RYA COASTAL COURSE
Take your knowledge learnt in the classroom to the water.

RYA Start Yachting Syllabus
Discover the syllabus
RYA Start Yachting Syllabus
- The Yacht
- Basic knowledge of sea terms, parts of a boat, her rigging and sails
- Ropework
- Ability to tie the following knots: figure of eight, round turn and two half hitches, bowline
- Underway
- Has experienced sailing a yacht on all points of sail
- Can steer a yacht under sail or power
- Rules of the road
- Can keep an efficient look out at sea
- Meteorology
- Knows where to obtain a weather forecast
- Crew overboard recovery
- Understands the action to be taken to recover a crew overboard
- Clothing and equipment
- Understands and complies with the rules for the wearing of safety harnesses, lifejackets and personal buoyancy aids
- Emergency equipment and precautions
- Is aware of hazards on board a yacht
- Knows the action to be taken in the event of an emergency
RYA START YACHTING
- No experience required
- No assumed knowledge required
- Student Instructor 3:1 ratio
- Student Instructor 2:1 ratio +£650pp
DURATION: 2 DAYS
PRICE: £650
Content
- The yacht
- Ropework
- Underway
- Rules of the road
- Crew overboard recovery
- Clothing and equipment
- Emergency equipment and precautions
- Meteorology
Knowledge gained after the course:
Understanding of life on a yacht. We will give you knowledge and hopefully the desire to become a competent crew.
Successful students will receive an official RYA certificate.

RYA Coastal Skipper Syllabus
Discover the syllabus
1. 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
2. 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
3. Pilotage
- Can prepare a pilotage plan, with consideration of surroundings, transits, clearing bearings, buoyage, port or harbour regulations and tidal considerations. Can pilot a yacht by day and night
4. Passage making and ability as skipper
- Can take charge of a yacht and direct the crew
- Can organise the navigation, deck work, 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. Adverse weather conditions
- Preparation for heavy weather and yacht handling in strong winds
- Navigation and general conduct in restricted visibility
8. Emergency situations
- Recovery of crew overboard under power and sail
- Understands action to be taken when abandoning to the liferaft and during helicopter and lifeboat rescues
RYA COASTAL SKIPPER
- Assumed knowledge: your navigation level should be of a Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory, as well as RYA Day Skipper level.
- Student Instructor 3:1 ratio
- Student Instructor 2:1 ratio +£650pp
DURATION: 5 DAYS
PRICE: £1’175
Content
- Passage planning
- Preparation for sea
- Pilotage
- Passage making and ability as a skipper
- Yacht handling under sail
- Adverse weather conditions
- Emergency situations
Knowledge gained after the course:
After completing the course, you will have the knowledge and ability to skipper a yacht safely on a coastal cruise, but not yet ready for longer passages.
Successful students will receive an official RYA certificate.