Nautical Skills Training Options

Training activities - Practical skills

1. Gain the Scout Association Pulling Badge.
2. Gain the Scout Association Pulling Coxswain Award.
3. Gain the BCU 2 Star Award (Kayak or Canadian).
4. Gain the BCU 3 Star Award (Kayak or Canadian).
5. Pass the BCU Safety Test.
6. Gain the BCU 4 Star Award (Kayak, Canadian or Sea).
7. Gain the National Dinghy Certificate Scheme Level 2.
8. Gain the RYA National Dinghy Certificate Scheme Level 3.
9. Gain the RYA Competent Crew Certificate.
10. Gain the RYA National Windsurfing Scheme Level 1 (inland or open sea).
11. Gain the RYA National Windsurfing Scheme Level 2 (inland or open sea).
12. Gain the RYA Young Sailor Scheme Start Sailing 1 Award.
13. Gain the RYA Young Sailor Scheme Start Sailing 2 Award.
14. Gain the RYA Young Sailor Scheme Start Sailing 3 Award.
15. Gain the RYA Young Sailor Scheme Red Badge.
16. Gain the RYA Young Sailor Scheme White Badge.
17. Gain the RYA Young Sailor Scheme Blue Badge.

1. Demonstrate the HELP posture for survival in water.
2. With other members of the Patrol, demonstrate the HUDDLE position for survival in water.
3. Explain how a life-jacket works and be able to demonstrate its use.
4. Explain the effects of temperature, wind and water on the human body in cases of hypothermia and exhaustion. List the First Aid procedures in these cases.
5. With another canoeist, demonstrate two methods of canoe rescue.
6. Heave a lifeline from a boat to land within reach of a target eight metres away, twice from three attempts.
7. Acting as an assistant in a rescue exercise, board a stranded craft and bring it ashore single-handed.
8. Under sail, demonstrate 'man overboard' drill using a suitable object.
9. Using a training manikin, demonstrate the correct method of ventilation.
10. Demonstrate capsize drill in a sailing dinghy.
11. One other activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section leadership team.

1. Name the parts of a boat and its equipment. Prepare it for a water activity and use it.
2. With other members of the Section, clean and paint a boat.
3. Under supervision, carry out repairs to a boat.
4. Demonstrate an ability to do simple sail repairs, using a palm and needle.
5. Rig a sailing boat and name the parts of the gear.
6. Build and maintain a boat or canoe.
7. Whilst afloat, construct and hoist a jury rig from available materials in a boat. Sail the jury-rigged boat 500 metres.
8. Under supervision, carry out routine maintenance on an outboard motor and demonstrate the proper fitting to the transom of a boat.
9. Make a boat's bag or sail bag.
10. Build and demonstrate a working model of a boat.
11. One other activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section leadership team.

1. Read a mariner's compass and have a knowledge of variation and deviation.
2. Demonstrate how a position may be found from two bearings.
3. Demonstrate the use of tide tables and tidal stream atlases.
4. Explain the system of strip maps of canals and rivers. Use one of these charts to plan an expedition.
5. Demonstrate how compass error can be found from a transit bearing.
6. Plot their position using a Decca or satellite navigation system.
7. Plot their position at sea. Understand the 'cocked hat' principle.
8. Use a sextant to measure vertical angles.
9. Complete a navigation exercise by day on water and know how to find North by sun or stars.
10. Demonstrate how to take soundings in local waters, both with leadline and pole.
11. One other activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section leadership team.

1. Hoist the colours for a Sea Scout Group. Pipe the 'still' and 'carry on' on a Bosun's call.
2. Demonstrate three further calls commonly used in a Sea Scout Group.
3. Make a sailmaker's whipping and one other type of whipping.
4. Make an eye splice and a back splice.
5. Make a short splice.
6. Demonstrate, in a nautical setting, the following and their correct uses: clove hitch, rolling hitch, fisherman's bend and a form of stopper knot.
7. 7 Make a rope fender or a decorative piece of rope work, for example, a lanyard.
8. Demonstrate the correct method of maintaining and stowing ropes.
9. Explain the differences in usage and stowage of natural and synthetic ropes.
10. One other activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section leadership team.

1. Know the Beaufort wind and sea scales.
2. Identify the basic types of clouds. Explain how they are formed, how wind speed is measured and how weather can affect water activities.
3. Identify the weather associated with frontal systems in the United Kingdom. Be able to explain the meaning of the terms used in describing a weather map, for example, col, ridge, trough and occlusion.
4. Explain how temperature and pressure are measured. List the units used for each and demonstrate conversion between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
5. Identify the weather conditions associated with the movement of air masses over the United Kingdom.
6. Find the geostrophic wind speed from information given on a synoptic chart, and discuss its relationship to wind on land and in coastal waters.
7. Be able to interpret a weather map and identify at least two natural signs for weather changes in their area. Set up a simple weather station and keep a log of their recordings over a month.
8. Record a shipping forecast, make a weather map from it and be able to interpret it.
9. One other activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section leadership team.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the pulling orders used in single or double banked boats, and take charge of a pulling boat.
2. Be able to steer and manouevre a boat, canoe or dinghy.
3. Complete a one-day expedition by canoe, pulling boat or sailing dinghy with others.
4. Complete a 24 hour expedition by canoe, pulling boat or sailing dinghy with others, to include a night spent in camp.
5. Form part of a crew on an offshore cruising vessel for a trip of not less than 24 hours, to include at least one night afloat.
6. Form part of a crew on an inland cruising vessel for a trip of not less than 48 hours, to include two nights afloat.
7. One other activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section leadership team.

1. Know the rules for getting afloat on tidal waters and getting access to inland waters.
2. Know the distress, storm, fog and danger signals.
3. Know the international Buoyage System (IALA).
4. Know the sound signals used by powered vessels underway and at anchor.
5. Know the navigation lights carried by different types of vessels. Identify at least three different types from the lights displayed.
6. Have a working knowledge of the International Yacht Racing Rules and the Yardstick Handicapping Systems.
7. Know the effects of currents on non-tidal waterways and the effect of heavy rain up-river, danger levels, rapids and wild water on two rivers.
8. Be able to advise on suitable moorings and anchorages locally for different types of craft, and emergency landing places for small craft.
9. Explain the systems of sea-lanes in national and international waters.
10. Achieve a radio yacht licence.
11. One other activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section leadership team.