Course Outline
The coastal skipper practical course will prepare you to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day or night. The course will raise your boat handling, sailing, pilotage, navigation, passage planning and crew leadership skills so that you have the competence and confidence to be in charge in a wider range of situations. Our aim is to extend your knowledge, your awareness and your standards of navigation and seamanship so that you can make good judgements and decisions and so deal effectively with the more challenging circumstances that may be encountered on longer passages and in unfamiliar waters.
You will live aboard the yacht for 5 days and nights, work as a member of the crew and act as skipper in planning and executing a variety of passages – including one longer one with more complex tidal conditions. You will visit a variety of harbours and berths in marinas, mooring buoys and anchorages. All meals are taken aboard.
The RYA Photo ID Certificate is awarded on satisfactory completion of the course. You can use this as evidence of competence in applying for an International Certificate of Competence (ICC).
Format Options
- 5 Day Course (0900 Monday to 1700 Friday). Price £699– £759
Effective training at Coastal Skipper level requires longer passages beyond the range possible with day sailing so courses are best conducted on a residential (live aboard) basis. Shared and sole occupancy is available to book.
Student / Instructor Ratio: Maximum 5:1 / Minimum 3:1
Minimum age: 17 years old, children under the age of 18 would require a parent or guardian to attend the course with them.
Previous Knowledge/Experience:
- RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Shorebased course or full knowledge of the subject. At least Day Skipper level practical sailing competence.
- Minimum 15 days at sea, 300 miles and 8-night hours logged.
- VHF Licence and First Aid Certificate (beneficial for practical assessment).
- To really benefit from this course, you should have some prior experience as a skipper in charge of a yacht.
