coastal skipper vs yachtmaster coastal

Certificates of Competence

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Exam

Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme and Logbook (G158) available from the RYA webshop.

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal practical exams can be taken under sail or power and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly. You or a training centre provide the boat and the RYA provides an examiner. Note: All qualifying sea time and passages must be gained on vessels appropriate to the type of exam i.e. gained in sailing vessels for a sail exam and power vessels for a power exam.

The exam will include an assessment of your skippering skills, boat handling, general seamanship, navigation, safety awareness and knowledge of the IRPCS (collision regulations), meteorology and signals. You will be set tasks to demonstrate your ability and may also be asked questions on any part of the syllabus for all practical and shorebased courses up to RYA Yachtmaster Coastal level.

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal exam pre-requisites

Boats used for exams.

You may use your own boat or a boat that you have chartered or borrowed. You will be responsible for ensuring the boat is seaworthy and suitable for the area in which the exam takes place and equipped as shown below.

The boat used must be between 7m and 18m LOA and be in sound, seaworthy condition, equipped to the standard set out in the RYA book Cruising Yacht Safety (code C8). The boat must be equipped with a full up to date set of charts and navigational publications and be efficiently crewed, as the examiner will not take part in the management of the boat during the exam.

Before you book your exam please check that you:

can provide a boat (either your own or a training centre's boat)
have completed the required mileage and experience as skipper
hold an SRC (Short Range Certificate) or higher level GMDSS radio operators qualification
hold a valid first aid certificate
have read the syllabus in the RYA Logbook (code G158)
have read and comply with the pre-requisites above.

Additionally if not on the boat, you will need to bring to the exam:

laminated or waterproof charts
GPS set (may be hand held)
tide tables
pilotage information for the local area, eg pilot books, port information etc
plotting instruments.
Photographic ID card or document, such as a passport or driving licence

If you need your Certificate of Competence in order to work on board a commercial craft subject the MCA's codes of practice, you will need to get it commercially endorsed .

Useful links

Arranging your exam, commercial endorsements, exam payments service, mca manning requirements, professional qualifications.

Information
Call Us: 0203 006 3717 (9:30am-4:30pm)

Difference Between Day Skipper vs Coastal Skipper?

First Class Sailing has been teaching people how to sail for over twenty years. Thousands of students have taken courses with us, including RYA Day Skipper and RYA Coastal Skipper . This short guide will explain the key differences between the RYA Day Skipper and RYA Coastal Skipper courses, and why we recommend this progression in your learning. If you want to compare Day Skipper vs Coastal Skipper, see below.

The primary difference between Day Skipper vs Coastal Skipper is that the latter RYA qualification lets you skipper a yacht in coastal waters by night and has an emphasis on higher levels of independence. RYA Day Skipper limits you to sailing in local waters by day.

RYA Day Skipper vs RYA Coastal Skipper

Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper are two different levels of sailing RYA qualifications, recognised worldwide, which give you the experience and tools you need to skipper a yacht.

The main difference of Day Skipper vs Coastal Skipper and the two levels is the level of experience and knowledge you qualify with, plus the important aspect we just mentioned – being able to skipper at night vs day.

Day Skipper is the lower level sailing qualification and is designed for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience plus basic navigation and sailing skills. The RYA Day Skipper Practical qualification is the sailing qualification that most charter companies, such as in the Mediterranean, require you to have before chartering a yacht.

Before you take Day Skipper, we ask that you have already completed the Competent Crew Course or have sailing experience to the same level; and have taken the Day Skipper Theory Course or have navigational knowledge to that level before signing up.

Upon completion of the course, you will then be qualified to skipper a yacht during daylight hours in familiar waters. It is worth mentioning that you do actually do some night sailing on the Day Skipper course just so you get some experience of sailing at night.

The Practical Coastal Skipper Course is your next step up after the Day Skipper Practical Course. It covers the more refined skippering techniques required for sailing in coastal and offshore waters. This includes a more in-depth analysis of passage planning and skippering techniques, with a focus on preparing for challenging weather conditions and emphasising the importance of thorough preparation.

In moving to this more advanced level, it is assumed you have navigation skills to the same standard as the Yachtmaster Theory course level as it is a more advanced level of qualification that builds on the knowledge gained in the Day Skipper course.

This course is designed for individuals with a good amount of sailing experience and covers more advanced topics in navigation, passage planning, and boat handling in a variety of conditions. The aim is to make you a more experience skipper, and it is recommend you have at least 15 days experience at sea before taking part, two of which will be as a skipper.

Upon completion of the course, you will then be qualified to skipper a yacht on coastal passages, both during the day and at night.

If you are interested in either course, please contact us today to book.

Posted by: First Class Sailing

What's the difference between RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and RYA Yachtmaster Coastal?

04 March 2016

The RYA Yachtmaster qualification has long been recognised by many as the premium sailing qualification for the experienced leisure sailor. In recent times, the Yachtmaster qualification has been further defined and is now split into three subsections, namely Yachtmaster Coastal, Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean. Unlike the RYA Day Skipper qualification, all three qualifications are gained through external examination.

The holder of a Yachtmaster Coastal qualification should be competent to skipper a yacht of up to 24 metres LOA in waters up to 20 miles from a safe haven. A Yachtmaster Offshore is qualified to skipper a vessel of the same size up to 150 miles from a safe haven. Yachtmaster Ocean extends the Yachtmaster Offshore qualification and qualifies the holder to skipper a vessel of the same size and up to 200gt anywhere in the World.

As one would expect, each examination requires that the candidate have a minimum level of experience prior to the examination. Prior to the Yachtmaster Coastal examination , a candidate must have a minimum of 30 days at sea, with 2 days as skipper and at least 800 miles logged, including 12 night hours. If you hold the Coastal Skipper course certificate already then this is reduced to 20 days at sea with 2 days as skipper, 400 miles logged and 12 night hours. Half the qualifying sea time must be conducted in tidal waters.

To qualify to undertake the Yachtmaster Offshore examination , you must have a minimum of 50 days at sea, 2,500 miles logged, including at least 5 passages over 60 miles measured along the rhumb line from the port of departure to the destination, acting as skipper for at least two of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages. The candidate must have 5 days experience as skipper. At least half this mileage and passages must be in tidal waters. All qualifying seatime must be within 10 years prior to the exam.

In both instances you will also need to hold a GMDSS short range radio certificate.

For advice on what examination you should be studying for, call our senior instructor and RYA Yachtmaster Instructor for a chat on [email protected] or call 07925 784407.

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RYA Certificates of Competence, Part 2 - Yachtmaster Coastal

Sailing qualification recognised around the world as a clear mark of your sailing ability.

By Marcin Wojtyczka

In this article in series about RYA certifications we reveal how to pass the RYA Yachtmaster® Coastal Certificate of Competence.

The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence is proof that you have the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on any coastal cruise.

The holder of a Yachtmaster Coastal qualification should be competent to skipper a yacht of up to 24 metres LOA (up to 200gt) in waters up to 20 miles from a safe haven.

Don’t treat the examination just as an exam. This is a great opportunity to get feedback on your skills and become a better sailor.

Requirements

You can find the official requirements here .

To pass the exam you need ample experience and be able to navigate as well as handle the boat at sea in sight of land. You can take the exam without holding previous certifications from the ladder (e.g. daily or coastal skipper) or doing any course before as long as you have enough knowledge and experience.

Prior to the Yachtmaster Coastal examination, you must have a minimum of 30 days at sea, with 2 days as a skipper and at least 800 miles logged, including 12 night hours. If you hold the Coastal Skipper course certificate already then this is reduced to 20 days at sea with 2 days as skipper, 400 miles logged and 12 night hours. Half the qualifying sea time must be conducted in tidal waters. You will also need to hold a GMDSS short-range radio certificate.

Preparation

Before taking the practical exam at sea, it is recommended to take Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course especially if you have not sat at the chart table for a while. Holding the RYA Yachtmaster Theory is also required if your long-term goal is to become the Officer of the Watch 3000GT.

You should also consider taking a practical preparation course. There is no official RYA prep course, but many sailing schools offer on-the-water preparation courses. Our trips are focused on training based on the RYA syllabus and can get you prepared for the exam as well. We can evaluate whether you are at the right level to pass the exam and identify gaps in your knowledge. Many of our participants passed the prestigious RYA Yachtmaster Coastal exam and keep returning year after year to us in order to become yet more confident and experienced. Our practical on-the-water training builds confidence, teaching you everything from basic terminology and safety tips to how to skipper a yacht and manage its crew.

Exam Syllabus

This is a broad description of the topics that will be covered during the practical exam. You are supposed to demonstrate knowledge of competence in many areas listed below. In each section, the examiner will expect to see that you can take full responsibility for the management of the yacht and crew.

1. Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs)

Questions will be covering the International Regulations. You must be aware of the existence of Local Regulations, but they will not be expected to memorise specific local regulations.

General rules (1-3)
Steering and Rules of the Road (4-19)
Lights and shapes (20-31)
Sound and light signals (32-37)
Signals for vessels fishing in close proximity (Annex II)
Distress signals (Annex IV)

You will be expected to deliver a safety briefing and know what safety equipment should be carried on board a yacht, based either on the recommendations in the RYA Boat Safety Handbook (C8) , the ISAF Special Regulations or the Codes of Practice for the safety of Small Commercial Vessels MGN 280 (M) . It should cover the following areas including the responsibilities of a skipper:

Safety briefing
Life jackets
Safety harnesses
Lifejackets
Distress signalling (flares and electronic means)
Fire prevention and fighting
Boat stability
Knowledge of rescue and emergency procedures
Helicopter rescue

3. Boat Handling

You will be expected to answer questions or demonstrate ability in simple situations only. Topics can include:

Coming to and weighing anchor under power in various conditions of wind and tide
Simple berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide
Recovery of man overboard and being able to describe the effects of cold-water shock and the aftercare requirements of a casualty who has been in the water
Boat handling in confined areas under sail
Boat handling in heavy weather
Helmsmanship and sail trim to sail to the best advantage (point of sails)
Use of warps for securing in an alongside berth and for shifting berth or winding

4. General Seamanship, including maintenance

Properties, use and care of synthetic-fibre lines
General deck work at sea and in the harbour
Engine operations and routine checks and troubleshooting
Improvisation of jury rigs following gear failure

5. Responsibilities of skipper

Can skipper a yacht safely and manage the crew
Communication with crew
Delegation of responsibility and watch-keeping organisation
Preparing yacht for sea and for adverse weather
Tactics for heavy weather and restricted visibility
Emergency and distress situations
Victualling for a cruise and nutrition at sea
Customs procedures
Standards of behaviour and courtesy

6. Navigation

Charts, navigational publications and sources of navigational information
Chartwork including position fixing and shaping course to allow for tidal stream and leeway
Tide and tidal stream calculations for standard and secondary ports
Buoyage and visual aids for navigation
Instruments including compasses, logs, echo sounders, radio navaids and chartwork instruments
Passage planning and navigational tactics
Pilotage techniques
Keeping navigational records
Limits of navigational accuracy and margins of safety
Lee shore dangers
Use of electronic navigation aids for passage planning and passage navigation
Use of waypoints and electronic routeing
Position fixing with and without the use of GPS
Course to steer and estimated position
Coming in and out of the harbour during the day and/or night
Knowledge of Radar and how to use it for collision avoidance and restricted visibility
General understanding of AIS for restricted visibility

7. Meteorology

Definition of terms
Sources of weather forecasts
Weather systems (frontal depressions and highs in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere)
Local weather effects (sea breeze, fog, wind funnel effect)
Interpretation of weather forecasts and synoptic charts, barometric trends and visible phenomena
Ability to make passage planning decisions based on forecast information

You must hold the SRC Certificate of Competence (VHF) in radiotelephony or a higher grade of certificate in radiotelephony

Learning materials

Insightful blog series on the Yachtmaster exams from the perspective of RYA examinator.
The Complete Yachtmaster - Bestseller since first publication that has established itself as the standard reference for Yachtmaster students as well as skippers of all levels of experience.
RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Notes - Highly illustrated book on all aspects of the RYA Yachtmaster syllabus.
The RYA Navigation Exercises - This is one of the best books about navigation. It accompanies all RYA training courses and includes two training charts (RYA Training Charts 3 & 4).
RYA Certificates of Competence
Certificates

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Yachtmaster Offshore: When, Why, and How

In a seafarer’s career, there comes the time when Yachtmaster ticket becomes either a necessity, or the next logical step in professional development. No matter what the reason for the course is, Yachtmaster Offshore requires a thorough preparation and planning as well as some prior knowledge and experience.

When am I ready to take the course?

The candidate’s eligibility for Yachtmaster Offshore program is defined by a number of requirements. First and foremost, the logged sea time must show a minimum of 2500 nautical miles, about half of which should be in tidal waters. There is a huge debate as to what tidal waters are, and the RYA leaves it to the Yachtmaster candidate to decide whether the passage they undertook happened in a tidal area. The definition offered by the RYA is as follows:

An area is deemed tidal if published stream, current or tidal range data is available, the influence of which is significant enough to require the effects to be taken into account to plan and execute a safe and efficient passage .

But even if the decision to call experience tidal is the candidate’s, the RYA wisely warns that the final judgement will be made by the examiner and recommends to list only those miles that can be backed up with evidence. The qualifying sea time should be gained on motor vessels if the candidate applies for Yachtmaster Offshore Motor license. Sail miles do not count.

The RYA also sets a requirement as to the number of qualifying passages. As defined by the Association, ‘a passage is a non-stop voyage from a departure port / safe haven to a destination port / safe haven ’. For the Yachtmaster Offshore , there must be a minimum of 5 passages over 60 nm each; 2 of those passages should be overnight and 2 when the candidate acted as a skipper. The skipper, as understood by the RYA , is a person nominated and responsible for the planning and execution of a passage including vessel and watch management . It’s important that throughout the 60-mile passage there occurs no change of skippers; otherwise, the passage cannot be deemed as qualifying.

Proper understanding of the skipper’s role is vital for ticking the box of another requirement – 5 days on board acting as a skipper. A day in this case is a period of 8 consecutive hours, and the majority of them should be at sea . In every 24 hours, Yachtmaster candidate can have only one qualifying day onboard.

Last but not least, the RYA’s Yachtmaster Offshore exam pre-requisites put some restrictions as to the tonnage and length: days on board and miles should be gained on vessels up to 500 gt and less than 24 meters LOA.

When is the best time to take the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore course?

The full program – RYA Yachtmaster Offshore theory and RYA Yachtmaster Practical – takes 10 days to complete; the exam is usually scheduled right after, and candidates need to allow 2 days for it. With the sea, winds, and weather being unpredictable, to the candidates coming from abroad we advise to add an extra day before taking flights back home. Thus, the course is quite a commitment, and most seafarers take it during low Med season. Our Yachtmaster Offshore course is scheduled every month from December throughout April to give options to potential candidates.

Why take the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore?

Yachtmaster is not for beginners. Commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence entitles its holder to master a yacht of up to 200 gt, and that is a big responsibility. That said, one of the reasons to get Yachtmaster is to advance the qualifications from entry to higher level including MCA Officer of the Watch (OOW) or Chief Mate, for which Yachtmaster Offshore CoC is among the required documents. Yachtmaster Offshore Shore-based (theory) certificate is another pre-requisite to apply for the OOW, and it has to be sent along with STCW and other records as a part of the Notice of Eligibility.

In a scheme of RYA training , Yachtmaster Offshore is preceded by RYA Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper, which allow to navigate 20 and 60 nautical miles offshore accordingly. With Yachtmaster Offshore qualifications, it is possible to skipper a cruising yacht up to 150 miles from harbour, so recreational boaters can have larger areas to explore and longer distances to cover.

How to apply for Yachtmaster Offshore Program?

If you believe you are ready and meet the pre-requisites mentioned above and outlined on our website , your first step is to get in touch with us by email, phone, or through contact form . Once we receive your enquiry, we will email to you Sea Time Summary and Self-Evaluation forms to fill out, which we will then forward to our instructor to confirm your eligibility. If you are eligible for the course, we will proceed with course booking and securing your place on the training.

Some important things to remember: the candidates for the training should hold a valid Elementary First Aid certificate . For the STCW EFA , it should be issued within the last 5 years, for the RYA First Aid - within the last 3 years. VHF Marine Radio certificate can be offered as a part of Yachtmaster Offshore package , but if you already hold the certificate, we can offer a 100 euros reduction.

Our next Yachtmaster Offshore session starts on the 6 th of December. Click here for more dates.

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RYA Sailing Courses

Rya yachtmaster coastal and offshore – prep course and exam.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate – Prep Course & Exam

An RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate is the ultimate sailing qualification for UK sailors and for many aspiring professional sailors around the world. Whether you want the Yachtmaster Certificate of Competency to be able to charter yachts as skipper anywhere in the world, as proof you have reached the pinnacle of your leisure sailing ambitions, or you need it for a sailing career, you will need to pass the exam. It is nautical equivalent of a driving license, no matter if you are into racing yachts, classic boats, super yachts or motor boats.

If you pass and meet the pre-requisites to convert it into a commercially endorsed MCA/RYA Certificate of Competency, you are legally qualified to skipper a vessel up to 24 metres or up to 200 tonnes.

Why do a Yachtmaster Preparation Course ?

Unlike other courses in the cruising programme, there is no formal training to complete in order to become a Yachtmaster Offshore. Instead, provided that you have sufficient experience and seatime (see pre requisites), you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge. This exam takes place on an approved yacht with an external RYA examiner testing both your practical skills and your theoretical knowledge over 5-9 hours per candidate, or slightly longer if you are the only candidate being examined.

Our Yachtmaster Prep course has a generous 5 days (more than most schools) and 2 days set aside after the course for those that feel ready to take the exam.

Benchmark for a Successful Exam Pass

If you have not completed a shore based Coastal skipper/Yachtmaster theory course then please check the syllabus to make sure you are confident with your theoretical knowledge (especially Rules of the Road IRPCS) and the practical application of navigational skills. We can now offer you a Long Distance Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore Theory Course, which gives you the option of when, where and for how long, you study.

A RYA Yachtmaster Coastal (formerly Coastal Skipper) should have the knowledge to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages.

A RYA Yachtmaster Offshore should be able to enter any well-charted harbour for the first time, with sufficient depth, by day or night. The only way to gain confidence is by practice, particularly at night when skill is required in picking out navigation lights and buoys against a background of shore lights. (If you have colour blindness please talk to us before booking)

With a course over 7 days, your fully qualified instructor will be able to devote plenty of time to your individual needs with regular debriefings and coaching aimed at helping you to raise your standards.

Fee’s for Yachtmaster Certificate preparation

Voyage fee is for the full 5 days of instruction (or 8 days if you go on to do the exam)

Examination fee payable to the examiner -RYA Yachtmaster offshore Exam is £215 and Yachtmaster Coastal is roughly £185 per person (2019).

Yachtmaster Coastal Pre Exam Requirements

Radio Operators Certificate – for example (restricted) VHF Radio Operators Certificate or a GMDSS Short Range Certification or higher grade marine radio qualification.

Valid First Aid Certificate – First Aid certificates held by police / fire or armed servicesare also acceptable.

Seatime – 800 miles logged within 10 years of the examination. 30 days on board. 2 days as skipper and 12 night hours. (half the qualifying seatime must have been conducted in tidal waters)

Yachtmaster Offshore Pre Exam Requirements

Seatime – 2500 miles. 50 days on board. At least 5 passages over 60 miles and acting as skipper for at least 2 of these passages and including two which have involved overnight passages.

Skipper experience – at least 5 days as skipper. (Half the qualifying seatime must have been conducted in tidal waters)

50 Days seatime & 5 days as skipper – 2500 miles logged – 5 passages over 60 miles -including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. Qualifying passages must be over 60 miles non stop by the most direct route and involve no change of skipper during the passage.

Bring with you to the exam

RYA logbook or evidence of your sailing experience and qualifying passages

Passport photo
cheque or credit card details for Exam fee payable to the RYA
First Aid Certificate
VHF Radio Operators Certificate
You must be over 18 years of age & qualifying experience gained over the age of 15.
Certification required before the examination:
VHF Radio Operators Certificate – First Aid Certificate

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RYA Day Skipper Practical Course

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What is an RYA Yachtmaster?

The RYA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper. Unlike other qualifications in the cruising programme, there is no formal training course to become an RYA Yachtmaster. Instead, provided you have sufficient experience, certification and seatime, you can put yourself forward for an exam to test your skills and knowledge. There are a number of RYA navigation courses that will help you prepare for your exam. Many RYA Yachtmaster candidates also choose to book themselves into an RYA training centre for some specialised exam preparation training, but this is not compulsory.

You are capable of coastal passages

You are competent to undertake passages up to 150 miles offshore

You have the knowledge and experience to sail worldwide

Arranging your exam

The Coastal and Offshore exams are practical tests afloat, and the Ocean is an oral exam. Find out more about qualifying passages, exam fees and how to book.

With an RYA Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore or Ocean Certificate of Competence you can start a career at sea.

You'll need to have the appropriate qualification for the vessel and area of operation.

If you want to work commercially, you'll need a commercial endorsement.

Find out more about other RYA professional qualifications.

Getting the most from a Yachtmaster Fast Track course

Can you really become an RYA Yachtmaster in as little as 14 weeks? Check out our top tips for getting the most from a Yachtmaster Fast Track course...

RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased

Coastal skipper / yachtmaster offshore shorebased.

Advanced training for more experienced skippers building on the RYA Day Skipper qualification. This course equips you to navigate safely on coastal and offshore passages.

About the course

The Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course covers all of the theory knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams, concentrating on advanced navigation and meteorology skills.

The course includes:

position fixing
course shaping and plotting
tidal knowledge
use of almanacs and admiralty publications
electronic position finding equipment
taking and interpreting forecasts
plotting weather systems
weather predictions using a barometer and by observation
collision regulations
customs and excise regulations for cruising abroad

Course syllabus

Understand dead reckoning and estimated position
Understand satellite-derived position
Use of waypoints
Radar fixes
Techniques of visual fixing
Understand fixes using a mixture of position lines
Relative accuracy of different methods of position lines
Understand areas of uncertainty

The magnetic compass

Allowance for variation
Understand change of variation with tie and position
Understand causes of deviation
Swing for deviation (but not correction)
Allowance for deviation
Different types of compass
Causes of tides – Springs and Neaps
Tide tables – sources
Tidal levels and datum
Standard and secondary ports
Tidal anomalies

Tidal streams

Sources of tidal information
Tidal stream information in sailing directions and yachtsmen’s Almanacs
Allowance for tidal stream in computing a course to steer
Tide rips, overfalls and races
Tidal observation buoys, beacons etc
IALA system buoyage in Region A
Limitations of buoys as navigational aids
Understand characteristics
Ranges – visual, luminous and nominal
Rising and dipping distances
Light lists
Harbour regulations and control signals
Methods of pre-planning
Clearing lines
Use of soundings
Transits and leading lines

GPS and chart plotters

Principles of operation and limitations of use
Raster and vector charts
Understand datum
Importance of confirmation of position by an independent source and keeping a separate record of position
Importance of paper charts

Echo sounders

Logs (speed and distance measuring).

Principles of operation and limitation of use
Importance of log as yachts official document
Layout of log, hourly and occasional entries

Meteorology

Understand basic terms, the Beaufort scale
Cloud types
Weather patterns associated with pressure and frontal systems
Sources of weather forecasts
Ability to interpret a shipping forecast, weatherfax and weather satellite information
Land and sea breezes
Use of a barometer as a forecasting aid

Rules of the road

A sound knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, except Annexes 1 and 3

Safety at sea

Personal safety, use of life-jackets, safety harnesses and lifelines
Fire prevention and fire fighting
Distress signals
Coastguard and Boat Safety Scheme
Preparation for heavy weather
Life-rafts and helicopter rescue
Understanding of capabilities of vessel and basic knowledge of stability

Navigation in restricted visibility

Precautions to be taken in fog
Limitations to safe navigation imposed by fog
Navigation strategy in poor visibility

Passage planning

Preparation of charts and notebook for route planning and making, and use at sea
Custom regulations as they apply to yachts
Routine navigating in coastal waters
Strategy for course laying
Use of waypoints and routes
Use of weather forecast information for passage planning strategy
Sources of local and national regulations

Marine environment

Responsibility to minimise pollution and protect the marine environment

Prerequisites

Successful completion of RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course or a level of Navigational knowledge up to RYA Day Skipper level (Please assess your level of knowledge against the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course syllabus).

How to Book

To book this course, register your interest below or Book Online By Clicking Here

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RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail – All You Need To Know

The goal of the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail course is to teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a cruising yacht safely on coastal and offshore passages by day and night.

If you have not already done your RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory, then you should do that first. You can find more information about our online course here; RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory .

What Does the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail Allow You to Do?

You will gain practice in planning and skippering longer passages with a significant number of night hours where watch-keeping rotas become relevant. At the end of the course, a successful candidate would be awarded a course completion certificate.

An RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail course gives you the confidence to skipper a yacht in unfamiliar waters, out of sight of land, both during the day and at night. It also gives credibility to the holder’s higher skill levels and will likely be looked at positively by insurance companies.

Occasionally, charter companies may ask for an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail certificate for their larger sizes of yachts or for chartering in more complex sailing grounds.

Nobody will be ready to jump straight into a commercial RYA Yachtmaster exam on completion of an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail course, but the skillsets taught will enable the student to continue building their knowledge and experience as they progress in their sailing career.

Who Can Do an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail?

The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail course is open to anyone who meets the basic minimum criteria.

17 years of age or older
15 days spent at sea
300nm sailed
8 night hours experienced on the water
2 days as skipper

If you have sailing experience but not skippering experience, then you will want to take the RYA Day Skipper Practical Sail course. You can read more about that here. (linked to day skip sail blog)

Can You Go Straight to the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail Course?

You should aim to complete your RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory before attending your RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail course.

While this is not a beginner’s course, so long as you have the relevant experience and skippering skills as described above then you can indeed, go straight into RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail.

It should be noted however, that on the RYA Day Skipper Practical Sail course certain building blocks in your learning will have taken place and so if you do not have at least a few days of experience as a skipper of a small vessel then it is recommended that you start at the RYA Day Skipper Practical Sail in order to consolidate your knowledge of boat handling and skippering techniques.

How Long Does an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail Take?

The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail is a minimum of a 5-day live-aboard course, however, some schools may choose to extend this.

Is There a Set Syllabus?

There is indeed a syllabus. Each of the following topics represents a specific part of the learnings that will be covered on an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail course in varying levels of detail.

Passage planning, preparation for sea, pilotage, passage making, ability as skipper, yacht handling under power, yacht handling under sail, adverse weather conditions and emergency situations detail the various aspects of the syllabus.

Read on to learn in a little more about how each of these is covered in a little more detail.

What Might I Learn on an RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail Course?

The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail course is one of the most rewarding courses within the RYA cruising scheme.

On this course, you will advance your sailing and navigational skills from those previously learned. The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail will take your RYA Day Skipper Practical Sail skills to a higher level. With this, you will gain more independence in your skippering.

The highlight of the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail course will see you take on a longer passage that involves some kind of watchkeeping, something you may not have been part of before, especially while also responsible for skippering and navigation. This passage will ideally be out of sight of land and include numerous hours both during the day and at night.

Inevitably, the passage will also cover more than one tidal period or window while also overlaying various weather forecast times. Covering these in a practical scenario, under the guidance of an experienced instructor will allow you to truly see and feel how much these will affect your passage and why we need to take careful consideration of them at all times.

Further passage planning and preparation to a coastal level will be covered, while pilotage will now be covered by night as well as day.

Handling the vessel under power and under sail will not be forgotten about as you will be put through more advanced learnings such as downwind sailing techniques and close-quarter manoeuvres.

Finally, of course, during the week you will cover various emergency situations, including the recovery of a casualty and understanding how to handle adverse weather.

The best RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail courses will take you out to sea, out of sight of land.

What Is the Cost of a Course?

As ever, many schools differ in price. We would recommend that you take a look around at the various options and find what suits your needs the best. Cheapest is not often better.

This can range from knowing if you will have to share a cabin while onboard, to whether food and berthing charges are included, to how many other students you will be sharing your week and instructors time with.

Where Should I Do My RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail Course?

There are many thoughts on where is best, but to be truthful, it is what works for you best.

One thought is to do it in an area that you wouldn’t normally sail in, that way, you can gain learnings and experiences that are uncommon to you.

It is also important to know where you might be sailing to. Ideally, you want to be sailing out of sight of land at some point on an extended passage that covers a number of night hours. You do not want to be returning to the same home port every night.

Check here for RYA practical schools.

What Is the Pass Mark for the Course?

There is no specific pass mark as such. The instructor’s aim is to introduce you to the skills, techniques and experiences of cruising out of sight of land, on a watch system and making landfall.

These may all be introductions to you in this area and as such, each student will find they are at a different level.

The instructor for your course will guide and personalise any learnings so as to improve your knowledge and skills as best as possible.

As long as you are willing to put the effort into learning these skills and have come with the relevant knowledge and experience then you should be confident in achieving the desired standard to be awarded the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail course completion certification.

What Comes After RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail

This is the highest practical course within the RYA cruising scheme. Ideally, you want to go on and consolidate all your learnings and gain experience in a range of conditions, boats and passages.

As you venture out on your travels, be sure to study any special characteristics you will come across in new unfamiliar waters such as med moorings, unusual winds or IALA B.

Once you have consolidated your knowledge, you can start to think about aiming for your RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Sail or RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Sail Exams.

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RYA Coastal Skipper (Sail)

Pre-course requirements.

Minimum age 17, 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours, Boat handling to the standard of Day Skipper and navigation to shore-based Coastal, Completed the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore shore-based course

BRING WITH YOU ON THE DAY

Waterproof clothing, Sunscreen

COURSE DETAILS

Duration: 5 days, Start and finish time: 09.30 to variable

COURSE SYLLABUS

Passage planning, Preparation for sea, Pilotage, Passage making and ability as skipper, Yacht handling under power, Yacht handling under sail, Adverse weather conditions, Emergency situations, Ability after the course Able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night

CERTIFICATION

The Coastal Skipper Practical Certificate is awarded on successful completion of practical exam over one day and one night. By the end of the course you Coastal Skippers should be able to undertake more difficult passages by day and night, be able to handle the yacht in more demanding conditions and have the knowledge, if not the experience, to become a Yachtmaster

COURSE SCHEDULE

Please contact us with the dates you would like to do this course and we will try to arrange this for you

Privacy Overview

"Fantastic Course to do. It gave me excellent knowledge of navigation using charts and all the inputs that go into ensuring safe passage on the sea. It was delivered the content in a clear and practical way and was of great asssistance all the way." settings Mark Wharton settings ENROL FOR THIS COURSE
settings "I've found the training with Above & Beyond Boating really helpful, you can never be too prepared when you head out to sea and their training has helped every step of the way." settings Richard Harris settings ENROL FOR THIS COURSE
settings "Fabulous! Neil is a great teacher; he made the course enjoyable and the whole learning process was very well supported. Neil also provided support in preparing to go cruising for the first time - very practical and reliable in advice and support. Highly recommend!" settings Jennie Fogarty settings ENROL FOR THIS COURSE
settings "As a sailor who's cracked the podium at World Champs in SB20, 18 and 14 ft skiffs, won Cowes Week in the IRC1 and Extreme 40s and been in boats since overnighters with the folks on Lake Rotoiti as a 5 year old...I'm here to thank Neil for teaching me the many previously unknown facets of the Yachtmaster programme." settings Grant Rollerson settings ENROL FOR THIS COURSE

RYA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Course Information

This e-learning course has been developed by Above & Beyond Boating. The course content covers the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Syllabus.

There are 12 course units, comprising of lessons and activities. Lessons are structured with dynamic content and quiz exercises, which provide immediate feedback, to test your knowledge. On completion of the course units, you will be required to complete some online assessments to receive your certificate.

The RYA course framework has been used with Australian and International scenario based case studies to ensure you finish the course with confidence to undertake coastal passages.

Course Study

The course takes around 40 hours in total to study. The self-paced e-learning structure allows you to log in and work through the course material in your own time.

Qualification

RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course Certificate.

The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore course builds upon the navigation, meteorology, and passage making that is delivered in the RYA Day Skipper Theory Course . This RYA training course will introduce new topics and develop a deeper understanding of familiar topics. All units of this course have an assumed prior knowledge of the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Course.

Above & Beyond Boating is here to help! If you are not sure which course is best suited for your skills and future boating aspirations, please contact us today to discuss your pathway.

Once you have completed the twelve units of study, there are three assessment papers to complete in the online course. There is a Chartwork assessment, IRPCS assessment, and a Passage Making assessment.

When you have submitted an assessment attempt, it will be marked by a course instructor, and you will be provided with feedback. If you do not pass your assessment on your first attempt, we will provide feedback to help you prepare for another attempt. You can re-sit an exam again when you are ready.

A formal exam invigilation is required if you intend to gain an MCA large yacht qualification, such as the Officer of the Watch or Master 3000. Should you require a formal exam, we can assist with finding an RYA Training Centre in Australia, or internationally, to invigilate.

Learning Online

Our courses have been specifically designed for an online learning experience. Enrolment in an online course presents a flexible opportunity to work at your own pace. Our team can provide feedback, instruction and personal support to help you get the answers you need.

Supporting Materials

How do we maintain our 99% course completion rate.

Neil Driscoll - RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Instructor

RYA Coastal Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Certification

The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory Course is an advanced training course covering extensive theoretical knowledge necessary for offshore skippering skills, boat handling, seamanship, navigation, safety awareness, collision avoidance, meteorology, and the use of technological aids. Once you have this prestigious coastal skipper licence, the oceans are yours to explore.

The Investment

Access to the course is open for the lifetime of the product. Your course support will remain active for 12 months from the time of enrolment. If life gets too busy and you need more time, you can pause your course support for up to 6-months, and then continue when you have more time.

Enrol in the course now!

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Coastal / Offshore

RYA Yachtmaster

Online Theory Course

A challenging course which stretches you but backed up with excellent coaching and instructor support.

Advanced training for more experienced skippers to navigate safely on coastal and offshore passages

The RYA Yachtmaster online theory course takes your theory knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams.

This course advances your skills as a skipper of a yacht or motor boat, with an emphasis on navigation and passage planning for more complex coastal or offshore passages by day and night

Includes some time for the revision of Day Skipper subjects then moves on to cover a greater depth of knowledge and more advanced skills in navigation, pilotage & meteorology.

Successfully gaining your RYA Yachtmaster theory certificate will enable you to confidently work towards your Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore practical qualification.

Assumed knowledge To Day Skipper theory level.
Minimum duration A minimum of 40 hours of course study time is specified by the RYA, plus time for exercises and exams.
Ability after course Theory knowledge to skipper a vessel on coastal and offshore passages by day and night.

Simply click below to try a free lesson.

Pilotage for RYA Yachtmaster Offshore

Charts & Other Publications
Definition of Position, Time, Speed & Distance
The Compass (including allowance for deviation and swinging the compass)
Tidal Theory
Tidal Heights (including secondary ports)
Tidal Streams (including interpolation of drift)
Estimated Position
Course to Steer
Visual Aids to Navigation
Electronic Aids to Navigation
Passage Planning
Meteorology (including interpreting surface pressure charts)
The Collision Regulations
Safety & Protection of The Environment

Unlimited support from our dedicated RYA Instructors - 365 days a year via email, phone or Skype/Zoom.

14-day unconditional money-back guarantee.

17 fully-narrated online lessons including animations, videos and realistic 3D graphics.

Embedded quizzes with instant feedback in each lesson.

14 self-assessment exercises with fully worked answers.

Over 50 downloadable or linked resources.

Videos covering: updating paper charts, engine checks, dismasting, jury rig, flood control, firefighting, gas explosions, capsize, lifejacket checks, how to put on a lifejacket and what happens when it inflates, man-overboard recovery, launching and boarding a liferaft.

Free Radar course.

RYA Student Pack (including 2 training charts, training almanac & course handbook).

Mock exams to prepare you for the real thing and give you the confidence to pass.

3 final online exams with detailed instructor feedback and free repeat attempts if requried.

RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased Theory Course Completion Certificate.

12 months access to study with instructor support and exams - you can extend this if you want.

Lifetime access to training materials once you’ve completed the course.

Optional Extras

Plotter and divider You’ll need a course plotter and chart-dividers to complete the chartwork exercises - if you don’t already have these you can purchase a top quality set from us for £28 when you place your order.

Delivery UK delivery is free. European delivery is £20, outside Europe delivery is £40.

You can start studying immediately as many of the lessons don’t rely on the printed support materials.

This course is accessed online with no additional software required.

Lessons are accompanied by optional professional narration, and notes.

They are intuitive and easy to follow, whilst more complex subjects are accompanied by interactive animations and graphics to help you gain a full knowledge of each subject in the course syllabus.

Detailed step-by-step workings for navigational or tidal calculations make it easy for you to follow along as we show you how to plot positions, make tidal height and stream calculations, etc

You can go over these again and again, and test your knowledge with regular quizzes throughout each lesson.

At the end of each lesson there is an excercise containg similar questions to the exam, with detailed and illustrated answers sent to you immediately to confirm your progress and fully prepare you for your mock and final exams.

You can repeat entire lessons and excercises as often as you wish until you are confident that you fully understand each subject.

When you have completed the course you can request mock and then final exams.

These are assessed by our RYA Instructors and detailed feedback is provided in any areas that may require further study within the course.

If you pass the final exams you will be awarded the RYA/MCA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course Certificate , which will be posted to you.

Additional free resits, with suitable Instructor guidance, are available if required.

RYA Coastal Skipper-Yachtmaster Shorebased Certificate

Call us for advice on 0238 218 2604

Course reviews.

Laura Anderson

Very enjoyable and informative

Impressively prompt and thorough feedback on all queries, tests, mock and real exams. Very high standards and you feel you have earned the Yachtmaster certificate.

Ciaran McIntyre

Comprehensive and well delivered

Excellent course materials and high quality delivery. Very responsive and excellent instructor feedback

Andrew Harvey

Excellent Yachtmaster theory course - I’d definitely recommend it.

Does what it says on the tin and more. I was impressed how well the course managed to tackle teaching relatively complex skills in a logical and easy to understand way.

Oliver Fleming

Well put together course.

I found the Yachtmaster theory course to be really well structured and covered all of the syllabus in great detail. I was impressed by how well the course managed to tackle teaching relatively complex skills in a logical and easy to understand way.

Combined - RYA Day Skipper & Yachtmaster to fast track your theory learning

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Looking out over the bow of a yacht at sea

RYA Coastal Skipper

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.

About the course

On this 5 day course you’ll learn to skipper passages in a variety of situations during both the day and night. The course becomes gradually more challenging with each day, and our instructors will teach you the skills needed for:

passage planning
day and night pilotage
boat handling
safely dealing with emergencies

This is a satisfying but intense course, and many candidates often work towards a Certificate of Competence. By the end of the course you should have the knowledge, if not the experience, to become a Yachtmaster™.

Required experience

Before joining this course you should have the following yachting experience:

at least 5 days sailing experience
at least 8 hours night sailing experience
at least 300 miles total sailing experience
at least 2 days skipper experience
RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster theory

We recommend that you have boat handling ability to the standard of RYA Day Skipper.

If you have any questions or want to discuss if this is the right course for you, please contact our Watersports Team:

Phone: +44 (0)23 8059 0110

Email: [email protected]

Dates and times

This course is taught over 5 days .

Our courses are available to everyone, but Southampton Sport members can book at a discounted rate.

Membership type

Southampton Sports Membership

Mayflower Member, Sports Pass or Non-Member

Included in the cost of the course are:

certificates upon successful completion
use of lifejackets and lifelines
morning breakfasts, snack lunches and tea/coffee/soft drinks
2 evening meals on board (5 day course)
boat fuel

Not included in the cost of the course are:

other evening meals
mooring fees for berths other than Southampton Town Quay Marina
Cruising Scheme Logbook is available for purchase on the course for £7.99

Booking a course

Book your course online

You can also:

book by phone : +44 (0)23 8059 2119
book by email : [email protected]
book in person at Jubilee Sports Centre

Cancelling or rescheduling a course

You can cancel or reschedule a booking by contacting the Jubilee Sports Centre . Your options depend on how much notice you give us. Notice periods are based on the date of your booking, not on the start time.

Notice given

Refund options

7 days or more

Full refund or reschedule to another date

Between 48 hours and 7 days

Full refund if you present a doctor’s note stating why you can't complete your booking

Less than 48 hours

No refund available

When we might cancel your booking

We might need to cancel a booking if:

the weather means we cannot safely run a course
staff members are sick and their absence cannot be covered
we cannot meet our minimum student-instructor ratio

If we need to cancel your booking, we’ll always try to give you at least 24 hours' notice. We’ll also offer to reschedule your booking.

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Late notice spaces available for selected courses - click here for details

RYA Coastal Skipper Practical

Price: from £899 (Finance now available)

Location: Starts from our base at Premier Gosport Marina, and visits different ports around the Solent and adjacent waters.

Duration: 5 days

The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course is the next progression step from being a qualified RYA Day skipper. With advanced skills being taught and the planning and executing of much longer passages, it’s the next natural step-up from the RYA Day Skipper course.

Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course!

Booking details

Please select your preferred start date below.

Monday 29th April 2024 (4 spaces)
Monday 20th May 2024 (3 spaces)
Wednesday 5th June 2024 (5 spaces)
Monday 17th June 2024 (5 spaces)
Monday 1st July 2024 (3 spaces)
Monday 15th July 2024 (5 spaces)
Monday 29th July 2024 (4 spaces)
Monday 12th August 2024 (5 spaces)
Saturday 24th August 2024 (4 spaces)
Wednesday 4th September 2024 (5 spaces)
Wednesday 18th September 2024 (5 spaces)
Monday 30th September 2024 (5 spaces)
Wednesday 6th November 2024 (5 spaces)
Wednesday 4th December 2024 (5 spaces)

Course Information

Joining Instructions: Please click here for course joining instructions

What is included in the course cost:

RYA Qualified Instructor
RYA course materials and certificates
Breakfast, lunches, snacks and three evening meals (One evening meal is taken ashore at the students own cost)
Tea, coffee & soft drinks
Accommodation on board
Marina berths & moorings at Premier Marinas only. Other marinas charges are split between all students.
Harbour dues & fees
Cooking gas
Wet weather kit hire (not footwear)
Hire of a Baltic automatic life jacket

We can accommodate most dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian or gluten free. Just let us know when you fill out the booking form.

Recommended Reading: RYA Yachtmaster Handbook Sail (G70), RYA Yacht Sailing Techniques (G94), RYA Yachtmaster scheme and syllabus (G158)

Course Prerequisites: 15 days at sea, 2 days as skipper (Not on a course), 300miles sailing, 8 night hours sailing. Yachtmaster Theory (or knowledge to the level of).

Minimum Age: No minimum but Under 16’s must be accompanied by adult. Persons aged 16+ can be unaccompanied subject to other pre-requisites having been met

Holiday Insurance: We would advise ALL our customers to ensure they have suitable holiday insurance in-place. Yachtsman’s insurance is available from a variety of souces like Topsail Insurance and can cover things like cancellations and personal effects cover.

The RYA Coastal Skipper course can only be run over 5 consecutive days due to the sea-miles you will be covering and the timing of the sailing you will be doing. This course will only have RYA Coastal Skipper students and RYA Competent Crew students onboard. You will start your course with a quick recap of the RYA Day Skipper skills first thing on the first day and then move onto longer passages and lot more night navigation.

Who is the course for:

The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course is designed for anyone who has successfully completed the RYA Yacht Master Theory course (or has sufficient theory knowledge to this level) and wants to learn the skills and techniques required to skipper a cruising yacht safely on coastal passages by day and night.

You will need to have completed the Yachtmaster Theory course or have knowledge of navigation theory to this level before taking the RYA Coastal Skipper Course as there is insufficient time to teach you the theory during the week. It is also preferable that you have completed the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course as there is insufficient time on the course to teach the required basic boat handling techniques.

You will learn more about advanced passage planning, pilotage by day and by night, boat handling and emergency procedures on this course.

Remember, If you are short of a few days experience then why not try one of our sailing mile builders!

What we cover on the course:

This is an amazing course to help build your confidence as a Skipper. This course will take you to the next level and the skills you will learn are the vital ones to have in your tool box for when things go wrong. From sailing to a pontoon and berthing under sail, to handling a yacht under sail in small or confined spaces. Learn how to find your position when you are lost, you’ll practice the navigation skills that are so rarely used but when you need them you will have the ability to use them.

Passage planning

Can plan a coastal passage including a consideration of the capability of the yacht, navigation, victualling, weather, ports of refuge, tidal heights, and tidal streams, publications required and strategy
Know Customs procedures

Preparation for sea

Is aware of safety equipment required for offshore passages
Can prepare a yacht for sea including stowage, safety briefing, watch keeping, delegating responsibilities and equipment and engine checks
Can prepare a pilotage plan, with consideration of surroundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerationsb. Can pilot a yacht by day and night

Passage making and ability as skipper

Can take charge of a yacht and direct the crew
Can organise the navigation, deckwork, and domestic duties of a yacht on passage
Is aware of the significance of meteorological trends
Is aware of crew welfare on passage
Can use electronic navigational equipment for planning and undertaking a passage, including the use of waypoints and routes

Yacht handling under power

Can control the yacht effectively in a confined space under power
All berthing and unberthing situations in various conditions of wind and tide

Yacht handling under sail

Characteristics
Can use the sails to control the yacht in a confined space
Anchoring and mooring in various conditions of wind and tide
Can sail efficiently on all points of sailing

Adverse weather conditions

Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds
Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility

Emergency situations

Recovery of man overboard under power and sail
Understands action to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues

Please be aware that RYA Coastal Skipper Courses completed in the Solent and other tidal waters are demanding. This course is held in high regard with yacht charter companies worldwide due to the challenging waters, winds, tides and busy waterways you will encounter. Courses run in the non-tidal waters of the Mediterranean are generally not accepted by the UK yacht charter industry.

Course formats & details:

Courses run in a choice of three formats:

5 consecutive days: (Monday to Friday)
5 consecutive days: (Saturday to Wednesday)
5 consecutive days: (Wednesday to Sunday)

The course includes accommodation aboard our immaculate, well-maintained yachts with breakfast, lunch and snacks and three evening meals onboard with the remaining evening meal taken ashore at the students cost. We also include all fuel, mooring fees and safety kit such as lifejackets and waterproofs. Every student has their own bed on board for the duration of the course. In some instances sharing a cabin may be required.

We also offer our Complete RYA Coastal Skipper Package which includes both the RYA Yachtmaster theory and RYA Coastal Skipper Practical courses. This will take you from having a good level of sailing experience and knowledge through to passing your RYA Coastal Skipper first time round if you follow the instructors advice.

We highly recommend Students do a one day marina skills day before the course. It is also highly recommended that you also have your SRC VHF licence.

Fancy going VIP and having your own exclusive private course for you and your friends or family? You can book the whole yacht just for your own exclusive course from only £899 per person.

Enjoy the course in style, with up to five persons on the boat being taught by one of our friendly, experienced Yachtmaster Instructors! What a way to continue your sailing adventure!

Our Chief Instructor says this about the RYA Coastal Skipper Course:

This course steps things up a bit from your RYA Day Skipper level but teaches an excellent range of really useful additional skills which are essential for more adventurous sailing. It’s a great course to undertake as you really do get out there for some cracking sailing and longer passages! Make sure you’ve got the pre-requisites for the course beforehand, by spending a few days brushing up on your skills to ensure on the day you are fully prepared and ready to go!

You’ll be in safe hands throughout the course with one of our Yachtmaster Instructors on hand to ensure you get the best out of your five days with us. So what are you waiting for?

Related courses

Rya/mca yachtmaster™ coastal/offshore preparation week.

The RYA Yachtmaster™ Coastal/Offshore qualification is the next progression step from being a qualified RYA Day/Coastal skipper, and is one of the most useful, credible, and accepted profressional qualifications in Yachting.

Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the RYA Yachtmaster™ Coastal/Offshore Preparation week!

RYA Sea Survival

The RYA Sea Survival Course is an essential for any sailor. Teaching self-help techniques and what to do when all is lost, it’s a prerequisite for longer passages and those wanting to get into racing like RORC Fastnet!

Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the RYA Sea Survival course!

Marina Skills & Boat Handling

Our very popular Marina Skills & Boat Handling course is a real confidence-builder for any sailor who has to deal with tight or difficult marina berths. We also cover things like adverse weather and tide whilst berthing, along with picking up mooring buoys too. A must-have for skippers and crew alike, you’ll feel your confidence grow after doing this course.

Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the Marina Skills & Boat Handling course!

Customer reviews

Fantastic experience. These guys go out of their way to make sure you have a good sailing holiday. Chartered a boat for the first time which was a daunting experience. But we were made to feel totally at ease. Had a great week

Positive: Professionalism , Quality , Value Had an amazing 5 days doing my competent crew course. Tom was a great teacher and the whole experience was brilliant. Will come back as soon as I can

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RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore – Theory

Course Overview - Classroom or Online (Self-Paced)

The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course is an advanced course in navigation, meteorology, vessel and crew management for longer coastal and offshore passages. We assume that you are already qualified as an RYA Day Skipper (or equivalent knowledge). There is some time set aside for revision of subjects covered in the Day Skipper course though you should arrive with a good understanding of the essentials.

Course Details

Course Duration: 5 Days + an examination day which can be completed when you’re ready. The exam is not essential to acquiring skills and knowledge and is only required if you want to use this qualification for commercial purposes. Start and Finish Times: Start at 9:30am and finish by approximately 5:00pm each day. Minimum Age: There is no minimum age. Course Format: Classroom or Online (Self-Paced) Prerequisites: The RYA Day Skipper Shorebased (Theory) course, or equivalent knowledge.

Who is this course designed for?

The course is designed for those who wish to improve their navigation and meteorology knowledge for recreational sailing, or to take the RYA Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence for either Coastal or Offshore.

What will this course enable you to do?

This course enables you to effectively plan coastal and offshore passages that would take over 24 hours to undertake.

By the time you finish this theory course you will have the knowledge and confidence required to effectively appraise, plan, execute and monitor your progress on longer coastal and offshore passages as you head out on the water recreationally or commercially.

Course Content (Syllabus)

This is an advanced course in navigation and meteorology. The assumed level of knowledge before starting this course is the Day Skipper Shorebased Course.

Click below to view the detailed course syllabus for RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory:

RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory Syllabus

Here is a summary of the topics covered:

1. Position 2. The Magnettic Compass 3. Tides 4. Tidal Streams 5. Buoyage 6. Lights 7. Pilotage 8. GNSS and Chart Plotters 9. Echo Sounders 10. Logs (Speed and Distance Measuring) 11. Deck Log 12. Meteorology 13. Rules of the Road 14. Safety at Sea 15. Navigation in Restricted Visibility 16. Passage Planning 17. Marine Environment

What Qualifications Do You Receive?

The RYA Coastal Certificate and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory certificate upon successfully passing the exam. The RYA is the worlds largest and most well-regarded sail training organisation. The qualifications obtained through RYA training can be used commercially around the world, speaking to the quality of the training courses.

What We Offer

Pro instructors.

We constantly strive to recruit and develop the most experienced and professional instructors. We expect our instructors to not only guide you through the course syllabus, but to do this in a way that meets your learning style, and to always go above the minimum requirements of the course.

Perfect Locations

Our training locations are chosen to provide you with a broad opportunity of learning experiences on the water. All of our locations have access to open ocean, busy waterways, and a range of different learning opprotunities.

Expert Advice

The team at Sunshine Sailing Australia are here to talk to you. Whether you are a recreational sailor, or someone who would like to enter the commercial superyacht industry, our team is always up for a friendly chat. We can assess your needs and will help guide you down the path that suits your experience and goals.

More Information

You are the captain of your journey, and we’re here to make that voyage as smooth sailing as possible. Our friendly team is ready at any time for a question you might have about this course, or which training plan will work best with what you want out of your time on the water. Please touch base with any questions you may have.

5-Day Course

From $1,195, online course always available.

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What To Do Next?

To keep growing your sailing skills we recommend the as your next port of call.

Tony Stockton course completed 5th June 2021

Exceptional instructors and very professional staff. I cannot give them a stronger recommendation! I’ve just finished the Coastal Skipper theory course and was very pleasantly astonished at the level of knowledge and the skill of instruction. Carl was very patient and very thorough. I’ve already signed myself up for the Coastal Skipper practical course in June and I can’t wait!!

David Wood course completed 28th November 2020

I cannot speak highly enough of my RYA skippers course at the Sunshine Sailing Australia. I loved it and I learnt so much from it. As a sailor as a youth, some 35 years ago, I had much to learn and I learnt alot. I can highly recommend John Bankart and his instructors, they are great, great people, great skills, great course.

5 Stars Based On 2 Reviews

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SUNSHINE SAILING AUSTRALIA INSTRUCTORS

Sunshine Sailing Australia’s group of RYA Cruising and Yachtmaster instructors come from a variety of sailing backgrounds and experience.

This wide variety of experience is what gives us our widely renowned instructing strength and expertise that has led to a high number of Yachtmaster Offshore graduates.

Sailing Courses AND YACHT CHARTER

Racing and short courses, about sunshine sailing australia.

Sunshine Sailing Australia's sailing school is recognised as one of Australia’s leading sail training and experience providers. With sailing lessons taught in the class room and on the waters around Mooloolaba, Gold Coast, Whitsundays Islands, Lord Howe Island and Brisbane.

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Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster

Thread starter SvenglishTommy
Start date 18 Jan 2022
18 Jan 2022

SvenglishTommy

Hi all, I'm about to embark on a sailing course, primarily so I can rent a yacht that requires me to have at least the RYA coastal skipper certificate. Never done any sailing courses before so I'll have to brush up a lot on the theory, but as the theory for coastal skipper and yachtmaster is the same I was thinking I might just do the yachtmaster instead. I can't seem to find any definitive real world answer as to what the difference is between the coastal skipper and yachtmaster practical exam, or how much harder it would be for me to achieve. If I do the coastal skipper I will definately not go on to do the yachtmaster, but if it's not that more effort then I might as well do the yachtmaster whie I'm at it. Seems like a simple question but I've realy been having trouble finding and answer to it. I was hoping to get some input from people here who have done one, the other, or both.

Well-known member

I did day skipper theory and practical with ICC to bareboat charter, have done yachtmaster coastal theory since but not at this time planning practical as not needed it.

I've been looking into this same thing, and been just as bemused. The literature seems to be wilfully unclear as to the actual difference. I was left with the impression that the choice of final exam might be left till the very last minute - when it is clear which you have a shot at passing. No evidence for this of course, just a feeling.

I think this must be just about the most confusing part of the whole yachtmaster ladder thing. I'm sure one of our resident examiners will be along soon but as I understand it "coastal skipper" is not a "certificate of competence", it's a practical course where they teach stuff which is more advanced than day skipper and at the end of it you get a course completion certificate (like day skipper). It's a course which is on the way to the yachtmaster coastal exam (which is a different thing, and *is* a certificate of competence). I think they used to call yachtmaster coastal coastal skipper before "coastal skipper" was a different thing and after it was yachtmaster inshore. In any case, if the goal is to get a course completion certificate to do a charter and coastal skipper will suffice, it's a much easier proposition to pony up the course fee, show up for 5 days and walk away with a certificate than it is to get all the relevant sea time and go through a yachtmaster exam.

I have a coastal skipper piece of paper. No exam. But did have to sort of complete everything. Learned some stuff. Now forgotten it all and will be sailing everywhere with navionics on my phone.... ?

Active member

It seems like you're confusing the theory courses with the practical courses: Practical courses: RYA Coastal Skipper is a practical course and will get you a course completion certificate. There is no exam, but the instructor will expect you to have a level of competence to complete the course. This is probably the practical certificate that the charter company are looking for: MCA Coastal Skipper used to be a thing, but it's now called YachtMaster Coastal. This is an exam. Theory courses: There are 3 sets of Theory courses. Day Skipper Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Ocean Yachtmaster The websites of most sailing schools will have details of what's covered in each one, I find HSY's summary to be a good one (details here: https://www.hamble.co.uk/rya-theory-courses ). You do not need the Theory exam to get your RYA Coastal Skipper course completion certificate, but the instructor will expect you to have theoretical knowledge up to this standard.

john_morris_uk

RobF said: It seems like you're confusing the theory courses with the practical courses: Practical courses: RYA Coastal Skipper is a practical course and will get you a course completion certificate. There is no exam, but the instructor will expect you to have a level of competence to complete the course. This is probably the practical certificate that the charter company are looking for: MCA Coastal Skipper used to be a thing, but it's now called YachtMaster Coastal. This is an exam. Theory courses: There are 3 sets of Theory courses. Day Skipper Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Ocean Yachtmaster The websites of most sailing schools will have details of what's covered in each one, I find HSY's summary to be a good one (details here: https://www.hamble.co.uk/rya-theory-courses ). You do not need the Theory exam to get your RYA Coastal Skipper course completion certificate, but the instructor will expect you to have theoretical knowledge up to this standard. Click to expand...

The day kipper or coastal kipper course completion certificate is all you need to get an ICC which is accepted all over Europe for hiring a boat.

Kurrawong_Kid

Don't you have to log 2500 hrs of experience, nighttime passages etc for Yachtmaster or has that long since gone?

19 Jan 2022

When I did mine 20+ years ago, after the Coastal Skipper (as it was then) practical week I had booked to do the CS exam weekend. In the event, I was advised to go for YM offshore but, if not quite up to standard the examiner could issue CS instead. Much to my surprise, I came away with YM Offshore but suspect I only scraped through.

Buck Turgidson

Kurrawong_Kid said: Don't you have to log 2500 hrs of experience, nighttime passages etc for Yachtmaster or has that long since gone? Click to expand...

Graham376 said: When I did mine 20+ years ago, after the Coastal Skipper (as it was then) practical week I had booked to do the CS exam weekend. In the event, I was advised to go for YM offshore but, if not quite up to standard the examiner could issue CS instead. Much to my surprise, I came away with YM Offshore but suspect I only scraped through. Click to expand...

Buck Turgidson said: There are requirements but I don't remember them. I met them but on a yacht that didn't meet the criteria so I did the YM Coastal for which I had enough miles on charter yachts that were big enough. Quite enjoyed the whole experience as I did a refresher week in Gib then the exam. In the debrief I asked the examiner if my performance would have been good enough for YM Offshore. He thought I was. So top tip for anyone buying a boat to build miles on the way to YM, make sure it's big enough. A Twister isn't! Click to expand...

john_morris_uk said: Suggesting a Twister isn’t big enough is a mistake IMHO. Minimum length is 7 metres IIRC and a Twister is 8.4 metres? Click to expand...

Buck Turgidson said: We've had this discussion before I'm sure. LWL not LOA. I did check thoroughly at the time. Qualifying passages | RYA exams Click to expand...

Graham_Wright

You need miles for Yachtmaster.

Paulfireblade

Graham_Wright said: You need miles for Yachtmaster. Click to expand...

Spirit (of Glenans)

Paulfireblade said: Apart from Comp crew/intro to sailing all practical courses have a minimum level of experience which ranges from miles and passages skippered etc. IIRC the requirements for YM coastal can be reduce significantly if you attend the prep week prior to the exam. Click to expand...

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COMMENTS

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Exam
Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme and Logbook (G158) available from the RYA webshop. RYA Yachtmaster Coastal practical exams can be taken under sail or power and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly. You or a training centre provide the boat and the RYA provides an examiner.
Difference Between Day Skipper vs Coastal Skipper?
The main difference of Day Skipper vs Coastal Skipper and the two levels is the level of experience and knowledge you qualify with, plus the important aspect we just mentioned - being able to skipper at night vs day. Day Skipper is the lower level sailing qualification and is designed for aspiring skippers with some yachting experience plus ...
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sailing Course vs Yachtmaster Coastal
Coastal Skipper is essentially a beefed up version of Day Skipper. Yachtmaster Coastal is a dumbed down version of YM Offshore. YM Coastal candidates would normally attend a prep week with a Yachtmaster Instructor (YMI), who would make a recommendation, usually just after half way through the week, as to whether or not the candidate should go ...
What's the difference between RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and RYA
Unlike the RYA Day Skipper qualification, all three qualifications are gained through external examination. The holder of a Yachtmaster Coastal qualification should be competent to skipper a yacht of up to 24 metres LOA in waters up to 20 miles from a safe haven. A Yachtmaster Offshore is qualified to skipper a vessel of the same size up to 150 ...
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor
The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Motor exam is open to anyone who meets the minimum criteria, with all experience within the last 10 years. 17 years of age or older. 30 days spent at sea. 800nm cruised, with at least 50% in tidal waters. 12 night hours.
RYA Certificates of Competence, Part 2
The RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence is proof that you have the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on any coastal cruise. The holder of a Yachtmaster Coastal qualification should be competent to skipper a yacht of up to 24 metres LOA (up to 200gt) in waters up to 20 miles from a safe haven. Don't treat the examination just ...
Yachtmaster Offshore: When, Why, and How
In a scheme of RYA training, Yachtmaster Offshore is preceded by RYA Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper, which allow to navigate 20 and 60 nautical miles offshore accordingly. With Yachtmaster Offshore qualifications, it is possible to skipper a cruising yacht up to 150 miles from harbour, so recreational boaters can have larger areas to explore ...
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Exam
Full details of the exam syllabus and requirements are shown in the RYA Yachtmaster Scheme and Logbook (G158) available from the RYA webshop. RYA Yachtmaster Coastal practical exams can be taken under sail or power and your certificate will be endorsed accordingly. You or a training centre provide the boat and the RYA provides an examiner.
RYA Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore
A RYA Yachtmaster Coastal (formerly Coastal Skipper) should have the knowledge to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer passages. A RYA Yachtmaster Offshore should be able to enter any well-charted harbour for the first time, with sufficient depth, by day or night. ...
What is an RYA Yachtmaster?
The gold standard. The RYA Yachtmaster® Certificate of Competence is often the ultimate aim of aspiring skippers. It is a well known, highly respected qualification worldwide, proving your experience and competence as a skipper. Unlike other qualifications in the cruising programme, there is no formal training course to become an RYA Yachtmaster.
RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory
The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course is a theory-based course aimed at yacht skippers advancing to RYA Coastal Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster exams. It is an advanced course in navigation and other nautical topics such as meteorology that allows you to skipper a vessel on coastal voyages by day and night.
Coastal Skipper
A coastal skipper is a yachtsman or woman who has the ability to skipper a yacht in coastal waters by day or night. There is a shore-based course which provides the background knowledge required, a practical course which teaches the skills and techniques required, and a Certificate of Competence. While the qualification originated in the United Kingdom, the course is taught worldwide.
RYA Practicals/Certification Yachtmaster vs Coastal Skipper
For Coastal Skipper there is no comprehensive test on the boat the instructor issues you a pass/fail. For Yachtmaster there is a 48 hour (continuous) comprehensive practical exam by a RYA examiner on the boat. The theory courses are the same for all Coastal Skipper and YM. 16-03-2023, 15:54.
RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased
The Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased course covers all of the theory knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams, concentrating on advanced navigation and meteorology skills. The course includes: position fixing; course shaping and plotting; tidal knowledge
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail
Theory to the level of the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Shorebased course. Practical experience consisting of 15 days spent at sea, 300nm sailed, 8 night hours experienced on the water and 2 days as skipper. To skipper a vessel in coastal waters, out of sight of land both during the day and in hours or darkness.
RYA Coastal Skipper (Sail)
The one week RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper Course builds on your Day Skipper skills to give you the confidence and ability to skipper a cruising yacht safely on coastal and out-of-sight-of-land passages. From our base at Port Andratx, we can head up the magnificent West coast of the island to Puerto Soller and around the Formentor peninsula.Or, if the wind serves, we can cross the Bay of ...
Coastal skipper vs Yachtmaster?
The Coastal Skipper has the knowledge to skipper a yacht on coastal cruises but does not necessarily have the experience needed to undertake longer pasages. The Yachtmaster Offshore is competent toskipper a cruising yacht on any passage during which the yacht is no more than 150 miles from harbour.
RYA Coastal Skipper & Yachtmaster Theory Course Online
The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore course builds upon the navigation, meteorology, and passage making that is delivered in the RYA Day Skipper Theory Course. This RYA training course will introduce new topics and develop a deeper understanding of familiar topics. All units of this course have an assumed prior knowledge of the RYA ...
RYA Yachtmaster Theory Online
The RYA Yachtmaster online theory course takes your theory knowledge to the standard required for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams.. This course advances your skills as a skipper of a yacht or motor boat, with an emphasis on navigation and passage planning for more complex coastal or offshore passages by day and night
RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Coastal Course
RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster theory. We recommend that you have boat handling ability to the standard of RYA Day Skipper. If you have any questions or want to discuss if this is the right course for you, please contact our Watersports Team: Phone: +44 (0)23 8059 0110. Email: [email protected].
RYA Coastal Skipper Practical
The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course is designed for anyone who has successfully completed the RYA Yacht Master Theory course (or has sufficient theory knowledge to this level) and wants to learn the skills and techniques required to skipper a cruising yacht safely on coastal passages by day and night. You will need to have completed the ...
RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore
The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore Theory course is an advanced course in navigation, meteorology, vessel and crew management for longer coastal and offshore passages. We assume that you are already qualified as an RYA Day Skipper (or equivalent knowledge). There is some time set aside for revision of subjects covered in the Day ...
Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster
It's a course which is on the way to the yachtmaster coastal exam (which is a different thing, and *is* a certificate of competence). I think they used to call yachtmaster coastal coastal skipper before "coastal skipper" was a different thing and after it was yachtmaster inshore. In any case, if the goal is to get a course completion ...

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Exam

RYA Yachtmaster Coastal exam pre-requisites

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Difference Between Day Skipper vs Coastal Skipper?

RYA Day Skipper vs RYA Coastal Skipper

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RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased

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RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sail – All You Need To Know

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