STCW95 Proficiency in Medical First Aid

 

Everyone should go this essential medical course regularly

Necessary skills not only for commercial sailors

3.5 days pleasant learning in Malta, 5- 8 January 2027!

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  • Taught  by legendary MSOS!

  • Share the experience of medical training with like-minded Reginasailing friends.   

  • Ideal add-on to the RYA Day Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster courses, which covers too little on this important subject

  • Hands-on and easy-to-understand step-by-step medical training

 

Medical training onboard Regina Laska (photo taken before I went over to buy all my medication from MSOS)!

 

Who is this course for?

Sometimes you just can’t help a medical issue and it’s just pure bad luck, when it happens. So, if it strikes, it’s important to know how to deal with it and have the necessary equipment and medicines onboard!  
 
If you have taken the Day Skipper or the Yachtmaster Offshore you go a one-day first-aid training, which is just covering the very basic skills. For many, this first-aid course also lies some years back so it is important to fresh up this essential knowledge. A one-day course is only valid for 2 years while this course is valid for 5 years. 
 
Being able to look after your crew’s well-being is crucial and therefore it’s important to regularly undergo medical training no matter how close you sail to shore. Hand on your heart: When did you have your last Frist Aid Course, and for how many days was it? 
 
As a commercial sailor, I have to undergo intense medical training every 5 years. (In my case, I have to have the STCW95 certificate in “Proficiency in Medical Care” which takes another 4 days of training).In January 2027 it’s time again and I like to share this great learning experience with fellow Reginasailing friends! Therefore, you are now welcome to join me on this the 3.5-days STCW95 course in Proficiency in Medical First Aid.    
 
In order to do this as a joint fun Reginasailing event, I have booked an entire course including one of MSOS’ very experienced marine medical trainers, Mark Weatherhead, and will ship all necessary medical training equipment to Malta.

This course goes beyond what you were taught at the one-day first aid course and there should be at least one person with a profound  medical training  onboard. 

For sailors wanting to work commercially on yachts this course is a must. 

The arm looks real, right? But don’t worry, we practice on a fake arm! Photo taken when I had my last medical training by MSOS in Mallorca

 

The course is held in English so you learn the medical terms and medicine in the language you need to know when you leave your home waters!
 
MSOS
 
It’s not a co-incidence I work with Medical Support Offshore (MSOS) for such a crucial life-saving training and have all my medicines nowadays supplied by MSOS. They are simply the leading marine medical company, supplying well over half of all the super yachts around the world with medical equipment, medical stock and medical training. They also supply the Oyster Around the World Rallye, the (Volvo) Ocean Race, Clipper Around the World Race, they helped the latest sailing Olympics with medical support as well as countless private coastal, offshore and ocean sailors, who all rely on MSOS. 
 
One of the five bags of medical equipment onboard Regina Laska: 
This is how neat my new Medical Kit by MSOS is organised. 
 
 
Regina Laska’s complete Medical Equipment for commercial ocean Sailing including Defib, Oxigen Generator, IV-Kit (IntraVenous medication), a “Sting Kit” (for jelly fishes etc) and 5 bags of medicine and medical equipment. 
 
 
The CEO and owner, Dr Spike Briggs, has written the current edition of the Shipcaptain’s Medical Guide, that every MCA classified vessel must have onboard, and Spike sits in the committee that decides what medicines need to be onboard and how it is to be given.
 
Dr. Spike Briggs teaching the Reginasailing Family in Malta in 2018
 

Your instructor: Mark Weatherhead

Our instructor for 2027 is no less than Mark Weatherhead. He is a highly skilled and compassionate Paramedic Practitioner. He has worked for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and is the Managing Director of his own Private Ambulance Service. His passion for patient care and medical training is truly inspiring. After 30 years of hands-on frontline experience through the Ambulance service and the RNLI, dealing with serious injury, acute and chronic illness and with ever changing conditions, he is passionate about teaching sailors to avoid accidents and treating an injury, illness or other medical situations. 

The Reginasailing Family being medically trained in 2018. It’s not only useful, it’s a lot of fun as well!

 
 
So, who of you would like to join me? 

 

The Reginasailing Family making friends in the Royal Malta Yacht Club during one of the many great Reginasailing courses!

 

 

The elegant 5-Star Corinthia St George’s Bay Hotel where the course is held

 

 

Exclusive dinner for Reginasailing at the Royal Malta Yacht club serving fresh local salt-baked fish (Seabass, Red Snapper and the local delicacy Gurbel)

 

 

Come and get to know Malta and the great Reginasailing Family.

The venue: The 5-star Corinthia St George Hotel:

Reginasailing has been offering Yachtmaster Theory courses in Malta for 10 years. Thanks to excellent connections and loyalty Reginasailing has been upgrade to the 5-star Corinthia St George Bay Hotel in St Julians with extraordinary discounted price due to our loyalty! Prices have been kept the same for years, we may enjoy their best conference rooms and it is encouraged to bring your spouse for a relaxed holiday even if they don’t participate at the course. A spouse stays for free and only pays for the breakfast! 

Prolong your stay over the week-ends to enjoy some own sight-seeing and exploration of this historically interesting island! Especially Valletta is definitely worth a visit! Prolonging at the same discounted price is subject to availability and can only be guaranteed for early bookings. 

The Corinthia St George is one of the absolute top hotels in Malta, offering us a first-class conference room with a direct exit to the pool area with sea view. The Hotel is situated directly by the sea and offers great opportunities for combining your RYA theoretical course with holiday. It can’t get any better! 

 

 

 

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Reginasailing is honoured an extraordinary discount as well as an excellent treatment with great conference facilities. The prices are so specially discounted that I may no longer advertise it here online, unfortunately, or else it wold disturb the pricing for other agents, tour operators and agencies.

If you are interested in joining the course you will get all the prices via prompt e-mail response.

 

 

 

Coures date:

    • The STCW95 course in Medical First Aid will take place on 5 – 8 January 2027.

 

An evening at the Royal Malta Yacht Club. The sail training week is just as well a social event where we gain from each others’ experiences and enjoy the company.

Number of participants:

In order to grant the exclusive character and an individual and efficient learning experience, the number of participants have been limited to 12 students.  

Price for the course:

  • Course Fee: STCW95 Proficiency in Medical First Aid (3.5 days): EUR 1,090 plus travel, food and hotel

Additional costs:

  • Hotel: The cost for the hotel nights are paid on site directly to the Corinthia hotel and booked via Reginasailing
  • Coffee breaks, water, lunches and dinner (see below)
  • Obviously your individual travel cost to Malta

 

 

Outside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

What to bring:

Nothing, possibly notebook and pen.

Tea&Coffee/Water/Lunch/Dinner:


Coffee breaks are at 10:30 and 15:30.

Previous participants have requested to take these breaks in the hotel lobby at our own expense so everyone can choose their favourite coffee or tea, whether it is a freshly made cappuccino, an espresso or a fruit tea, rather than getting the usual pre-brewed coffee from a thermos in the conference room. 

Coffee break in the foyer of the venue (Corinthia St George).

 

Water bottles are supplied on our conference table and cost 3 EUR per large bottle. The total number of water consumed is divided through the number or participants (including me, of course). 

Lunches are planned, but not necessarily, to be enjoyed jointly. Some wish to have a lunch break on their own or having a short nap after an intense morning! Often lunches are great fun, I must admit,  joining in for more talks about our joint sailing dreams…

To enjoy an efficient lunch, we choose from the menu and order during morning coffee breaks. At around 12:30 we walk over to the lunch terrace of the hotel at “Henry J Beans” or to the beautiful terrace overlooking the St George Bay in the nearby Verdi Hotel. We are then promptly served thanks to the fact that we ordered it during the morning break. Alternatively, we stay in the hotel lobby for some club sandwich or salad or we go for a short walk to the near by beach for a simple salad in the sunshine. 

Waiting for lunch in the near-by Verdi Hotel

 

If your spouse or partner is making you company for a holiday on Malta but does not join the course, they are obviously very warmly welcome to join for lunches and dinners! 

 

A salad or wrap for lunch at Henry J Beans just outside our conference room.

Dinners can be enjoyed on your own or jointly with the group. Typically I join you for most (but maybe not all) of the evenings. We enjoy dinners in my favourite restaurants in vicinity. 

Dinner at Fresco’s

 

The Reginasailing group at the MEZ restaurant, tasting the spices of the Indian Ocean..

 

 

Possibly the top of evenings is when we jointly meet at the renown Royal Malta Yacht Club, (also famous for hosting the annual Rolex Middle Sea Race). As a member of the RMYC, I may invite my participants as guests at this exclusive club. 

 

 

Pre-dinner drink on the terrace of the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

Reginasailing dinner at the Yacht Club.

Flights and getting to and from the airport:

Malta is one of the easiest places to fly to from all over Europe. KM Malta, Lufthansa, Ryanair are just a few of the many airlines that fly into Malta several times per day.

The the easiest way around on Malta is to download the BOLT-App to your smartphone and let one of the over 1,000 BOLT-drivers pick you up anywhere and drive you exactly where you need to go. 

Fly to the sunshine in winter to this thrilling and very different island in the Mediterranean!

Book early:

Please contact me, preferably including some short information about yourself, if you are interested to participate in one of the upcoming theory courses.

What previous participants say about Reginasailing theory courses in Malta:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



“If I had to describe Leon as a person in three words, I would choose the following words: empathetic, professional, and patient. 

However, three words are not sufficient to fully capture his remarkable personality and his outstanding course. :) He impresses with his exceptional competence and practical tips, and he teaches the material in an engaging and enjoyable manner. Building a supportive community is important to him and is undoubtedly of great value to everyone. Thank you for the wonderful time with all the enthusiastic participants

  I am already eagerly looking forward to sailing with Leon." Click here to read more.

Niels Thiele, Germany, Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course 2025, Malta


“This is practice-oriented learning par excellence: this is how you learn passage planning!

Leon's balanced approach turned both the exercises and the subjects into interesting matter. As strange as it may sound, very often, we didn't wish to finish on time - especially as Leon's wealth of knowledge seems inexhaustible!

It was an interesting, instructive and very entertaining time in the company of friendly, inquisitive people who were now even more eagerly looking forward to the next sailing adventure." Click here to read more.

Dagmar Schulze, Germany, Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course 2025, Malta


“It has been amazing to meet all the like minded fellow sailors from across the world and to spend the time in this course together. 
You have created a fantastic atmosphere inside and outside of the course making it a great and fun experience not only to learn together but also to get to know the other people personally. With your patience and comprehensive knowledge you answered all the course related questions but also all the additional sailing questions beyond and provided practical hands on answers and approaches, which made this course a truly outstanding one.

I am very happy to have participated in this course, which was much beyond pure theory." Click here to see more photos.

Roland Maasfeld, Germany, Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course 2025, Malta


“ Thank you so much for this fantastic course, including the entire organisation of every little detail around it. It became a great base for getting to know each other which was part of the fun! So many nice people!"

The atmosphere was outstanding, not the least because we could ask so many questions! Thank you therefore especially for all your knowledge and tips and tricks, on the side-line so to speak, regarding everything, including which equipment we should choose for our new Boréal we have on order!

We are so happy that we both participated at this outstanding theory course, which was so much more than just to learn navigation and seamanship! Click here to see more photos.

Peter Veit, Germany, Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course 2025, Malta


“ Having sailed and co-skippered for more than ten years for the Swiss Cruising Club (CCS), I felt I needed a change from this rather stiff, hierarchical Swiss and German training system and boat spirit. No wonder I was very curious to learn more about Leon, the other participants and the rather ambitious curriculum of the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore theory: 6 days including 3 tests of 2-3 hours).
Leon has a way to instruct that makes it fun to learn and to move through the challenging, yet praxis-oriented theory. Further, the amazing, international, open minded people I met on the course made these intense 6 days of theory almost feel like a vacation.
It definitely gave me a first taste and “flavour” of the often cited "Reginasailing Family“ groove." Click here to read more.

Bettina Heydrich, Switzerland, RYA Yachtmaster Offshore shore-based course 2024 


“This theory course felt like sailing together with friends! After six intense days I can confirm that the group worked together in an excellent way. All knew what we were about to achieve and how we could get there as a team in the best of ways. The days in classroom were intense - to say the least. But, at the same time, highly interesting! During the evenings we enjoyed great food in different excellent restaurants continuing our fun discussions and dreams about boats and sailing. What a treat!! That’s how it is when sailing. Leon was impressive how he was organising it all, how he was able to support each individual person, allowing each participant to feel that they had great capabilities to pass even the most challenging seamanship and navigational exercises. " Click here to read more.

Martin und Brigitte Winkel, Austria, RYA Yachtmaster Offshore shore-based course 2024 


“Leon has a philosophical approach to sailing, mixing the ying of mastery of the elements with the yang of mastery of technology. The group soon began to gel and after the days in the conference room, we sat for long meals at long tables at great restaurants and learned about each other’s lives in Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, Germany and Austria. It’s an excellent, friendly learning week. Its pace is quite high - there is a lot to get through, but the coffee is excellent, the setting lovely, the sunshine welcome and the instructor quite excellent. It’s a great way to expand your sailing network by making new friends with a shared experience." Click here to read more.

David Kinnaird, UK, RYA Yachtmaster Offshore shore-based course 2024 


“The RYA method is much more hands-on than the German SKS, constantly emphasising on good seamanship. Once I had taken the hurdle with the English sailing terminology, it was all really relaxed. There was a wide selection of RYA-books to help getting to know the terminology - not to forget Leon’s own new book "Praxisguide Fahrtensegeln” in German. Leon is not only an enthusiastic teacher, who has worked hard to keep complex things simple. He is also such a gifted presenter. In addition, Leon is also a good psychologist. And not to forget: the Yachtmaster theory course in Malta is much more than simply expanding knowledge. Taking part also means to become a member of the Regina Laska family! Getting together with lots of highly experienced sailors is one of the main highlights - and everything in a most relaxing and stress-free atmosphere." Click here to read more.

Christian Rudolf, Germany, RYA Yachtmaster Offshore shore-based course 2023


"Compared to the German system, the SSS or the SKS, the Yachtmaster is more focused on the practical side. Having said that, it’s certainly not a beginners’ course. Leon tried to encourage us to be proper seamen (and women): instead of insisting on “overly correct” interpolation. He wanted us to be able to decide when it is important to be precise and when one degree or two don’t matter so much. Leon certainly has an eye for putting together a group and making everyone feel welcome and appreciated. Teaching is thorough and entertaining, and very generous. I really liked “Leon’s templates”, e.g. for secondary port calculations and passage planning. " Click here to read how the course felt.

Daniela Baumgaertl, Germany, RYA Yachtmaster Offshore shore-based course 2023


"The real benefit of the course was the team chemistry created by Leon. The Yachtmaster theory course in Malta brought together very different characters of sailors at all levels to produce a fun, motivated, always open and helpful crew that guided itself through long working hours of navigational calculations, rather monotonous ColRegs and different aspects of passage planning – never leaving behind the slower ones and always with a good joke at hand. As a consequence, I signed up for the first possible opening as crew on Regina Laska. I look forward to the next steps." Click here to read more

Christoph Lussi, Germany, taking the RYA Yachtmaster-Theory-Course in Malta 2019


"It was a very intensive week in Malta. Adding essential knowledge and skills to my, until then, basic and rudimentary sailing education was really a challenge to me. It was interesting to see how everybody was ambitious to pass the test and it was Leon´s personal merit to form a group of people, who didn't know each other before, to become study-teams where all were interested in heightening their own skills." Click here to read more

Achim Helmenstein, Cologne/Germany, Cranchi Endurance33 Motorboat owner on Mallorca, taking the RYA Yachtmaster-Theory-Course in Malta 2018


"Leon is a great teacher. He always started with the concepts. Understanding the concepts helped me when I did not get a detail- I just went back up to the concept and worked it through. His personal observations on my learning style greatly supported the learning process. Light touch yet remarkable. I was very impressed and surprised with how much I learnt and how my confidence and interest grew. I worked hard all week and enjoyed every minute."

Sandra Morson, Scotland, HR40 owner, taking the Yachtmaster Theory course in Malta 2018


"Leon is simply wonderful. I have passed the Yachtmaster theory assessment already when I arrived in Malta, but felt that my understanding of the subject was academic rather than working knowledge that can be applied actively at sea. Leon’s fun, interactive teaching style changed that. On his courses, the learning stays with you after you have left the classroom. Plus, he has the patience of a saint. Every question from each student was answered thoughtfully, in comfort and style, of course. Thank you, Leon!" Click here to see some photos

Carol Wu, Hongkong, taking the Yachtmaster Theory course in Malta 2018


"Despite Leon’s colourful examples and very patient attempts to clarify things, I felt frustrated and limited in my basic knowledge. I was very grateful for the patience shown by Leon and other members in the class when I needed to go back over something simple. While Leon clearly provides you with the academic “tools” to use, his real gift in presenting this course is in his manner of leading the many discussions, providing relevant personal examples with his trademark enthusiasm and drawing out personal experiences from his students so that your learning is reinforced. So, in hindsight, I learnt far more than I initially thought." Click here to read full story

Cyndy Moncrieff, Australia, taking the RYA Yachtmaster Theory Course in Malta.


"Leon passed on the huge amount of intense matter with great enthusiasm, giving us students so much fun and we laughed a lot! Leon’s vast experience and his stories constantly kept us attentive. The session on meteorology was phenomenal. Both the pro's (there were two Lufthansa airline pilots amongst us) and the amateurs were impressed by how clearly and vividly Leon brings meteorology to life. I would like to highly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning about sailing, navigation and seamanship in a highly pleasant atmosphere.
" Click here to read full story

Ralf Gude, Germany, taking the RYA Yachtmaster Theory Course in Malta


"II participated in an intensive learning week, doing the RYA yacht master prep-course in Malta. Leon teaches in a relaxed and easy to follow way. It was fun, also because our group was working together very well. We were laughing a lot during this week and that 
is the most important thing. 
For me, I can say, that my first step for navigating in tidal waters is now done! I`m looking forward to do the second step in summer by sailing in Scotland with Leon onboard Regina Laska.
" Click here to read full story

Ludwig Obermeier, Germany, taking the RYA Yachtmaster Theory Course in Malta


"This is a real "crash course" and the "fast lane" in sailing theory. A really realistic and hands-on way of learning! I had lots of fun doing it, and sticking to Leon, who repeated over and over again: It's all about understanding! I do not quite understand how Leon is doing this, but he probably chooses his students carefully, since I was only surrounded by very smart, open-minded, international and very warm-hearted people, which made me feel so comfortable right away!" Click here to read full story

Julia Pukelsheim, Germany


"If you wish to learn navigation and laugh at the same time, take a course with Leon!"

Kajsa Lemby, Sweden, owning HR31 "Bikkuri"


"During this RYA theory course in Malta, we could get a glance of the friendly way of learning! A course, where learning was made so easy and gave so much joy! All participants were wonderful people and I think this has lead up to friendship for life! A crash course for some and a good repetition for others. And all this embedded in a great holiday-feeling in the sunshine!" Click here to read full story

Stefan Graf zu Dohna, Germany


"I must confess: Maths is not one of my favourite subjects so I was afraid this theory course would be tough on me. However, Leon’s sensitivity against my very modest love for Maths was encouraging and I never got that ugly feeling of ‘not being smart enough’. It was so nice to solve all Maths problems in such a ‘relaxed’ way!" Click here to read full story

Esther Leuenberger, Switzerland


"The RYA shore-based training course in Malta was a fantastic week. Leon is a great teacher with profound knowledge as well as the best inspirer on sailing I have ever met so far! You could virtually feel the daily increasing desire by all participants to sail more!" Click here to read full story

Achim Schindler, Germany, HR43 owner


"Leon’s way of delivering this RYA course by taking just a small group of no more than 8 students and to gather these on Malta was so spot on! I really enjoyed the fact the course was so full of great true stories taken from the real world packed with Leon’s vast sailing experience. Therefore, the theory felt so hands-on and practical and 'un-theoretical'" Click here to read full story

Christian Pukelsheim, Germany


"It was so exciting to learn with Leon that I felt uplifted into a new dimension. We all become so energized and motivated to learn more and more about sailing and Leon’s easy to understand way of explaining and his unbeatable entertaining “story telling hours” helped us to come so close to our dreams that we could almost touch them! Anything suddenly seemed possible and nothing undoable, you just have to follow your heart and live your dreams!" Click here to read full story

Marianne Karlsen, Switzerland, owning a J/88
For more information on the syllabus and suggested books, see here.

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