RYA Day Skipper

RYA Day Skipper Practical - Pre Course experience; Knowledge up to RYA Day Skipper shore based standard, 5 Days sailing, 100 miles, 4 night hours plus knowledge of the subjects covered on the RYA Day Skipper shore based course.

The RYA Day Skipper practical course teaches the basic practical skippering techniques to enable you to be the skipper of a yacht on short coastal passages by day, in both tidal and non-tidal waters. You will need some sailing experience and a basic knowledge of skippering theory and navigation up to RYA Day Skipper shore based level. Completion of a RYA Day Skipper shore based course beforehand will greatly enhance the value of the Day Skipper practical course, although it is possible to study the syllabus at home if you wish.

The RYA Day Skipper practical course can be taken over weekends, as a straight five day course or it can be combined with the shorbased course and completed in 9 days. During the course each person is given the opportunity to navigate and take control of the yacht on short coastal passages. Your instructor is there to ensure that your first, perhaps hesitant steps as a day skipper are taken in safety. You will be given the opportunity to practice your boat handling in a variety of mooring situations, and whilst at sea your instructor will cover subjects such as watch keeping, deck work, sail trim and how to cope in emergency situations.

A Day Skipper is totally responsible for the management of a yacht, so the course also includes meteorology, basic engine checks, passage planning, preparing the yacht for sea, and rules of the road. Although you will qualify as a RYA Day Skipper, night sailing is also undertaken to give you a taste of pilotage in the dark. By the end of this course the successful RYA Day Skipper will be able to undertake short coastal passages by day, in both tidal and non-tidal waters. Successful completion of this course means that you will be awarded the RYA Day Skipper practical course completion certificate can charter one of our yachts.