Skipper’s Skills Weekend – Practical Command & Decision-Making Training
Build Real Confidence as a Yacht Skipper
The RYA Skipper’s Skills Weekend at BOSS is an intensive, practical yacht skipper training course based at Hamble Point Marina, Southampton. Designed for sailors operating in tidal coastal waters, this hands-on weekend develops real command confidence, decision-making ability and leadership under way.
This is structured skipper development — not simply accumulating sea miles.
If you already hold RYA Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper but want to feel genuinely assured when taking charge of a yacht and crew, this course bridges the gap between qualification and confident command.
Who Is This Skipper Training Weekend Designed For?
This practical skipper development course is ideal for:
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RYA Day Skippers seeking consolidation after qualification
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Coastal Skippers building confidence in tidal waters
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Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore candidates preparing for examination
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Experienced sailors stepping up into skipper responsibility
If you can sail the yacht but want to strengthen judgement, crew leadership and real-world decision making, this weekend is specifically structured for you.
Practical RYA Skipper Training in the Solent
The Solent offers one of the best natural training environments in the UK. With strong tides, busy shipping lanes and complex pilotage scenarios, it provides realistic conditions for skipper training.
Throughout the weekend you will practise:
Command & Leadership Under Way
Taking control of the vessel, briefing crew clearly, allocating responsibilities and maintaining authority in a calm and structured manner.
Pilotage Planning & Harbour Approaches
Preparing detailed pilotage plans and executing safe entries and departures in tidal waters, including night or restricted-visibility considerations where appropriate.
Passage Planning & Decision Making
Assessing weather forecasts, tidal streams and traffic patterns. Learning how to adapt plans confidently when conditions change.
Close-Quarters Manoeuvring
Managing marina manoeuvres, berthing strategies and crew positioning from the skipper’s perspective.
Managing Real-World Scenarios
Handling unexpected situations while maintaining safety, awareness and command presence.
How This Weekend Supports Yachtmaster Preparation
Many Yachtmaster candidates find that technical knowledge is strong — but command confidence under pressure needs refinement.
This skipper weekend supports Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore preparation by focusing on:
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Structured decision making
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Situational awareness
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Clear skipper briefings
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Practical pilotage execution
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Calm leadership under observation
It is an excellent stepping stone before formal Yachtmaster exam preparation.
Why Train with BOSS?
BOSS has been delivering professional RYA yacht training since 1991.
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Small group sizes maximise time in command
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Experienced instructors with commercial and offshore backgrounds
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Real tidal training environment from Hamble Point Marina
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Clear, constructive feedback throughout
Our focus is not simply completing exercises, but developing competent, confident yacht skippers.
Course Format & What to Expect
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Weekend intensive format
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Practical on-water focus
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Structured scenario-based training
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Individual feedback and improvement targets
By the end of the weekend you will have strengthened your authority, refined your planning processes and improved your overall skipper competence.
Is This the Right Skipper Course for You?
If you would like to discuss whether the Skipper’s Skills Weekend matches your current experience level, speak with one of our course advisers.
Call us on +44 (0) 2380457733 or use the enquiry form below and we will help you plan the right next step in your sailing progression.
Qualified Skippers often tell us that there are things they never get to practice when they go cruising or racing with friends. This course aims to address this by offering skippers a brush up and improvers weekend.
Teaching ratio on board 5:1
