RYA Day Skipper Course

RYA Day Skipper Course Overview

The RYA Day Skipper is a valuable qualification and recognised as evidence of competence by insurance and charter companies worldwide. Perfect if you are considering a flotilla or bareboat holiday.

This is an intermediate level course that aims to build on your core skills by developing your navigation, decision making and leadership ability. You will skipper a yacht on a number of short passages, under the guidance of your instructor, taking charge of everything from passage planning, to interpreting weather forecasts and mooring.

Prior to arrival in Greece, you will complete our RYA Essential Navigation and Seamanship course online. This covers topics such as charts, buoyage, navigation, pilotage, tides, diesel engines, rules of the road and passage planning. The pack includes practice charts, dividers and a Portland plotter to get you started. So you’ll be fully prepped before your arrival in Greece!

Pre-Course Experience Requirements:

The RYA suggest that the minimum pre-course experience is 5 days, 100 miles and 4 night hours. The Competent Crew course is an ideal prerequisite, as is being an active crew member on at least one of our flotillas. It is also beneficial to have a basic knowledge of navigation. Participants must be at least 16 years of age. From our experience booking and running the Day Skipper course we would say that, it is assumed that you are already proficient in the topics covered in the Competent Crew course syllabus, understand the basics of navigation, sailing, rope work, seamanship and have experienced at least 100 miles on a cruising yacht as an active crew member. It is not possible to successfully complete this course as a complete beginner. The Competent Crew course teaches you how to sail - The Day Skipper course teaches you how to plan and execute passages safely and manage a sailing yacht. There is not time during a Day Skipper course to also teach all the essentials of sailing and seamanship.

Accommodation:

Our courses are taught on our dedicated training boats, three Beneteau 393s. These are spacious modern cruising yachts, set up exclusively for teaching, equipped with all the essentials. Unlike flotilla holidays, you will be purchasing a berth, and sharing with fellow students (although you won't be expected to share a cabin with someone you don't know!). On the yachts there are 3 double cabins and a spacious saloon berth. We have a standard instructor to student ratio of 4:1. The instructor will typically occupy the forepeak cabin.

All breakfasts and lunches are included in the cost of the course, as well as two evening meals cooked on board. Greece is blessed with an abundance of tavernas, and there will be lots of opportunities to eat on-shore. If you have any special dietary requirements just let your instructor know. One bath sized towel per person, all bed linen, pillows and duvets are included. There’s no need to bring a sleeping bag along. There is a shower on board, and we will be stopping in ports that have showers and facilities ashore.

What is Included:

• Seven days aboard the yacht, with full instruction over 5 days (Mon-Fri)
• Full online Essential Navigation & Seamanship theory tuition
• The Essential Navigation & Seamanship course material
• The RYA Sail Cruising Syllabus and Logbook (G15)
• All breakfasts, lunches and two evening meals
• All fuel, water and marina fees
• Towels and bed linen
• Waterproof jackets in sizes S, M, L, and XL
• Sunshine and swim stops

If couples or a group would like the boat all to themselves (with an instructor, of course!) there is also a private course option, for an additional fee.