Boat Handling Masterclass
Advanced Yacht Manoeuvring in Wind and Tide
Confident boat handling transforms your sailing.
Our weekend Boat Handling Masterclass is designed for skippers and experienced crew who want to refine their close-quarters manoeuvring and develop genuine confidence in challenging conditions. Run regularly throughout the year, this popular course focuses entirely on practical, hands-on yacht handling under professional guidance.
Based at Hamble Point Marina with direct access to the Solent’s complex tidal streams, this course is carefully scheduled around spring tides to ensure we can make full use of maximum tidal flow. While we cannot guarantee strong winds, we deliberately programme the weekend to expose you to a wide range of tidal states and, where possible, fresh conditions so that you learn techniques that work when it really matters.
Why This Course Matters
Many sailors are comfortable at sea yet feel tension returning to harbour. Parking the yacht at the end of a passage, leaving a tight berth, or manoeuvring in cross-tide can raise the heart rate.
This course is designed to remove that stress.
Through structured coaching and repeated practice, you will develop a deeper understanding of:
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Prop walk and prop wash
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Windage and its practical effects
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Using spring lines positively
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Tidal set and drift
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Controlled reverse manoeuvring
By the end of the weekend you will be capable of tackling a wide range of mooring situations with significantly greater confidence and composure.
What You Will Practise
This is not a theory session. It is a highly practical weekend with ample time at the helm.
Exercises typically include:
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Turning the yacht in confined spaces
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Ferry gliding across tidal streams
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Approaching and leaving windward and leeward pontoons
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Reversing accurately in cross-wind conditions
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Close-quarters manoeuvres under varying states of tide
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Berthing repeatedly in a variety of scenarios
We encourage challenge in a supportive environment. You will be coached to refine your technique, not merely complete the manoeuvre. Expect repetition, constructive feedback, and measurable improvement over the course of the weekend.
Who Is It For?
This masterclass is ideal for:
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RYA Day Skipper or above
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Yacht owners wanting greater confidence
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Sailors preparing for Coastal or Yachtmaster qualifications
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Returning skippers looking to refresh core skills
Numbers are kept sensible to ensure meaningful helm time for every participant.
The BOSS Difference
This course is delivered by very experienced and highly skilled RYA instructors who specialise in close-quarters coaching. Their calm, methodical approach ensures that even demanding exercises are broken down into manageable, repeatable techniques.
The aim is not bravado. It is quiet competence.
By Sunday afternoon you will notice a marked difference in how you assess space, control speed and use wind and tide to your advantage rather than fighting them.
Location
All courses operate from Hamble Point Marina near Southampton, offering immediate access to one of the UK’s most dynamic tidal environments.
The popular weekend Boat Handling course is programmed to give you experience in a wide range of tidal conditions and although we cannot guarantee the weather, this course looks at techniques for manoeuvring in strong winds. Ample practice time means that by the end of the weekend you will be capable of tackling a range of mooring situations with much more confidence
"I was looking for some instruction that could really help me to understand what was going on when I parked in the marina. Your boat handling course was perfect. No more stress when we moor up." Richard - Sevenoaks. Kent
Teaching ratio on board 5:1
