Information Needed

[ussnautilus]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum, but I have been a visitor for quite some time reading and gathering all information about boat designing and several other valuable topics you guys discuss. I have enriched myself with the threads that fly here and thank you to all the people that contribute here.

OK now that I have stepped in and am interested in Yacht designing I am looking at pursuing some distance learning courses. Yes, I have read all the threads relating them (arguments, reasons, popular) about the schools in the threads, but I still do have a question (inpite of exhausting myself reading all threads). I have found Westlawn and the Master's Degree in Yacht Design at Centro Sperimentale Di Design Di Ancona as my final list to join a distance learning program. I have ruled out YDS.

My question therefore is how do these two progams compare? (forgive me if this has been asked before..but your opinions matter) From one thread I picked the latter course from Anocona has a distance learning progam in English and is cheaper - costs about 4900 Euro. Please help..this information might be useful to many.

thanks a lot,

[Geert-Jan]

The Ancona program is under construction, in may 2005 they did not have an estimated starting date.
If I understood correct, you need to have a degree in nautical engineering to start with the Masters course in Ancona. If you don't have a nautical engineering degree, you have to follow another course first. I do not know the prerequisits for this primer course.

I just started Westlawns Yacht Design Lite. I am now halfway, and I like the course very much.

I hope this helps, Geert-Jan

[ussnautilus]

Thanks Geert-Jan.

What's your recommendation on WestLawn? Also wanted to ask you a question relating the following:

I have found some course materials available on MIT's OCW and Naval Architecture courses from Sweden's NA college. Do you think I should do these courses on my own along with a Westlawn diploma in YD program. Will it make my base stronger?