RYA Coastal Skipper
Guide Price
Starting price from £775.00
Who is this course for
This course is ideal for sailors who already have Day Skipper qualification and experience and want to take the next step toward skippering longer coastal passages – including night sailing and more challenging navigation.
About Course
The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Course trains you to confidently skipper a yacht in coastal waters by day and night.
Based in Brighton, the course focuses on real coastal passages along the South Coast, often sailing to the Solent and, conditions permitting, France. You’ll plan and execute extended voyages, gaining hands-on experience in navigation, passage planning and decision-making.
Practical boat handling is a core part of the course, with key manoeuvres practised until you feel confident and in control. By the end of the week, you’ll be ready to take charge of a yacht independently in a wide range of coastal conditions.
Course Content
- Passage Planning: Plan coastal passages considering yacht capabilities, navigation, weather, tides, ports of refuge, victualling, publications, and customs procedures.
- Preparation for Sea: Prepare the yacht for offshore passages – safety checks, stowage, briefings, watchkeeping, and delegating crew responsibilities.
- Pilotage: Prepare and follow a pilotage plan; navigate using soundings, buoys, transits, and tidal info by day and night.
- Skipper & Organisational Skills: Take charge of the yacht and crew, manage deck work and domestic duties, monitor weather trends, and use electronic navigation tools for route planning.
- Yacht Handling Under Power: Control the yacht in confined spaces — berthing, unberthing, and manoeuvring in varying wind and tide conditions.
- Yacht Handling Under Sail: Sail confidently in tight spaces, anchor, and moor safely in all conditions.
- Adverse Weather: Handle heavy weather, strong winds, and restricted visibility safely.
- Emergency Situations: Respond to man-overboard, life raft abandonments, and helicopter or lifeboat rescues.
Course Structure
- Schedule: 09:00 – 17:00, Monday to Friday.
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch included onboard.
- Daily Planning: You’ll help plan each day based on weather and tides — an essential skipper skill.
- At Sea & In Port: Some days are full-day passages with lunch at anchor; other days involve practising berthing and manoeuvres in port.
- Night Sailing: Includes at least one night sail; most evenings spent ashore at locations like Cowes, Lymington, or Yarmouth.
- Practical Learning: Hands-on, enjoyable, and relaxed training focused on real-world sailing skills.
- Passage Practice: Plan and execute trips to different locations to build confidence in navigation, anchoring, and crew management.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course you should be able to:
- Confidently skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night.
- Plan and execute coastal voyages with awareness of weather, tides and safety.
- Handle sail and power yacht manoeuvres with competence and situational control.
- Make good decisions for crew welfare and onboard safety.
- Understand pilotage and navigation in real, complex environments.
This course moves you beyond basic skippering skills toward independent, confident passage-making ability.
Pre requirements
RYA Day Skipper & 15 days sea time (2 days as skipper) – 300 miles, 8 night hours.
Duration
5 days.
Location
Booking
Book online from the dates on this page or call 01273 42 48 42 option 1 or email us.
If you cannot find a suitable dates please contact us.
Location
What to bring
- Be prepared for changeable weather, bring plenty of layers
- Quick drying clothes can be very practical, avoid jeans
- Gloves for warmth and rope friction protection
- Sunglasses, sunhat and suncream for summer months and woolly hats, thermals and layers for winter months
- Deck boots and non-slip deck shoes or trainers that don’t mark
- Waterproofs, we have ones to use if you do not have your own
- Sleeping bag and pillow
- If you are worried or unsure whether you suffer from seasickness then pills and wrist-bands work well. Don’t arrive on an empty stomach and take tablets with breakfast if you have never been sailing on the sea before, sometimes the motion takes a while to get used to
- The marina fees are not included and vary and are shared during the week. Please allow £25 for the week
- RYA Coastal Skipper requires a photo with the certificate so please bring two passport photographs
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FAQ's
How to Book
Courses can be booked directly through our website. If you’re unsure which course is right for you, our team is happy to advise.
Yes, availability is displayed on each experience page. If your preferred date isn’t shown, please contact us as we may still be able to accommodate you.
We recommend booking 4–8 weeks in advance, particularly for popular courses like RYA Day Skipper during the spring and summer season.
Course Information
No, beginners can start with RYA Competent Crew or our Learn to Sail package, which is designed for those with no previous sailing experience.
For most people, reaching RYA Day Skipper takes several months to a year, depending on availability and experience. A typical pathway includes:
- RYA Competent Crew (5 days)
- RYA Day Skipper Theory (online or classroom)
- RYA Day Skipper Practical (5 days)
Our Zero to Day Skipper Package is the fastest and most cost effective way to achieve the Day Skipper certificate.
There is no formal written exam during the practical course. Assessment is continuous and based on competence and confidence on board.
In the UK, the ICC is usually issued through the RYA. You can obtain one by:
Holding an accepted RYA qualification (such as Day Skipper) and applying to the RYA directly to convert it to an ICC, or
Passing an ICC assessment with an RYA-approved training centre
Yes. Once you hold RYA Day Skipper Practical, you can apply for an ICC without further testing.
During the RYA Competent Crew and RYA Day Skipper courses you will be expected to stay onboard for:
Part 2 (3 days) & 5 Consecutive days
The boat will visit marinas during this course, if the boat is in Brighton Marina then you are welcome to stay at home.
Our Part 1 Yacht courses and Level 1 & Level 2 courses are run as non-residential and you are not expected to stay onboard.
Any other questions
No, beginners can start with RYA Competent Crew or our Learn to Sail package, which is designed for those with no previous sailing experience.
We generally recommend not taking part in our activities if you’re pregnant, as being on the water can involve movement and conditions that aren’t always predictable.
If you do feel comfortable taking part, we usually suggest no later than around 21 weeks, but this is very much a personal decision. Everyone’s pregnancy is different, so please go with what feels right for you and consider speaking to your healthcare professional if you’re unsure.
If you let our team know in advance, we’re always happy to have a chat and help you decide what’s best for you.