Standard course outline
RYA Coastal Skipper (Practical) — Royal Yachting Association
An intermediate-level RYA practical course that teaches the skills and techniques required to skipper a cruising yacht safely on coastal passages by day and night. It is the practical training level above Day Skipper and is recognised within the RYA Yachtmaster pathway; successful candidates receive a course completion certificate which can reduce the qualifying sea time for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal exam.
About this course
The RYA Coastal Skipper practical course trains competent skippers in advanced boat-handling, skippering, watchkeeping and passage techniques required to safely plan and execute coastal (and short offshore) passages by day and night. The course sits within the RYA sail cruising pathway and is intended for sailors who already have Day Skipper level skills and the shorebased knowledge expected at Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster shorebased standard. Completion is evidenced by an RYA course completion certificate which may be used to reduce qualifying sea time for the RYA Yachtmaster Coastal examination.
What you learn
- Skipper a cruising yacht on coastal passages by day and night (practical skippering and watchkeeping).
- Apply passage planning, pilotage and pilotage techniques appropriate to coastal passages.
- Demonstrate advanced boat-handling and berthing under sail and/or power, and man-overboard recovery.
- Prepare a cruising yacht for sea including stowage, safety briefings and emergency procedures.
- Demonstrate situational awareness of weather, collision regulations and safety issues relevant to coastal passages.
Before you start
- Practical ability at RYA Day Skipper standard (or equivalent practical experience).
- Shorebased knowledge to Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster shorebased standard (navigation, meteorology, collision regulations and passage planning).
- Suggested prior seatime/experience consistent with RYA pathway guidance (examples of assumed experience appear in RYA pathway materials).