The RYA Coastal Skipper Sail practical course prepares those with previous skippering experience to undertake longer voyages.
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Duration: 5 days (Monday to Friday) Practical training.
Previous experience required: 15 days on board, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles logged and 8 night hours. A knowledge of navigation to coastal skipper shore based level.
Instructor/Student ratio: A maximum of 5 pupils to 1 instructor.
Course content: Skippering a yacht on coastal and offshore passages demands strong navigation, seamanship and leadership skills. The coastal skipper practical course prepares those with previous skippering experience to undertake longer voyages.
During the course your instructor will guide you through navigation, both offshore and in limited visibility, weather forecasting and passage planning, watch keeping and preparation for sea. You will put this all into practice as each student plans and executes passages taking complete command of the yacht. Coastal skippers must be good boat handlers and you will receive plenty of practice mooring the yacht in a wide variety of situations. You live on board the boat for 5 days visiting many different harbours and anchorages in beautiful Moreton Bay and have at least 4 hours night sailing.
At the successful completion of the course you will be awarded the Coastal Skippers course completion certificate and will be able to skipper coastal passages safely and confidently.
Check our calendar for scheduled courses, course prices and then fill out a booking form
To sit the Yachtmaster Coastal exam (optional) you require the following experience:
30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours. If you hold the Coastal Skipper practical course completion certificate this is reduced to 20 days, 2 days as skipper, 400 miles, 12 night hours.
Half the qualifying sea time must be conducted in tidal waters.
All qualifying seatime must be within 10 years prior to the exam.
Certificates required: VHF/HF and valid First Aid
The practical exam takes 6-10 hours for one candidate, 8-14 hours for two candidates
Minimum age: 17 years
Fees: The RYA exam fee is paid direct to RYA who issue the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and is £225 plus £33 for the MCA commercial qualification.
There will be an additional charter fee of $390/person for the yacht (yachtmaster sail) unless the exam is on your own yacht.
For an MCA (UK’s Marine and Coastal Agency) Commercial endorsement on the Yachtmaster Coastal certificate you also require a Sea Survival certificate (RYA/MCA Basic Sea Survival for Small Craft or YA Safety and Sea Survival are both acceptable), a Professional Practices and Responsibilities Certificate (PPR) which is available online with Southern Cross Yachting and completion of a Medical examination form.