RYA Day Skipper Course

RYA Day Skipper is where theory is put into practice. Under the careful guidance of our instructor you will build confidence and get a feel for the reality of practical navigation and skippering on our sail boat.

Holding a shore-based course completion certificate in not a pre-requisite, but it is essential that you have the same knowledge level as somebody that has completed the Day Skipper Shore-based course.

You will be expected to have practical experience in line with the Competent Crew course for sail cruising. If you do not hold this then you should have an equivalent skill base. For sailors this means that you should be able to helm on all points of sail and be competent at the deck work. 

The practical course moves away from the hands-on crewing roles and looks to develop your ability as a crew manager. During the course you will gradually take over more and more of the skippering role for short passages. In addition to the preparation and planning you will develop a feel for the execution of your plans.

Most sailors know that many stressful and embarrassing moments occur when in sight of others. Therefore quite a lot of time is spent entering and leaving ports using a range of techniques and approaching a range of berthing and un-berthing situations. Our instructor guides you through the scenarios, working towards you taking more responsibility and decision making. At the end of the course you will have experienced a number of scenarios, either first hand or as a crew member for another trainee Day Skipper, which will put you in a better position for doing the same when you are on your own.

What you need to bring

Remember that you will be outdoors most of the day. A range of sporty, layered clothing is best. Jeans are not recommended as they are hard to dry if they get wet. You want to be warm, comfortable, and able to move easily. Waterproof trousers and jackets are provided if required. All safety equipment including lifejackets and harnesses are provided.

Minimum Numbers

There are a minimum number required to operate the course, we will contact you if a course is under-subscribed to offer you an alternative date or refund.