seamanship

• Can helm a boat effectively both upwind and downwind and in light and strong winds.
• Cam trim sails effectively in all conditions
• Is competent in anticipating when and how to reef on all points of sail.
• Can prepare a yacht and crew for heavy weather, including:
• Preparation of crew (clothing, food, rest, watch system)
• Stowing of all equipment down below
• A thorough check of yacht systems
• Timely sail change
• Use of safety harness
• Use of drogue / sea anchor
• Heavy weather meteorology: wave heights, wind strengths, dangers to look out for, the rule of 8.
• Storm tactics such as heave-to and lie ahull
• Anchoring: finding a suitable anchorage and anchoring effectively
• When and how to have an anchor watch, including responsibilities.
• Various anchor drag alarms
• Anchoring etiquette
• When and how to use two anchors/lines ashore.
• How to recover a fouled anchor
• When and how to use an anchor buoy/trip line.
• Med mooring: use of anchor, bow line, approach and departure techniques.
• Know how to prepare a towing bridle
• Understand the technique to pass a tow to another boat
• Safely be able to get underway with a tow and know which speeds to use
• Know how to avoid fouling the propeller
• Understand the danger of the towline parting under stress
• Know and understand the practical implementation of the key colregs
• Has a full range of emergency techniques to include when:
  • The boat is dismasted
  • The boat runs aground
  • The boat is in trouble on a lee shore
  • The boat is on fire
  • The boat is flooding

Crew injuries

• Knows the skipper’s responsibilities and actions for the following common courtesies and customs:
  • Permission to board
  • Permission and entitlement to come alongside
  • Permission and entitlement to cross adjacent boats when after
  • Rights of the first boat at an anchorage
  • Keep clear of boats racing
  • Offering assistance to yachtsmen in trouble.
  • Flag etiquette: National flag, Courtesy flag, Burgee/house flag, dipping flag
  • The importance of a clean, tidy, ordered yacht.
• Knows the documents required and the procedures followed when leaving and entering territorial waters.

Maintenance

• Has basic engineering knowledge, including:
  • Theory of how to fix fuel supply problems
  • Theory of how to fix electrical problems
  • When and how (theory) to service an engine
  • Describe when and how to carry out an oil change.
• Understands the basics of:
  • Through hull fittings
  • Electrical systems
  • Corrosion
  • Antifoul
  • Pre-season / annual inspections
  • Spars and rigging
  • Lightning conductors
  • Swimming safely while the boat is at anchor.
  • The danger of overhead power lines.
  • Portable radar reflectors vs active reflectors

 Skills

• Demonstrated they can perform the duties of skipper and crew on a passage.
• Knows the correct methods of towing a dinghy.
• Can recover a casualty overboard while sailing at night.
• Can anchor, weigh anchor, pick up and cast off moorings while acting as helmsman and/or crew.
• Can take a depth sounding using two different methods.
• Can keep a watch and navigate effectively.
• Theory or preferably practical understanding re hoisting, setting, trimming, jibing, dousing and packing a spinnaker.

Qualifications

• On Offshore trips, you can earn the RYA Competent Crew certificate and, with sufficient skills and experience, you can act as a Watch Leader and complete your qualifying passage for RYA Yachtmaster Ocean.

For those wishing to learn how to be a watch leader or skipper of an ocean-going vessel, the Rubicon 3 Ocean Watch Leader Course is a must.

This course takes you through:

• Suitable yacht design
• How to prepare your yacht
• How to plan your passage
• Critical weather information and its sources
• How to handle heavy weather if you get caught in it
• The consumables you’ll need
• The spares you need
• The communications equipment choices you have
• Crew management and watch systems
• Sea sickness and medical emergencies

Please contact us for further details

Eligibility

• You may sign on to an ocean trip as Watch Leader providing you have RYA Coastal Skipper or international equivalent or equivalent skills and experience.
• We will ask for proof of this before you join the yacht.

Initial test

• When you first join the yacht as a watch leader, you will be asked to sit a 30 minute theory test, which is not dissimilar to RYA Yachtmaster theory. So long as you have done your revision, you will have nothing to worry about.
• If you fail to meet the standard, you will likely be reassigned as a crew member. This is to ensure the safety of the vessel and crew.

 A Watch Leader’s role & responsibilities

• You have a contradictory position as a watch leader in that you are both student and being asked to lead your watch.
• As a student, you are there to polish your existing skills and to learn many new ones. As watch leader, you are there to use your past experience and existing skills to ensure the yacht is sailed safely.
• This entails but is not limited to:

• • Monitoring the wind and weather and informing the skipper if there is a change beyond that allowed in the SOPs.
  • Ensure the course and speed are appropriate to the plan
  • Ensuring the watch is keeping a good lookout, including on the AIS and radar where applicable
  • Monitoring of the VHF
  • Monitoring the well being of the other crew on deck and ensuring they are kept warm, fed and rested.
  • Making sure that the log is kept accurately and the yacht’s position plotted.
  • Keeping the cockpit safe and orderly
  • Getting sextant sights were appropriate
  • Having the new watch woken in time and your watch always timely.

• You should be aware that we expect a watch leader to lead, not tell people what to do.
• That means you need to work harder than the rest of the watch, be outside when it is raining and cold, and not hiding down by the chart table.
• You need to be getting warm drinks made, doing the tough jobs and generally setting a superb example that ensures others are willing to follow and contribute.
• If we do not feel you have adequately fulfilled the role, we will not sign you off as having completed the role adequately.

On-going assessment

• During the course of your ocean passage, you will have continual assessment of your capabilities and performance.
• The skipper and mate will be working with you each day and keeping you up to date with how well you are doing and where you need to improve. The aim is that you learn a lot and pass.
• However, if it is felt you have not reached the required standard, you will not be signed off as having completed the role satisfactorily.
• The assessment is as follows:
  • Maintains an accurate log, including monitoring of day tank and battery levels
  • Navigation station is tidy and orderly when on watch
  • Effectively delegates navigational tasks to other crew members
  • Can monitor and maintain course and speed
  • Other crew members are kept well informed and involved in the passage
  • Punctuality on watch
  • Daily engine and generator checks are completed effectively
  • Bilges are checked regularly
  • Effective deck walk is conducted morning and evening with observations reported and/ or resolved
  • Maintains good safety discipline on watch (clipping on, lifejackets correctly worn)
  • Informs the skipper or mate of significant events and circumstances
  • Can monitor and assess traffic situations
  • Can deliver a good passage briefing or happy hour position up date
  • Conducts an effective hand over with on-coming watch
  • Latest weather forecasts are recorded and analysed
  • Accurate monitoring of weather conditions on watch
  • Appropriate sail plan for the conditions

Total marks available: 105 Pass mark: 70

Free Ocean Watch Leader Course

When signing up as a Watch Leader, there is an additional fee of £150. This covers the additional training we give you. It also gives you free access to the Rubicon 3 Ocean Watch Leader Course, which we strongly recommend you take before starting your passage with us.

The RYA Ocean Qualifying passage

• You must have completed a qualifying passage within the past 10 years as skipper or mate in sole charge of a watch on a suitable vessel.
• You must have been fully involved in the planning of the passage, including selection of the route, the navigational plan, checking the material condition of the vessel and her equipment, storing with spare gear, water and victuals and organising the watch-keeping routine.
• Your time onboard as a watch leader with Rubicon 3 achieves all of these requirements.

Are Rubicon 3 Ocean Passages suitable for Ocean qualifying passages?

• Yes, except for the rare exception, they all are.
• We very carefully check the routes against the RYA criteria so you can rest assured that it will qualify.
• If you’re ever in any doubt whether a passage is an ocean qualifier just email us or call us on +44 (0)20 3086 7245

What tasks do I need to complete onboard prior the exam?

• It is important to recognise that in order to take the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean exam, you must have the following:
  • A qualifying passage
  • A suitable set of celestial navigation sights
  • A compass check
• These do not have to be done during your qualifying passage, although obviously most people choose to do so.
• We will help you revise for these tasks, but you will be expected to complete them yourself for the actual exercise.