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5 Day RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course

Prometheus Sailing and Sunsail’s Coastal Skipper Practical course is the next step on from the RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory courses. 

The Coastal Skipper course content is designed to equip students with strong boat handling and navigational skills in tidal waters. It provides them with the knowledge and experience to handle sailing in coastal passages by day and night.

The course includes instruction in passage planning, preparing a yacht for sea (including engine checks and safety briefing), and dealing with emergency situations at sea.

At the core of the Coastal Skipper practical course is the honing and reinforcing of the assertive leadership skills that are key to the making of a safe, confident skipper.

What’s Included

  • 5 nights onboard your yacht 
  • Instructor 
  • Breakfast  
  • Lunch 
  • Soft drinks and snacks 
  • Wet weather gear 
  • Fuel, gas and engine hours
  • RYA Coastal Skipper certificate upon successful completion of the course 

Cost

Offpeak (1st December – 31st March): £599

Peak Season (1st April – 30th November): £659

 

RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Theory course

Cost £295

Overview

The RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster theory course is a demanding, shore-based course for advanced sailors. Prometheus offers this course through Sailing Course Online which enables you to complete the course online from the comfort of your own home.

The course is designed to give experienced RYA Day Skippers the confidence to undertake longer and more complex passages which may involve sailing at night.

The Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster theory course provides instruction in tides and tidal streams, pilotage, meteorology, safety at sea, passage planning and advanced navigation techniques including yacht positioning, use of a magnetic compass, GPS and chart plotters.

The course includes three exams, and successful students can proceed to their Coastal Skipper practical course or Yachtmaster Coastal practical.

What's Included

  • Quality Portland plotter and dividers so you can do your chartwork
  • RYA Training charts 3 & 4 and RYA Training Almanac
  • RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster Northern Hemisphere Exercise book
  • Unlimited access to qualified RYA shore based instructors (via email, phone, Skype and FaceTime)
  • All charts, books and equipment are sent by courier on a next day service
  • 8 months course access, with the ability to extend if required.
  • Access to the online course after passing your exams, great for revision or as an aide memoire
  • All exams are included in the course fee, along with unlimited re-takes

By booking an RYA Day Skipper theory or Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore theory course you are agreeing to Sailing Course Online terms and conditions.

Facts and figures

  • Recommended Pre Course Experience

    Day Skipper Practical Course

  • Prior Days at Sea Required

    15

  • Night Hours

    8

  • Prior Sailing Miles Required

    300

  • Prior Days as Skipper Required

    2

  • Minimum Age

    17

  • Days on board

    5

  • Maximum Ratio

    4:1

Syllabus

  • 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 considerations.

    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.