This is very much a hands-on course designed to teach practical skippering and seamanship techniques. It is therefore recommended that you take either the RYA Day Skipper or RYA Essential Navigation course before enrolling so you can put those skills 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. 

Night sailing is also included within the syllabus.  

At the end of the RYA Day Skipper course you will be confident to skipper a cruising yacht on short passages by day. Students who successfully complete the Day Skipper course are awarded the RYA Day Skipper practical 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). This qualification 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.