RYA Coastal Skipper Practical is the highest practical Course normally experienced and is a signpost to Yachtmaster™ which is via an examination. The expectation is that you will already have existing skills which need polishing during the Course which is for improving confidence, all-round competence and skill as skipper in a wide range of conditions, by making longer passages.

Is this for you?

You have spent several weeks aboard yachts, racing or cruising visiting a wide variety of harbours and have experience as skipper. Your sailing is good and you can navigate and direct your crew.

What you’ll learn… and practice.

You will take charge, planning and executing longer passages by day and night. Learning is by coaching and practice allowing you to demonstrate and hone your skill and knowledge. Advanced handling and sailing skills form a key element of the course together with sessions on sail trim, pilotage and passage management techniques under sail.

Managing the yacht for several hours to complete more demanding longer passages will enhance your confidence to undertake more adventurous cruises. In 2021 Courses sailed as far up as Eyemouth and anchored in a variety of places including the Farnes, Beadnell and Holy Island.

You will be assumed to have sailing to Day Skipper standard and navigation to Coastal/Yachtmaster™ shorebased. As this Course will fine tune the skills of boat handling, passage planning etc you already have, candidates will need significant experience and sea miles on a suitable yacht and in a variety of areas. A sample requirement for chartering a yacht on the Clyde; ‘Skippers must hold/be experienced RYA Coastal practical or Yachtmaster practical when sailing within the Clyde. Outwith the Clyde – Yachtmaster practical’.  RYA Coastal Skipper Practical

Before a reservation is taken we will expect you already to have;

Experience with Northumbria Sailing in order that we can already have assessed your competence, theory knowledge and ability.

Logged in your G158 at least 15 days a sea, 8 night hours, 300 miles and 2 days as skipper

RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster theory