Seafarer Training
Outside the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme — targeted training to fill specific gaps, build experience, prepare for a flotilla, or take your sailing to the next level.
Overview
Outside of the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme, you will sometimes find yourself looking for a little extra training to fill a gap in your experience. Perhaps you already have qualifications but have not been sailing for a few years, or you are hoping to qualify soon but would like some preparation.
If you wish to build experience as crew, you are welcome on all of our courses. The crew are an essential part of the team, and you will benefit from as many different scenarios as you can.
These courses offer considerable flexibility — you can focus on the skills you want to develop, including things you wanted to try but perhaps ran out of time on a previous RYA course. For our formal RYA programme, see the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme here.
8
Specialist courses available
2–5
Day and weekend options
3
Locations — Greece, Croatia & UK
Private
Private tuition available at all schools
Our Range of Courses
What We Offer
Designed as one or more weekend courses, these focus on improving the basic sailing skills learnt during your Competent Crew or Day Skipper course. Sailing is such a broad subject — these weekends focus on the sails and their controls, including:
Ideally suited to a weekend, this course offers the opportunity to practise close-quarters handling techniques, including:
Weekend Course
Designed as a refresher for those who want to partake in a flotilla holiday with confidence. Run on a yacht very similar to those on our flotilla holidays, you will spend the time on the water with an instructor covering the skippering and boat-handling skills required. The content is very much driven by you — practise the skills you want whilst enjoying a weekend on the water.
Pre-course Requirements: 5 days at sea, 100 miles, 4 night hours. Navigation to Day Skipper Shore-based standard and basic sailing ability.
Five-Day Course
Designed to take you from limited or no skippering experience to the level required to safely and competently enjoy a flotilla holiday on board your own chartered yacht.
Pre-course Requirements: 5 days at sea, 100 miles, 4 night hours. Navigation to Day Skipper Shore-based standard and basic sailing ability.
Course Syllabus
UK — South Coast
Aimed at those who have trained or gained experience in non-tidal waters such as the Mediterranean. This course develops a skipper’s ability in tidal waters — covering tidal theory, navigation implications and the practical skills required to handle a yacht safely in tidal conditions, including ferry gliding and tidal passage planning.
Pre-course Requirements: 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours. Navigation and sailing to Day Skipper standard.
Minimum age: 16
Weekend Course · Female RYA Instructors
Sometimes, if you aren’t a regular — or perhaps are a reluctant — sailor, you may feel overwhelmed if your partner always takes charge. Our weekends, run by female RYA instructors, are designed to help you build on your existing experience or learn new skills to take the helm confidently in tricky situations.
Knowing how to moor alongside or stern-to in the Mediterranean will build your confidence, take the pressure off the skipper and lead to a more enjoyable and relaxed holiday for everyone.
UK — Passages to France, Channel Islands & Beyond
Simple but essential for anyone working their logbook towards the Yachtmaster exam. With the guidance of our experienced instructors, this is an excellent opportunity for skippers of any level — practising long-distance passage making in preparation for a Coastal Skipper course. Aspiring crew can benefit from an adventurous trip across to France or the Channel Islands. Destinations sometimes include Dartmouth and Weymouth.
Available at All Schools · All Courses
Private tuition is available at all of our schools and gives the flexibility to serve your entire group’s needs. Choose any course from this page or from the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme, or talk to us and we can put together a combination of RYA and non-RYA courses for your whole party.
Private tuition can be conducted on our training yacht by exclusive use — this often offers the best value for groups of 3–5. We can also offer tuition in the Mediterranean on our large fleet of bareboat and flotilla yachts, giving you the possibility of choosing a newer or larger yacht that fits your requirements.
Please call or email us to find out what offers you the best flexibility and price.
Career Pathways in Sailing
Seafarer has been established for 30 years, and during this time we have taken thousands of people sailing as well as employed numerous skippers. We know what it takes to work in this industry and are well placed to assist you. Please contact us for more information on our professional development programme.
Price Promise
As an independent company, we are able to keep our prices highly competitive. If you see a like-for-like product featured elsewhere cheaper, let us know and we will beat it.
This guarantee applies to yacht and accommodation rates on our Beach Club, Flotilla, Learn to Sail and Cabin Charter programmes operated by Seafarer, and is subject to availability at the time of booking.
We will not be beaten on price
Find it cheaper elsewhere and we’ll beat it — guaranteed.
ATOL Protected — Book with Confidence
Your flight-inclusive holiday is fully ATOL protected. We have been trading since 1995.
Get in Touch
Our team are on hand to help you choose the right course, check availability across Greece, Croatia and the UK, and answer any questions.
