Specialised Skipper

BE READY FOR ANYTHING!

BE READY FOR ANYTHING!

Specialised Courses by WWS

Our short, fun, specialized courses offer vital benefits for becoming a proficient & confident skipper.
First, they provide targeted learning, honing skills crucial for effective navigation, decision-making and boat handling.
We condense essential information & experience, saving you time and effort. we focus on specific topics, such as weather interpretation or emergency procedures, & deliver practical skills THAT WORK IMMEDIATELY.
Whether mastering a man-overboard with a spinnaker or refining weather forecasting, Wild West Sailing courses inject enthusiasm into skill development.
Our aim is to empower you with versatile expertise, foster confidence and competence for safer, more enjoyable voyages.

  • Meteorology & Weather Forecasting – 3 Hrs
  • Passage Planning – 1 Day
  • Diesel Engine Maintenance – 1 Day
  • Offshore Safety & Spinnaker Skills – 2 Days
  • Pre-Day Skipper & Yachtmaster Sailing Skills
Wild West Sailing Adventures & Training Day Skipper Yachtmaster Round Ireland Voyage

Got a question? Call David today +353 87 141 7564

Nothing is too much trouble. No question is stupid. The patience of a saint. Superb teaching style. Book it now .it’s incredible.

Louis Cronin, Co. Carlow.

Weather Course

Meteorology & Weather Forecasting – 3 Hrs

Basic Meteorology Skills You’ll learn…

Learn how & where our weather comes from…
Jet Streams // Low Pressures // Weather Fronts // Cloud Types // Surface Pressure Charts
Building Blocks of a Storm
How to interpret a forecast &
Where to get your information!
and how do we apply all this at sea.

We will give you a system for obtaining a forecast & making decisions based on that forecast.

Got a question? Call David today +353 87 141 7564

Through Wild West Sailing school, I’ve done the social sailing, Day skipper Theory and practical course and now Yachtmaster theory, and bought my first small boat all in the space of 18months!
Incredible instructors with an infectious passion and thirst (for knowledge and skills- not just the pints).
Dave and his crew have literally mastered the art of making the complex easy and accessible for all. They tailor sailing sessions and land lectures for all skills. You always come away having had a great laugh and learned something thoroughly, which you can then apply fully in the real world. Cannot
 recommend WWS highly enough.

Maeve Guilfoyle, Co. Donegal.

Navigation course participant

RYA Passage Planning

Who is this course for?

Potential Yachtmaster In the Yachtmaster Practical Exam, your RYA Examiner will give you a 60NM passage to plan with a tidal gate & a tidal height restriction. Nailing this goes a long way to passing your Yachtmaster.

Coastal Skippers & Adventurous Day Skippers All Skippers who want to increase their sailing range from their home port to longer multi day or international passages.

Coastal Passage Planning Skills You’ll learn…

  • Passage Planning – Method & Structure
  • Tidal Gate Strategy
  • Resolving Tidal Height Constraints
  • Weather Tactics
  • Provisioning & Safety
  • Pilotage & Ports of Refuge

With 3 Round Ireland Voyages per year, we have experience & knowledge to share.

Spend a full day with us planning a 60 NM Passage with Tidal Gates & Tidal Height constraints

…ideal preparation for an adventurous summer!

Got a question? Call David today +353 87 141 7564

I attended a Diesel Engine Maintenance training day last week and was impressed with how Dave conducted the course. He has an engaging style that holds your attention and makes learning easy. He went through the main aspects of marine engine servicing and supervised the class members performing the tasks. He gave us the benefit of his wide experience with some handy tips on making the job easy. Highly recommended!

Tony Maher, Co. Clare.

Diesel Engine Maintenance

1 day €175

Skills You’ll learn…

1. Introduction

  • Principles of the diesel engine

2. The four-stroke cycle

  • Naturally aspirated engines
  • Turbocharging
  • Intercooling / aftercooling

3. The fuel system

  • The basic system
  • The tank
  • The water-separating pre-filter
  • Fuel lift pump
  • The engine fine filter
  • Injection pump
  • Injectors
  • Bleeding the system

4. The cooling system

  • Seawater cooling
  • Freshwater cooling
  • Temperature control
  • The thermostat
  • The seawater impeller pump

5. The air systems The airway in The airway out

6. Engine electrical systems

  • The basic system
  • Battery capacity and care
  • Drive belts
  • The alternator

7. Spares and tool requirements

  • Basic spares and tools

8. Importance of winterisation and servicing

  • Engine lubrication
  • Transmission lubrication
  • Winterisation and servicing
  • Service schedule

9. Fault finding

Got a question? Call David today +353 87 141 7564

We had the most amazing 2 days with Sophie our instructor. If you’re thinking of getting into sailing or would just like to have 2 very enjoyable days on Lough Gill, book this up.. You will not regret it. Sophie is an excellent instructor, very easy to understand and great to make sure that you learned a lot on the course. I’d highly recommend it. Thanks also to Dave who was a pleasure to deal with when booking. Very easy website and Dave messages back very quickly!

Nina Hanley, Co. Leitrim.

Spinnaker of a yacht catching the wind

Offshore Safety & Spinnaker Skills

2 days €400

Offshore Spinnaker Skills You’ll learn…

Rigging a Cruising Kite (Asymmetric Spinnaker) – tacklines & strops

Offshore Sail Setup – keep your options open

Sail Selection from Code Zero to A2

Sail Trim & Helming

Spinnaker Hoists & Dousing Methods – Letterbox & Boom drops & spiking the tackline

Packing for relaunch

3 Sail Reaching

Offshore Safety Skills You’ll learn…

Man Overboard Recovery with Spinnaker

Kite-in-the-Water Recovery

Heaving to | Weather Cocking | Lying a-hull

Drogue deployment

Setting up to be towed

Dealing with steering loss

Got a question? Call David today +353 87 141 7564

Really valuable two weekends of day skipper training. As well as good fun in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, our instructor Dave was patient, supportive and encouraging all the way, : came away feeling full of confidence and knowledge. Would highly recommend this course , in particular to woman who want to feel more confident on the water.

Hannah Birt, Co. Antrim.

Up Skill with WWS Pure Sailing Skills Corse & ace your Day Skipper or Yachtmaster

Pre-Day Skipper & Yachtmaster Sailing Skills – 2 Days

Top class coaching & feedback on the boat means you learn faster.

Skills You’ll learn

  • Advanced Helming Techniques
  • Advanced Headsail & Mainsail Trim
  • Maneuver Planning Process
  • Wind Awareness
  • Coming Alongside Under Sail
  • Man Overboard Recovery Under Sail
  • Mooring Pickup Under Sail
  • Reefing Underway

Sailing from WWS Lake Base Mullaghmore (venue weather dependent)

Check the Weather

Got a question? Call David today +353 87 141 7564