Coastal Skipper (Sail)
A course for those with considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation wanting to undertake coastal passages by day and night. Each trainee will skipper more challenging passages under the guidance of the instructor
The course concentrates on the techniques and skills required to skipper a yacht on passages involving more complex decision making, cruise planning, navigation, and pilotage. A passage of longer duration, with particular emphasis placed on watch keeping techniques will usually be undertaken to demonstrate how to manage the yacht on such a passage.
In addition, you will be given the opportunity to improve your close quarters boat handling skills under power and sail. Preparation of the yacht for heavy weather cruising and navigation in restricted visibility is also discussed and practised. By the end of this course the successful Coastal Skipper will have sufficient knowledge to skipper a yacht safely on long coastal and offshore passages by day and night, in both tidal and non-tidal waters
This course is residential and you will stay on board our sailing vessel throughout the course.
Pre Course Experience Please make sure that you are booked onto the right course for your current sailing ability and read through the required practical and theory experience carefully.
Not sure about where your skills/knowledge sits then check out our online quiz: before you book:
Practical Experience:
The minimum pre course experience for this course is 15 days, 300 nautical miles and 8 night hours on board a cruising yacht. We would recommend that most students have more experience than this prior to attending this course.
To really benefit from this course, you should have some prior experience as a skipper in charge of a yacht.
Theory Knowledge: RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Shorebased course or full knowledge of the subject
Recommended pre-course experience is:
- Comprehensive sailing ability
- 15 Days at Sea
- 300 miles sail cruising
- 8 night hours
- Navigation and theory knowledge to RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Shorebased level
If you do not have the required pre-course experience please call us to discuss your best training options.
This course runs over 5 full training days
To maximise training and planning time usually students will join the yacht on the evening prior to the first full day sailing – please check your booking confirmation for more details.
Courses will usually be complete by aprox 4pm on the final day.
Minimum age 17 years old.
This course operates with a maximum of 5 students per instructor/vessel however we usually operate with a maximum of 4 students on board
RYA Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus if you don’t already have one.
If you are looking to work commercially then you will need to follow this course with the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence (CoC) – the Coastal Skipper course completion certificate is not commercially recognised.
We have a page with a range of information and FAQs that we hope you will find useful for your upcoming Sail Cruising course with us.
Wondering what to expect on your course or what bring? From waterproofs to wellies, meals to medication and kits bags to sleeping bags – this page will have the answers!
Please read it carefully and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.
