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5 Day RYA Day Skipper Practical Course

Why take this course with Prometheus Sailing and Sunsail UK?

The RYA Day Skipper practical course will enable you to skipper a yacht by day in familiar waters. You will gain the qualifications and experience needed to set sail on board your own yacht, on a yacht charter or flotilla holiday.

Following the five-day Day Skipper practical course you'll have experience of deck work, navigation and passage making, as well as the confidence to skipper under sail and power.

The course will teach you basic practical skippering techniques which will enable you to skipper a yacht on short coastal passages by day, in both tidal and non-tidal waters. As a skipper you'll be responsible for the management of a yacht, and therefore the course includes elements of meteorology, engine checking, passage planning, preparing the yacht for sea and rules of the road.

The minimum pre-course experience required is five days sailing and living onboard, 100 miles logged and four hours night sailing. You will also need to have completed your Day Skipper theory course prior to taking your practical, or have knowledge equivalent to this level.

RYA Day Skipper or ICC are requirements for chartering in many overseas destinations, such as Greece, Spain, Turkey, Croatia, Italy and many other destinations. An RYA Day Skipper and be converted into an ICC with the RYA.

What’s Included

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

Cost

5 Day courses

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

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

Split weekend 2+3 courses

Offpeak (1st December – 31st March): £639

Peak Season (1st April – 30th November): £699

Courses start at 19.00hrs and finishing on your last day at 17.00hrs. 

Facts and figures

  • Recommended Pre Course Experience

    Basic sailing experience

  • Prior Days at Sea Required

    5

  • Night Hours

    4

  • Prior Sailing Miles Required

    100

  • Prior Days as Skipper Required

    0

  • Minimum Age

    16

  • Days on board

    5

  • Maximum Ratio

    5:1

Syllabus

  • Preparation for sea

    Is able to prepare a yacht for sea, including engine checks, selection of sails, securing and stowage of all gear on deck and below

  • Deck Work

    Can reef, shake out reefs and change sails to suit prevailing conditions
    Can prepare an anchor, mooring warps and take charge on deck when mooring alongside, coming to a buoy, anchoring, weighing anchor and slipping from a buoy or alongside berth

  • Navigation

    Is proficient in chartwork and routine navigational duties on passage including: Taking and plotting visual fixes Use of electronic navigation equipment for position fixing
    Use of waypoints
    Working up to DR and EP
    Estimating tidal heights and tidal streams
    Working out course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift
    Knowledge of IALA buoyage
    Maintenance of navigational records
    Use of echo sounder and lead line

  • Pilotage

    Can prepare and execute a pilotage plan for entry into, or departure from, harbour
    Understands the use of leading and clearing lines
    Use of transits and surroundings as aids to pilotage

  • Meteorology

    Knows sources of forecast information
    Can interpret shipping forecasts and use a barometer as a forecasting aid

  • Rules of the road

    Has a working knowledge of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

  • Maintenance and repair work

    Understands and is able to carry out maintenance tasks
    Knows the properties and uses of common synthetic fibre ropes

  • Engines

    Knows how to change fuel and water filters, pump impeller and to bleed the fuel system

  • Victualling

    Understands how to victual a yacht

  • Emergency situations

    Is able to take correct action as skipper for recovery of man overboard
    Understands distress flares and how to use a liferaft
    Can operate a radiotelephone in an emergency and send a distress message
    Understands how to secure a tow
    Understands rescue procedures including helicopter rescue

  • Yacht handling under power

    Can bring a boat safely to and from an alongside berth, mooring buoy and anchor under various conditions of wind and tide
    Can steer and trim sails effectively on all points of sailing

  • Passage making

    Can plan and make a coastal passage, taking account of relevant navigational hazards and limitations imposed by the type of boat and the strength of the crew

  • Night cruising

    Has experienced sail cruising at night, including leaving and entering harbour.
    Understands the special consideration for pilotage plans, keeping a lookout and identifying marks by night.

  • Seasickness

    Working efficiency is unaffected/partially affected/severely affected by seasickness

  • Helmsmanship and sailing

    Understands the basic principles of sailing and can steer and trim sails on all points of sailing
    Can steer a compass course, under sail and power

  • General duties

    Has carried out general duties satisfactorily on deck and below decks in connection with the daily routine of the vessel