St Hilda, Holy Loch Marina	St Hilda, Force 7	Main Cabin, St Hilda

The St Hilda Charter and Nautical School is situated at the Holy Loch Marina (www.holylochmarina.co.uk), which is close to Glasgow International airport and gateway to the Scottish Highlands and Islands. We charter and train in some of the world’s most spectacular sea lochs. The St Hilda is a Lloyds 100A1 built, 16.2 metres long, UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) certified, 8 berth, custom-built, 50 ton wooden ketch. Once the South Tyneside Nautical College’s (www.stc.ac.uk) sail training vessel the ketch has sailed a number of Tall Ship races.

Contact:
E-mail:mwm@seafarerservices.com
St Hilda Charter and Nautical School
Holy Loch Marina
Rankin’s Brae
Sandbank
Dunoon
Scotland
PA23 8QB
Marina Tel: 44 (0)1776810802
Mobile: 07740612490

St Hilda Charter

Charter the St Hilda (self catering or meals provided - you decide) from £300 a day and sail the wonderfully sheltered waters and visit remote and quiet anchorages off the West Coast of Scotland in a large, comfortable yacht complete with a hot water shower! See the offshore islands and sail to spectacular bays that are full of wildlife and surrounded by stunning scenery. Whole boat charter for an adventure holiday for a group of seven friends or family or just come alone and make up a diverse group. Set the sails, work the ship, steer or just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Also available for commercial chartering for research (half ton derrick); filming and photography; diving; fishing etc. Powerful 6 cylinder Kelvin diesel. Bareboat charter NOT available.

St Hilda Nautical School

The School offers courses from Competent Crew upwards - both recreational and commercial. Clients train for International Yachtmaster Training (IYT, see below), MCA recognised recreational and commercial sail or power certificates (up to Yacht Master Ocean 200 tons). The St Hilda is MCA certified for eight persons, and candidates can live on the vessel and fast track a five days theory and six days practical intensive courses. Glasgow International airport is nearby and we can pick up.

International Yachtmaster Training (IYT)
IYT is a Florida, USA based company (see www.yachtmaster.com) that has become the world’s leading provider of yacht training services. They recognised the need for a standardised approach to global Yacht Training and successfully established a partnership programme offering IYT’s courses to candidates through a network of existing and high quality established recreational sailing schools. The quality positioning of IYT training has resulted in stand-alone approval of certifications as outlined by the United Nation’s International Maritime Organization (IMO). To date the company has 32 licensed schools in 19 different countries. Currently, over 20 countries accept IYT’s commercial and recreational Yachtmaster Certificates of Competency. The St Hilda Nautical School is the only UK based school offering both IYT professional and recreational courses and is authorised to conduct both IYT professional and recreational yacht crew courses that are endorsed by the United Kingdom's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the United States' Coast Guard.

Governments that recognize IYT Certificates
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), United Kingdom: has recognised IYT’s entire range of professional courses. Especially those designed for the rapidly growing recreational yachting marketplace.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG): In June 2002, IYT had its 200 ton Master course approved by the USCG; a unique approval allowing IYT to issue dual certification with its Internationally recognised Yachtmaster Offshore Certification.
The IYT Yachtmaster Certificates of Competency are recognized by all Red flag countries: UK, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Gibraltar, British Virgin Islands, Jersey, Guernsey etc.
The IYT Yachtmaster Certificates of Competency are also recognized by: Ireland, Bahamas, Marshall Islands, Western Australia, New Zealand and New South Wales.

Commercial and Recreational Sail and Power Yacht Training
The Market
*87% of the world’s yachts are registered in the Cayman Islands (Red Ensign)
*Currently there are 14 miles of new builds underway in 25 countries
*Of the top 200 yachts in the world the smallest is 53 metres (about 178 ft.)
*Current average build length is 34 metres (about 114 ft.)
*10,000+ yachts over 24m (about 80ft.) that require professional crews.
*90% of these are owned by USA nationals.
There is already a shortage of qualified personnel to fill the available crewing positions. The increased enforcement of manning level regulations plus the number of new builds add up to an even greater requirements for commercial yacht crews. IYT state that 97% of all successful candidates have a job within 4 weeks of certification.

The St Hilda Nautical School Courses
Runs the following IYT MCA approved courses:
All Recreational Power and Sail Courses
International Bareboat Captain (charter and private yachts)
Mega/super yacht Crew Courses
IYT Master of Yachts Coastal
IYT Master of Yachts Offshore (Theory)
IYT Master of Yachts Offshore (Practical).All the commercial sail and power courses are MCA and internationally recognized by governments (see above). The commercial courses are highly regarded qualifications that will allow successful candidates to gain employment in the super yacht industry, which is renowned for its high wages and exciting voyages and destinations – salaries up to $200,000 USD for a Master of Yachts 200 tons. The commercial and recreational courses are designed to provide the skills necessary to work and sail a sail and power yachts throughout the world. All course content follows the IYT training syllabus and meets the IYT's strict guidelines for training course delivery in order to gain MCA recognition - each course has a theoretical and a practical component. Candidates for Masters of Yachts must also pass an examination by an IYT appointed Examiner.
Both theoretical and practical components of the courses are conducted on board the St Hilda that was specifically designed and equipped for training. Sea voyages in the surrounding areas can include a mix of overnight sailing as well as overnight stays in beautiful and sheltered anchorages such as in the Kyles of Bute, Loch Long, the Isle of Arran etc.

Courses Start:
Next Master of Yachts 200 Tons Offshore: Spring 2008

Costs
Basic costs March 2007 (subject to change). Courses can be individually tailored but normally require a minimum number of participants.

* These courses are off-site.
** Minimum numbers required