This is very much a hands-on course designed to teach practical skippering and seamanship techniques. It is therefore a requirement that you complete either the RYA Essential Navigation & Seamanship or RYA Day Skipper theory course before enrolling to then put your knowledge into practice on the water.
Your experienced RYA instructor will guide you through the necessary steps to taking charge and managing all aspects of sailing a yacht on short passages, including; navigation, meteorology, seamanship, sail handling, crew management and much more. Fellow crew members will likely be undertaking the Competent Crew therefore, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your skills as the master of the vessel.
This is a live aboard course, experiencing life at anchor and night sailing. Scroll down to see a list of the modules that the instructor will be working through.
At the completion of your certificate, you will be confident to skipper a cruising yacht on short passages by day. Students with successful completion are awarded the RYA Day Skipper licence which can be used to charter sailing yachts in many countries around the world as well as being a ‘must have’ for many insurance companies for yacht owners.
This course will also enable you to apply for the ICC (International Certificate of Competence) and is required by most European countries to validate your competence to own or charter a boat. The ICC, obtained by presenting your RYA Day Skipper certificate, will cover sailing yachts up to 24 meters in length in coastal waters.
Prior experience needed: To the level described in our RYA Competent Crew course.
Sailing ability: 5 days onboard a sailing vessel, 100 NM logged and 4 night hours. Can be obtained by participation in RYA Competent Crew.
Navigation and theory knowledge to Day Skipper Theory or RYA Essential Navigation Theory
5 days consecutively (Mon-Fri)
OR
3 weekends (not necessarily consecutive and can be spanned out to a maximum duration of 12 months)
RYA Day Skipper with the ability to apply for ICC directly with the RYA