RYA Day Skipper

This is the most popular of the motor cruising courses. The aim is to teach practical pilotage, navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a motor cruiser safely in familiar waters by day. The course also includes some night cruising experience, with emphasis on leaving/entering a harbour, considerations for keeping a look-out, and identifying marks by night. Your experienced and patient instructor will teach you these skills and you will put them into practice as you skipper the motor cruiser on short passages around the Solent.

There is particular emphasis on boat handling for RYA Day Skippers and during the 4 days you will practice mooring under various conditions. Students live aboard for the duration of the course and visit many different harbours and anchorages to practice pilotage techniques which, like boat handling, is an essential skill for the aspiring skipper. At the end of the RYA Day Skipper course you will be confident to skipper a motor cruiser on short passages by day.

This course will also enable you to apply for the ICC (International Certificate of Competence). This qualification is required by most European countries to validate your competence to own or charter a boat. The ICC obtained by presenting your RYA Day Skipper certificate will cover motor yachts upto 24 metres in length on coastal waters.