RYA/MCA Practical Courses

The following are for people of mixed experience and have been designed to allow individuals to learn at their own pace, rather than rush through certificate courses. Each will be tailored to your own learning style in a relaxed & helpful environment.

Start Yachting Practical

For those wanting to try sailing.

Pre-Course Experience: None
Course content: Introduction to sailing & seamanship.
Ability after course: Basic sailing experience
Minimum duration: 2 days

Competent Crew

For beginners who would like to sail as active crew members.

Pre-course Experience : None
Course content: Basic seamanship & helmsmanship.
Ability after course: Useful crew member.
Minimum duration: 5 days

Day Skipper

For aspiring skippers who already have basic navigation and sailing ability.

Pre-course Experience: 5 days sea time, 100 miles, 4 night hours
Course content: Basic pilotage, boat handling, seamanship & navigation.
Ability after course: Skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day.
Minimum duration: 5 days

Combined Theory & Practical Day Skipper course

For complete beginners looking to achieve a minimum qualification enabling them to Charter a yacht on their own.

Pre-course experience: None
Course content: 4 days theory covering Passage planning, Navigation, Pilotage, Tides, Meteorology, Safety, IRPCS, Emergency situations, Radio, Maintenance, Victualling.

5 days practical experience incorporating all of the above plus boat handling, deck work, sail handling helmsmanship etc.
Ability after course: Skipper a yacht in familiar waters by day.
Minimum duration: 9 days.

Day Skipper Tidal Upgrade

For those who have attained Non tidal Day Skipper, possibly in the Mediterranean and are looking to get a full Day Skipper Tidal Certificate.

Pre-course experience: Non tidal Day Skipper certificate.
Course content: Calculation of tidal heights, tidal streams & secondary ports. Boat handling in tidal conditions.
Ability after the course: Day Skipper Tidal certification. Ability to skipper a yacht in familiar waters by day.
Minimum duration: 2 days.

Coastal Skipper

A more advanced skippering course for those who already have considerable knowledge of navigation and sailing.

Pre-course Experience: 15 days sea time (2 days as skipper), 300 miles, 8 night hours.
Course content: Skippering techniques for coastal & offshore passages.
Ability after course: Skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day & night.
Minimum duration: 5 days.

RYA/MCA Examinations And Preparation Courses

RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper
RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore

Course content: Exam preparation.
Minimum duration: 5 days.

Taking either of the above two courses and undergoing examination by an independent RYA examiner lead to the award of RYA/MCA Certificates Of Competence.

Other Courses

RYA Basic Navigation & Safety Course.

For new, inexperienced or rusty skippers.
Pre-course experience: Ideally some practical experience.
Course content: Introduction to: Charts, safety, engine, buoyage, tidal awareness, visual/electronic navigation, pilotage, rules of the road, anchoring, basic weather, passage planning.
Ability after the course: A basic awareness & understanding of navigation & safety at sea.
Duration: Minimum 16 hours (usually 2 days or series of shorter sessions).

Day Skipper Tidal Upgrade

For those who have attained Non tidal Day Skipper, possibly in the Mediterranean and are looking to get a full Day Skipper Tidal Certificate.

Pre-course experience: Non tidal Day Skipper certificate.
Course content: Calculation of tidal heights, tidal streams & secondary ports. Boat handling in tidal conditions.
Ability after the course: Day Skipper Tidal certification. Ability to skipper a yacht in familiar waters by day.
Minimum duration: 2 days.


RYA Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Theory courses.

For all levels of aspiring skippers wanting to become proficient in Chart Work, Navigation, Pilotage, Tides, Buoyage, Lights, Radio, meteorology, IRPCS, Passage Planning.

Pre-course experience: Day Skipper, some practical knowledge of sailing & terminology. Coastal skipper/Yachtmaster, an advanced course requiring minimum Day Skipper knowledge.

Ability after the course. Able to move on to the relevant practical course with confidence.

Minimum duration: 40 hours.

These courses are often run as evening classes. Our instructor is fully mobile and can deliver the course at a location of your choice. Ideally this might be an office conference or staff room with tables on which to spread out charts. For those able to organise a group of say 10 people discounts or free places would be available.

International Certificate Of Competence

This is usually the minimum required for individuals wishing to 'bareboat' charter with the holiday companies.

Pre-course Experience: Day Skipper practical.
Minimum duration: 1 day.

CEVNI Test

Required for European coastal & inland cruising.

Pre-course Experience: Knowledge of European collision regulations/rules.
Minimum duration: Short written test.

Last Updated - 27th February 2009