RYA Sailing Courses
The step up from Day Skipper — equipping experienced sailors to take command of longer coastal and offshore passages, day and night.
Overview
Skippering a yacht on coastal and offshore passages demands strong navigation, seamanship and leadership skills. The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course prepares those with previous skippering experience to undertake longer voyages.
Your instructor will guide you through offshore navigation, limited visibility sailing, weather forecasting, passage planning and watch keeping. Each student plans and executes passages in full command of the yacht — with plenty of boat handling practice, mooring, longer coastal passages and night sailing.
On successful completion you receive the RYA Coastal Skipper Course Completion Certificate, qualifying you to skipper on coastal passages by day or night. Safety is paramount — to learn more, see the Training Centres overview page.
5–6
Days duration
Age 17+
Minimum age
300 mi
Minimum sea miles required
Advanced
Day Skipper standard required
Course Requirements
Minimum
Aged 17+, 15 days at sea, 2 as skipper, 300 miles and 8 night hours. Navigation to Coastal Skipper shorebased standard. Sailing to Day Skipper standard.
Recommended
Some recent sailing experience within the last year, and completed the online or shorebased Coastal/Yachtmaster navigation theory. Some theoretical revision before the course starts is strongly advised.
There is insufficient time during the week to teach theory — you should arrive with the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore shorebased course completed and some practical experience as yacht skipper.
If you don’t yet meet the requirements, the RYA Day Skipper Practical is the right starting point.
Next Steps
You receive the RYA Coastal Skipper Course Completion Certificate on successful completion — qualifying you to skipper on coastal passages by day or night. The certificate is included in the course cost.
The course has a minimum duration of 5 days, run continuously in the UK. At both Mediterranean schools it is delivered over 6 days as part of a week-long holiday — with flexibility for swimming and longer breaks.
By the end of this course you will have the knowledge — if not yet all the experience — needed to work towards the RYA Yachtmaster qualification. Your instructor will debrief you and advise on the best next steps.
Available At
What You Will Learn
Passage Planning
Coastal passage planning including yacht capability, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights and streams, publications and strategy. Customs procedures.
Preparation for Sea
Offshore safety equipment, stowage, safety briefing, watch keeping, delegating responsibilities, engine and equipment checks.
Pilotage
Preparing a pilotage plan using soundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port regulations and tidal considerations. Piloting a yacht by day and night.
Passage Making & Skipper Ability
Taking charge of a yacht, directing the crew, organising navigation, deckwork and domestic duties. Meteorological awareness, crew welfare, electronic navigation including waypoints and routes.
Yacht Handling Under Power
Controlling the yacht effectively in confined spaces. All berthing and unberthing situations in varying conditions of wind and tide.
Yacht Handling Under Sail
Using sails to control the yacht in confined spaces. Anchoring and mooring in various wind and tide conditions. Sailing efficiently on all points of sail.
Adverse Weather Conditions
Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds. Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility.
Emergency Situations
Man overboard recovery under power and sail. Action when abandoning to the liferaft. Helicopter and lifeboat rescue procedures.
The completion certificate is included in the cost of your course.
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.
Book Your Course
Get in touch with our team to check availability in Greece, Croatia or the UK and find the right dates for you.
