Choosing the right RYA course for you
The RYA Sail Cruising Scheme:
Skippers can take the course that suits their experience, or work through the scheme step by step.
- Competent Crew Practical
- Day Skipper Shorebased
- Day Skipper Practical
- Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Shorebased
- Coastal Skipper Practical Course
- Yachtmaster Coastal Practical Exam
- Yachtmaster Offshore Practical Exam
- Tidal heights
- Tidal streams
- Course to steer
- Estimated Position
- Passage planning
- Compass variation
- Pilotage
- Clearing bearings
- 3 Position fixes
- Meteorology
- Rules of the Road -Lights & Shapes
- Knots
- Tidal heights
- Tidal streams
- Course to steer
- Estimated Position
- Passage planning
- Compass variation
- Pilotage
- Clearing bearings
- 3 Position fixes
- Meteorology
- Rules of the Road -Lights & Shapes
- Knots
Sail Cruising RYA Recommended Pre-Course experience:
Competent Crew – No experience needed, just enthusiasm!
Day Skipper Practical – Practical experience : 5 days, 100 miles, 4 night hours
Assumed knowledge: Basic navigation & sailing ability. Ideally you will have attended the Day Skipper Theory Shorebased course or at least have a good understanding of the following:
* See NOTE
Coastal Skipper Practical – Practical experience: 15 days (2 as skipper), 300 tidal miles, 8 night hours.
Assumed knowledge: Navigation to Coastal Skipper Shorebased standard. Sailing to Day Skipper Practical standard.
* See NOTE
Yachtmaster Coastal Exam – Minimum sea time (within 10 years of exam). 30 days, two days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours. Yachtmaster Theory, VHF or SRC Radio Operators certificate, First Aid Certifcate
Yachtmaster Offshore Exam – 50 days seatime, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles (half of which must be tidal), 5 passages over 60 miles including two overnight and two as skipper. Yachtmaster Theory, First Aid Certificate, VHF license.
* NOTE: All prospective skippers should understand that without the required theoretical knowledge, you will not be able to successfully complete the course. Our instructors are there to help you if your theory is rusty, but they cannot teach a theory course at the same time as a practical course.
