RYA Day Skipper Combination Theory and Practical
Booking details
Please select your preferred start date below.
Please select your preferred start date below.
Joining Instructions: Please click here for course joining instructions.
What is included in the course cost:
Recommended Reading: RYA Day Skipper Handbook Sail (G71), RYA Yacht Sailing Techniques (G94), RYA Yachtmaster scheme and syllabus (G158)
Prerequisites for taking the Day Skipper Theory and Practical Course: RYA Competent Crew (at least 5 days on board a yacht sailing), or suitable sailing abilities to the same level.
Minimum Age: 16+.
Holiday Insurance: We would advise ALL our customers to ensure they have suitable holiday insurance in-place. Yachtsman’s insurance is available from a variety of sources, such as Topsail Insurance, and can cover things like cancellations and personal effects cover.
This course will enable students to safely plan and undertake day passages in familiar waters, with an introduction to making a night passage, always returning to a port of safe haven. This is the gateway course to chartering yachts anywhere in the UK and the world. With the skills learnt on the course you will have a good, solid grounding ready to start your adventures.
The RYA Day Skipper Course Solent is designed for anyone who has successfully completed the RYA Competent Crew and wants to undertake the practical and theory qualification in one sitting over nine continuous days.
Successful completion qualifies students for their International Certificate of Competence (ICC), allowing them to confidently plan and complete passages around Portsmouth, Southampton and the Solent, as well as charter yachts in the UK and abroad.
As a guide we would recommend an absolute minimum of five days (or 100 nautical miles) of tidal waters yacht sailing experience as an active crew member. This requirement is usually obtained by taking the RYA Competent Crew course. However, If you are short of a few days experience then why not try one of our sailing mile builders!
We sometimes find that students with less than this level of experience struggle to pass and complete the RYA Day Skipper Combination course.
The RYA Day Skipper Combined Theory & Practical Course will enable you to gain the full RYA Day Skipper qualification in just nine days. It’s the fastrack way to gain your skippers licence.
The RYA Day Skipper Combined theory and practical course is held over 9 days and is conducted from our Gosport Marina base.
You will need to spend your evenings reviewing your theory classes and reading some of the upcoming theory sections ready for the next day. You will have exercises to complete each evening to help consolidate your learning.
The RYA Day Skipper Combined Theory and Practical Course covers preparation for sea and the safety briefing, deck work, navigation (both traditional and electronic), pilotage into and out of ports and harbours, meteorology, rules of the road, maintenance and repair work, engines, victualing, emergency situations and actions, yacht handling under power and under sail, passage making, night sailing back to a port of safe refuge, and of course being the skipper of a vessel.
Please be aware that RYA Day Skipper Combination Courses completed in the Solent and other tidal waters are demanding. This course is held in high regard with yacht charter companies worldwide due to the challenging waters, winds, tides and busy waterways you will encounter. Courses run in the non-tidal waters of the Mediterranean are generally not accepted by the UK yacht charter industry. Our Day Skipper course also qualifies you for the International Certificate of Competence (ICC).
Our RYA Day Skipper Combination courses have 4 to 5 students. In some instances sharing a cabin may be required.
Courses run in a single format:
During your RYA Day Skipper (Tidal) Combination Course, you will cover theory and practical navigation, pilotage, boat handling, seamanship, skippering techniques, customs and sailing etiquette and the all-important berthing in marinas. You will also potentially cover rafting alongside another vessel, which is common during high season.
The course includes accommodation aboard our immaculate, well-maintained yachts with breakfast, lunch and snacks and three evening meals onboard with one evening meal taken ashore at the students cost during the practical side of the course.
During the theory side of the course we only provide accommodation on a “bed only” basis at extra-cost. (This is strictly subject to availability of spare yachts – Please confirm two weeks prior to your course commencing).
We also include all fuel and safety kit such as lifejackets and waterproofs (Excluding footwear).
Fancy going VIP and having your own exclusive private course for you and your friends or family? You can book the whole yacht just for your own exclusive course from only £1,095 per person. Enjoy the course in style, with up to five persons on the boat being taught by one of our friendly, experienced Yachtmaster Instructors! What a way to start your sailing adventure!
This is the best way to gain your RYA Day Skippers licence in the shortest possible time frame. This course will give you the ability to charter a yacht in the UK or abroad.
It’s advisable to ensure that your practical sailing skills are up to scratch, as there is no time on the course for refreshing skills. You need to be able to helm the yacht, hold a course, operate winches, tack, gybe and sail the yacht into a triangular course. In short, you need to be confident of the skills you learnt on your Competent Crew course.
This course is the starting point for your skippering life. It’s all about the journey, visisting new ports, navigating in and out of them safely by day. This course will immerse you in boat life, so get involved, enjoy the banter, ask questions and have a great time. Once you complete this course, go sailing, charter a boat with friends and family.
Remember with this course that it’s a full-on nine days! So please be well-prepared for long days a a lot to learn!
We will help you as much as we can but you need to work with us to really get the most out of the full nine days. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for things to be explained in more detail if you don’t understand them. Practice the skills in the evenings to really home your knowledge. But most of all have fun.
Please select your preferred start date below.
The RYA Yachtmaster™ Theory Course brings students with at least the RYA Day Skipper / Coastal Skipper qualification and a sound level of sailing experience, up to Yachtmaster™ level (Theory only).
Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the RYA Yachtmaster™ Theory course!
Learn more
The RYA SRC/VHF Radio Course is minimum qualification required by law to operate the VHF or VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipment on any British flagged vessel carrying a radio.
Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the RYA SRC/VHF Radio course!
Learn more
The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course is the next progressive step from being a qualified RYA Day skipper. With more advanced sailing skills and valuable navigational techniques being taught along with the planning and executing of much longer passages, it’s the next natural step-up from the RYA Day Skipper course, giving you more valuable confidence in planning those all-essential Channel crossings.
Take a look at our live course calendar for dates for the RYA Coastal Skipper Practical course taking place at Gosport Marina.
Learn more
A fantastic weekend of sailing, almost 130 NM in all, with a relaxed, but fully engaging skipper. Great set up and brilliant on the admin. Thanks Stef, Tom et al!
Nick BI did a weeks coastal skipper course getting ready for my yacht master and I have to say it was one of the best training weeks I’ve had - our training instructor was superb, exactly the sort of person that you want. He could inspire, provide discipline and impart knowledge as well as let you learn through your own mistakes. Tom and Steph run an excellent operation there and I highly recommend it. They’re flexible and very helpful when it comes to your journey into being a qualified sailor.
Nigel Frith