Practical Courses – Sail

Start Yachting

2 days

Competent Crew

5 days

Day Skipper

5 days

Coastal Skipper

5 days

The above courses begin every Tuesday at 0900 hrs from the beginning of March through to the end of November. Courses end at approx. 1600hrs on Saturdays. Clients are welcome to sleep onboard their school yacht on the Monday evening prior to their course, we receive guests at 1800 hrs. Please note these are cruising courses. You will sleep and live aboard a school yacht visiting different habours each night and not return to our marina base until the last day of the course.

Practical Courses – Power

Power L 1

1 day

Power L 2

2 days

The above courses are run as required. Courses start at 0830 hrs. We take a one hour break for lunch and end at approx 1700 hrs each day. Clients are responsible for their own food, accommodation and daily transfers.

The above courses are run as required. Contact us to arrange a mutually convenient date.

The above courses are run as required. Contact us to arrange a mutually convenient date.

The above courses are run as required. Contact us to arrange a mutually convenient date.

Start Yachting

Description:

This course is aimed at the complete novice who would like to try sailing for the first time. The emphasis is on fun and enjoyment and we are sure you will be inspired to get involved further after the course.

Course content:

Your instructor will guide you through the safety procedures and make sure you are comfortable and at ease aboard your yacht before you set sail. You will be taught how to steer a yacht, rope work, sailing a basic course and being aware of safety onboard.

Assessment method:

Continual assessment by your Instructor

Pre-course experience:

None required

Suggested pre-course study:

None

Duration:

2 days

Competent Crew

Description:

The Competent Crew course introduces the beginners to cruising and teaches personal safety, seamanship and helmsmanship to the level required to be a useful member of the crew on a cruising yacht.

Course content:

You will be taught the fundamentals of crewing such as knots, nautical terms, sail handling and helming, as well as how to live in the environment of a cruising yacht. Safety is paramount in all RYA courses and you will learn how to operate flares, lifejackets, safety harnesses, liferafts, how to assist the recovery of a man overboard and participate in at least four hours of night time sailing during the course.

Assessment method:

Continual assessment by your Instructor

Pre-course experience:

None required

Suggested pre-course study:

Duration:

5 days

Day Skipper (non-tidal)

Description:

A course designed to teach pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in non-tidal waters with which the student is familiar. (Min. Age 16) This is the basic level required to charter boats in most of the Mediterranean.

Course content:

Skippering a yacht for the first time can be a daunting experience. The RYA Day Skipper practical course is designed to teach you to "Take Charge" safely and confidently. A skipper does much more than navigate. They are responsible for the complete safety and well being of the yacht and crew. These responsibilities include weather forecasting, victualling, engine maintenance, sail selection and handling, passage planning, watch keeping, navigation and pilotage.

Assessment method:

Continual assessment by your Instructor

Pre-course experience:

5 days aboard, 100 miles, 4 night hours and a knowledge of basic navigation.

Suggested pre-course study:

Our online RYA Basic Navigation and Safety course.

Duration:

5 days

Coastal Skipper (non-tidal)

Description:

The aim of this course is to teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a cruising yacht safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night within any part of the Mediterranean, Baltic or other sea with a relatively small tidal range. (Min. Age 17)

Course content:

This is an advanced course, requiring experience prior to commencement. It is a great way of honing skills before undertaking longer passages. You will learn how to prepare a yacht for sailing offshore, how to handle more complex navigation and pilotage situations and sail in heavy weather. There is also emphasis on night sailing and controlling a yacht in a confined space.

Assessment method:

Continual assessment by your Instructor

Pre-course experience:

800 miles logged, 30 days living onboard, 2 days as skipper, 12 night hours. VHF/SRC licence. A valid first aid certificate.

Suggested pre-course study:

Our online navigation course or the RYA Yachtmaster/Coastal Skipper shorebased theory course.

Duration:

5 days

Yachtmaster (Sail) Preparation

Description:

To attain the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence candidates must pass a practical examination of their skippering ability. This course is designed to prepare candidates for the exam. A Yachtmaster is capable of skippering the yacht on extended offshore passages by day or night.  He or she will essentially be an experienced Skipper looking to achieve the pinnacle of RYA training. Slightly less experienced skippers can opt to prepare for a Coastal Skipper exam. (Do not confuse this with the non-tidal version described above). The main difference between Yachtmaster and the full Coastal Skipper is in the quality and speed with which each task is accomplished. After passing the Yachtmaster practical exam (sold separately) candidates can add commercial, ocean and power endorsements to their qualifications. Please call for further information.

Course content:

Early in the week the instructor will asses your strengths and weaknesses and coach you in the areas required to pass the examination however our experience normally leads us to work on the following areas; passage planning, man overboard recovery, close quarters handling, skippering techniques, navigation in restricted visibility, pilotage and knowledge of the International Collision Regulations. The instructor will debrief you fully as the week progresses and ensure that you get time to work on your weaker areas.

Pre-course experience:

50 Days (5 days as skipper)
2500 miles logged (at least 50% of which must have been in tidal waters.
5 passages over 60 miles
(including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper)
Navigation to Coastal/Yachtmaster theory standard
VHF/SRC licence
First Aid certificate

Suggested pre-course study:

Yachtmaster/Coastal skipper shorebased theory.

Duration:

5 days

Yachtmaster (Sail) Exam

Description:

The exam is conducted by an independent RYA Examiner on behalf of the MCA (Marine and Coastguard Agency). The examiner will ask each candidate to skipper the yacht on several short passages and complete various demonstrations of their skippering and sailing ability over the course of the two days. This will include night and passage planning exercises.

Course content:

The exam can be conducted for either the full examination and a sea survival course. Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster qualifications. The full course syllabus explains what the Examiner is looking for from each type of candidate. If successful, either qualification can be commercially endorsed for those wishing to work at sea.

Assessment method:

Practical exam conducted by independent Examiner.

Pre-course experience:

50 Days (5 days as skipper)
2500 miles logged (at least 50% of which must have been in tidal waters.
5 passages over 60 miles
(including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper)
Navigation to Coastal/Yachtmaster theory standard
VHF/SRC licence
First Aid certificate

Suggested pre-course study:

You are statistically far more likely to pass if you take a Yachtmaster preparation course.

Duration:

2 days

Powerboat Level 1

Description:

A one-day introductory practical course covering basic seamanship, safety, maneuvering and the basic Rules of the Road for the operation of small RIBs and powerboats.

Course content:

During the course you will learn about basic safety equipment, how to launch and recover the boat and use of a kill chord. You will also learn basic boat man oeuvres including starting, stopping, leaving and coming alongside and securing to a mooring buoy.

Assessment method:

Continual assessment by your Instructor

Pre-course experience:

None required

Suggested pre-course study:

None required

Duration:

1 day

Powerboat Level 2

Description:

This two day course provides a level of training that is ideal for anyone from the casual weekend user through to some commercial users. This course will also enable British citizens and residents 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 Powerboat Level 2 certificate will cover powerboats up to 10 metres in length.

Course content:

You will be taught launching and recovery, use and care of safety equipment, basic knots, fast and slow speed boat handling, use of trim, towing, man overboard, anchoring and securing to a buoy. You will also learn some basic navigation and the factors that need to be taken into account when planning your trip.

Assessment method:

Continual assessment by your Instructor

Pre-course experience:

None required

Suggested pre-course study:

Our online Navigation and Safety course.

Duration:

2 days

Essential Navigation and Seamanship

Description:

The RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship Course aims to introduce the basic concepts of inshore and coastal navigation and safety in an easy to understand and enjoyable format. We are the first RYA training centre to produce a fully certificated online version of the course making it an ideal way to gain valuable skills prior to attending one of our practical courses. We will accept completion of this course as proof of the necessary navigation knowledge required to undertake our Day Skipper (non-tidal) courses. It is contains all the elements (and more) for those wishing to take a Powerboat Level 2 course.

Assessment method:

Online test paper

Course content:

During the course you will be introduced to the basics of navigation including tidal awareness, charts, almanacs and the use of electronic navigation aids such as GPS. You will be taught about harbour entry and departure pilotage including knowledge of buoyage and a basic understanding of the Collision Regulations. You will also learn more about what safety equipment you should carry and how it is used. This course can be purchased online.

Pre-course experience:

None required

Suggested pre-course study:

None required

Duration:

Student dependent

Day Skipper Shorebased

Description:

A comprehensive introduction to seamanship, basic navigation, pilotage, safety procedures and Collision Regulations.

Course content:

Students are taught the basics of coastal and inshore navigation and pilotage including chartwork, position fixing, plotting a course to steer, weather forecasting, a knowledge of tides and the International Regulations for Prevention of Collision at Sea.  As well as navigation the RYA Day Skipper shorebased course will give students an understanding of different yacht types and the equipment they carry as well as safety procedures such as distress calls, use of flares, safety harnesses, life jackets and liferafts.

Assessment method:

Test paper

Pre-course experience:

None required

Suggested pre-course study:

None required

Duration:

5 days (or 40 hours)