RYA Coastal Skipper

1. Passage Planning

• Can plan a coastal passage including a considering of the capability of the yacht, navigation, victualing, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights, and tidal streams, publications required and strategy, know customs procedures

2. Preparation for sea

• Is aware of safety equipment required for offshore passages

• Can prepare a yacht for sea including stowage

• Safety briefing

• Watch keeping

• Delegating responsibilities 

• Equipment and engine checks

3. Pilotage

• Can prepare plan, with considerations of surroundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerations. 

• Can pilot a vessel by day and night

4. Passage making and Ability of skipper

• Can take charge of a vessel and direct the crew

• Can organise the navigation, deck work and domestic duties of a vessel on passage

• Is aware of the significance of meteorological trends

• Is aware of crew welfare on passage

• Can use electronic navigational equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including the use of waypoints and routes

5. Yacht handling under power

• Can control the yacht effectively in a confined space under power

• All berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide

6. Adverse weather conditions

• Preparation for heavy weather

• Yacht handling in strong winds

• Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility

7. Emergency Situations

• Recovery of man overboard under power

• Understands action to be taken when abandoning to the life raft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues

Min. age: 17

15 days at sea 

2 days as skipper 

300 miles 

8 night hours

Included: Accommodation & bedding in single bunks if the course is residential, fuel, berthing costs, use of wet weather gear & lifejacket, breakfast lunch.

What to bring with you: Cash for the occasional evening meal ashore, all the usual skippering equipment (pencils, erasers, notebook etc), soft soled shoes, wet weather gear (contact us if you haven't got any), light wellies or waterproof shoes, clothes for the duration of the course, any medication, passport photo, phone charger

• Cash for evening meals 

• Notepad and pen

• Soft soled shoes

• Wet weather gear (contact us if you haven't got any)

• Light wellies or waterproof shoes

• Clothes for the duration of the course

• Any medication

• Phone charger