Here are some of the virtues that contribute to making a good skipper:
- Knowledge is the first thing that a skipper needs to know. This includes navigation, seamanship, and weather prediction. A good skipper will also be able to fix certain damages, maintain and use equipment, and become familiar with regulations. Foreign languages are also important.
- Organisational Skills – Good organisation is at the core of safe and enjoyable cruising. A good skipper must be able to balance his team’s wishes and demands against realistic and achievable options. For details on the RYA Day Skipper Course, visit Solent who supply the RYA Day Skipper Course.
3. Interpersonal Skills – the skipper spends most of their time on board dealing with other people. The good skipper will not be the one who is always grumpy but knows everything about sailing. The good skipper will be the one that makes his crew happy. The skipper must maintain a good atmosphere on board and not lose control when there is a disagreement between crew members.
4. Courage – Commanding and steering a boat is not an easy task, especially when you consider the dangers that could threaten safety. To be a good captain, you need to have a certain amount of courage.
5. Sailing Skills – Last but not least… This virtue is placed at the bottom of the list with a purpose. Even if one has poor sailing skills, he or she can still be a good captain if they possess all of the above virtues. It is important that a skipper in the charter industry be an experienced sailor. This does not mean, however, that all good sailors are also good skippers. Sport sailing is a completely different experience than being a charter skipper.