On the RYA Day Skipper practical course you will learn to sail short passages during daylight hours. Our fantastic RYA instructors will be close at hand to give you tuition, advice and encouragement. Candidates will experience being in charge as a skipper; taking credit when it all goes well, and being responsible when it doesn’t.
We recommend that you take our shore based RYA Day Skipper theory course, before booking on the practical RYA Day Skipper practical course.
What You Will Learn
Our RYA Day Skipper practical training will guide you through preparation for sea, deck work, navigation, pilotage, and meteorology. Learn the rules of the road, maintenance and repair work, engines, and how to cope in emergency situations.
The exciting part comes when you start learning how to handle the yacht – both under sail and under power. You will learn how to safely skipper a yacht by day, with an exciting 4 hour introduction to night sailing.
RYA Day Skipper Practical Prerequisites
| Pre-course experience | 5 days, 100 miles, 4 night hours on board a sailing yacht (achieved by taking the RYA Competent Crew course). |
| Assumed knowledge | Basic navigation and helmsmanship. It is recommended you attend the Day Skipper theory course before the practical. |
| Minimum duration | 5 days staying on board the yacht |
| Minimum age | 16 |
RYA Day Skipper Course Details
| Duration | 5 days/4 nights – minimum RYA standard. 7 days/6 nights – relaxed course pace with additional hours with instructor. 10 days/9 nights – combine Competent Crew and Day Skipper Practical courses. |
| Included | Accommodation on yacht during your practical course, mooring fees, water and diesel used. All breakfasts, lunches, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, and three evening meals on yacht per course. Use of snorkelling equipment and waterproofs. Tuition as booked with all course and certification materials. Fully insured and RYA inspected training vessel, with experienced RYA instructor and all safety equipment as required. |
| Excluded | Flights, transfers, customs clearance between islands (if applicable), and any meals or drinks bought ashore. Alcoholic drinks are not included, but you are welcome to bring your own for consumption after training ends each day. |
| Yacht options | Join one of our group courses (maximum 4 students) or privately charter the yacht for highly personalised tuition. |
| Cabin options | Private ensuite cabin with double sized bed (suitable for a couple or a single). Single saloon berth (non private and shared head with instructor). |
| Course content | Preparation for sea, deck work, navigation, pilotage, meteorology, rules of the road, maintenance and repair work, engines, victualling, emergency situations, yacht handling under power, yacht handling under sail, passage making, night cruising. |