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RYA Coastal Skipper Practical

Prometheus Sailing's Coastal Skipper Practical course is the next step on from the RYA Day Skipper course.

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 (Valid from 1st April 2024)

5 Day courses

Off-peak (1st December – 31st March): £699pp

Peak Season (1st April – 30th November): £745pp

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.