RYA Coastal Skipper

This is an advanced skippering course for yachtsmen and women who have considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation. Coastal Skippers should be able to undertake more difficult passages by day and night and handle the yacht in more demanding situations.

Like the Day Skipper course, this course consists of skippered passages in a variety of situations. Each trainee will skipper more challenging passages and learn more about passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations.

By the end of the course you should have the knowledge if not the experience to become a Yachtmaster.

During this five day live aboard course, you will cover, 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

It is a satisfying but intensive week, with candidates often working towards a Yachtmaster Offshore or Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate of Competence.

Suggested minimum pre-course experience

15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours

Assumed Knowledge:

Navigation to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster standard. Sailing to Day Skipper Practical standard.

At the end of the course you will be happy to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be issued with the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical certificate, which is recognised around the world for chartering purposes. It is also one step closer to the Yachtmaster Certificates of Competence.

Coastal Skipper Practical Syllabus

The aim of this course is to teach the skills and techniques required to skipper a cruising yacht safely on coastal passages by day and night.

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

Pilotage

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