RYA Day Skipper Theory and Practical Course

The Combined RYA Day Skipper Theory & Practical course is an intensive nine day programme designed for sailors who want to complete both the shorebased and practical Day Skipper qualifications in one continuous course. Running from Saturday through to the following Sunday, the course provides a convenient and effective route to achieving the full RYA Day Skipper qualification with minimal time away from work. By combining both weekends, it is possible to complete the course with just five working days off.

The first four days are classroom based and concentrate on the RYA Day Skipper shorebased syllabus, covering navigation, pilotage, tides, meteorology, passage planning and rules of the road. The theory phase is immediately followed by a five day liveaboard practical course, allowing students to put their newly learned navigation skills directly into practice on the water.

During the practical phase, each student takes turns navigating and skippering the yacht on short coastal passages under the guidance of experienced instructors. Boat handling, pilotage, watch keeping, sail trim and emergency procedures all form part of the course, together with night sailing and practical passage planning.

By the end of the course, successful students will be able to undertake short coastal passages by day in tidal waters and will be awarded both the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased and Practical course completion certificates. Holders of the practical certificate may also apply for the ICC without further assessment.