RYA Coastal Skipper

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The aim of the RYA Coastal Skipper course is to teach you the skills and techniques required to skipper a yacht safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night.

Is it for you?

The RYA Coastal Skipper course is for those with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation.

To join our RYA Coastal Skipper course you will need experience of boat handling and seamanship to RYA Day Skipper practical standard and knowledge of navigation to RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory level.

The suggested minimum pre-course experience is 15 days at sea, including 2 days as skipper, with 800 logged miles which include at least 8 night hours.

It is an intensive and demanding course and our RYA instructors will certainly put you through your paces, burning the candle with plenty of night sailing and early starts too!

During the five days we include an offshore passage to France (where weather permits) or along the coast beyond the Solent. This, combined with plenty of pilotage in the Solent and manoevres under power and sail, make for a highly satisfying learning time on board, building your skills and your confidence.

We always tell our clients that participation on the course does not mean an automatic pass. We're sure you'll agree that your level of safe sailing is far more important that the qualification itself!

Your RYA Instructor will sign your Log Book to enable you to keep a record of your sea miles and syllabus completed. You will also receive a certificate upon your successful completion of the course.

The cost of our RYA Coastal Skipper 5 day course includes your accommodation on board your yacht, home cooked breakfasts and lunches (all diets catered for) and drinks (non alcoholic). You can borrow waterproofs if required, free of charge.

Evening meals are not included, although you may cook aboard if you wish. A proportion of mooring fees (split between those aboard) are your only additional expense.

RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence
An examination by independent RYA Examiner can follow the course and if successful you will be issued with the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence.

Examiners expect a high level of ability, in terms of sailing and all that it encompasses but also in respect of you, as a skipper.

If you would like to take the exam then let us know before your course begins, so that we can ask your RYA Instructor to assess and advise you.

After the five day course your RYA Instructor will leave your yacht and the RYA Examiner will step onboard. It will then be up to you to show the Examiner how well you can skipper the yacht and successfully complete manoeuvres including man overboard recovery, picking up a mooring buoy under sail and pilotage both during the day and at night.

On joining the exam you will need to show your Examiner you VHF Marine Radio Short Range Certificate and your First Aid certificate. You will also need to show your Log Book.

We are based at Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport which is easily accessible by direct train from London Waterloo into Portsmouth Harbour, or by road. We are 15 minutes from the M27 motorway (junction 9) and parking at our marina is free!

Next RYA Yachtmaster Coastal courses and examinations:

* There is a examination fee of £142 (as at January 2009) payable to the RYA. Contact us for further details and other dates.