Practical, on board your own boat.

This 5/7day course prepares those with previous skippering experience to undertake more complex passages, perhaps offshore or at night.

This course is an ideal bridge between Day Skipper course and the full RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal examination course. The course is designed to give an experienced RYA Day Skipper the confidence to undertake longer and more complex passages which may involve sailing at night or involve watch keeping systems.

Skippering a yacht on coastal and offshore passages demands strong navigation, seamanship and leadership skills. During the RYA Coastal Skipper course we will guide you through navigation, both offshore and in limited visibility, weather forecasting and passage planning, watch keeping, preparation for sea and handling heavy weather. You will put this all into practice as each student plans and executes passages taking complete command of the yacht. Coastal skippers must be good boat handlers and you will receive plenty of practice mooring the yacht and have at least 4 hours night sailing. Weather permitting the yacht will undertake a longer coastal passage.

At the successful completion of the RYA Coastal Skipper course you will be awarded the RYA Coastal Skipper Course Completion Certificate and will be able to skipper coastal passages safely and confidently.

Pre course experience
Assumed knowledge
Minimum duration
Minimum age
Course content
After course ability
15 days, 3 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours
Boat handling to the standard of Day Skipper and navigation to shorebased Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster™ Offshore
5 days
17
Passage planning, Preparation for sea, Pilotage, Passage making and ability as skipper, Yacht handling under power, Yacht handling under sail, Adverse weather conditions, Emergency situations
Able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night.