RYA Coastal Skipper

The RYA coastal skipper 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.

Coastal Skippers should be able to undertake more difficult passages by day and night and handle the yacht in more demanding conditions. By the end of the coastal skipper course you should have the knowledge, if not the experience, to become a Yachtmaster.

It is a satisfying but intensive week, with candidates often working towards a Certificate of Competence which is awarded after a further 2 day RYA/MCA exam.

Course Structure

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.

- Knows customs procedures

Preparation for sea

- Is aware of the 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 soundings, 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 organize 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 navigation 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

- 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 sail

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

Useful Information

Previous Experience:- 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours.

Assumed Knowledge:- Boat handling to the standard of Day Skipper Practical and navigation to Day Skipper Theory

Minimum Age:- 17