RYA Day Skipper

The aim of this course is to teach pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters in a familiar area. Skippering a yacht for the first time can be quite a daunting experience. This course is all about teaching you to take charge of the yacht safely and confidently.

Course Structure

During the week you will learn how to prepare the yacht to go to sea, carry out all forms of deck work, practice your navigation and pilotage skills, take 3 point fixes, plot a course to steer allowing for tidal streams and leeway, try your hand at dead reckoning and estimating your position, work out tidal heights to anchor safely and carry out engine checks as well as learning to be responsible for the well being of the yacht and crew. A big part of the Dayskipper course is boat handling under power and sail, and time will be spent practising berthing and mooring. You will learn the correct actions to take in emergency situations and experience sailing at night.

On successful completion of the course, you will be awarded the RYA / YA Day Skipper certificate which is recognised worldwide and can be used when chartering yachts. With an RYA / YA Dayskipper Practical certificate, as an Australian Citizen, you are able to apply directly for the ICC.

Useful Information

Previous experience required -

5 days seatime, 100 miles and 4 night hours. Navigation to Dayskipper Shorebased or equivalent and basic sailing ability (competent crew), minimum age for the award of the certificate is 16.