RYA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track

This course is an investment in yourself. We will take you from a raw student to RYA Yachtmaster™ within an 18 week programme syllabus.

With the skills learnt on the programme you will have a great, foundation ready to start your professional career.

Read more about what we offer on our RYA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track programme that other centres don’t, here.

This 18 week RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track programme will take you from a raw student to RYA Yachtmaster™, and will cover a variety of courses and sailing exercises during your time with us.

By the end of the programme you will have hopefully achieved the end-goal in that you will be an RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ with a great professional sailing career ahead of you. Currently we have a 100% pass rate on the exam showing how dedicated we are to you.

The courses and events you’ll undertake on the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track programme are:

• RYA Competent Crew (Twice!)
• RYA Day Skipper Theory
• RYA Day Skipper Practical (Twice!)
• RYA SRC / VHF
  This essential course introduces you to key aspects of marine radio operation—an absolute must for every sailor. You’ll gain hands-on experience with VHF radios, learning how to navigate between different channels and manage ship-to-shore communications.Training includes:
  • Correct radio protocol and procedures for daily and emergency situations
  • How to make distress, urgency, and safety calls—plus how to respond when others need help
  • An overview of Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
  • Introduction to safety equipment such as Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) and Search and Rescue Transponders (SART)
  • Understanding the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

  Please note: the RYA license fee for this qualification (£60) is payable separately.

• RYA First Aid at Sea
• RYA Yachtmaster™ Coastal Theory (Twice!)
• RYA Yachtmaster™ Preparation (Twice!)
• RYA Yachtmaster Exam (Exam fees at students own cost)
• Self-sailing weeks & mile-building time (Yacht charter – No instructor on board)
• RYA Powerboat Level 2
• Diesel engine maintenance ( 2 days of hands on real engine experience to home your skills and engine knowledge)
• Yacht maintenance
• Plus various internal courses and teaching sessions

What you’ll cover in detail

Throughout your 18 weeks, you’ll gain hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge through a comprehensive blend of shore-based and practical courses, including:

• Competent Crew — Learn essential skills like knots, yacht preparation, helming, deck work, terminology, sail handling, tender operations, safety, and man overboard drills. This is your foundation, and we run it twice to really cement your confidence.
• Day Skipper Shorebased — Dive into pilotage, tidal navigation, meteorology, maintenance, engines, emergency situations, watchkeeping, and those all-important Rules of the Road.
• Day Skipper Practical — Bring your theory to life with practical seamanship, boat handling under sail and motor, passage planning, night sailing, VHF training, and even food hygiene at sea.
• Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper Theory — Navigate using position fixing, dead reckoning, GPS, radar, tidal streams, buoyage, lights, pilotage, and more, with a strong emphasis on both electronic and traditional chart work.
• Coastal Skipper Practical — Refine advanced skills such as passage planning, taking charge of crew, navigation using both electronics and paper charts, yacht handling under power and sail in varied conditions (including confined spaces and Mediterranean-style moorings), blind navigation, and emergency drills like man overboard recovery under both sail and motor.
• Mile-Building & Sea Time — You’ll clock up at least 2,500 sea miles, including passages to destinations like the Isles of Scilly, the Archipelago, The
  Channel Islands

  Archipelago in Europe, and the Northern European coast line and complete over 5 x 60-mile passages as skipper
• VHF SRC/Radio Operation — Master radio communication, distress calls, DSC, GMDSS, EPIRB, and SART procedures (RYA license fee not included).
• First Aid — Gain your MCA and HSE-approved first aid certificate on a dedicated one-day course.
• Professional Practices and Responsibilities — Complete an online course and exam to understand the standards and expectations of a professional skipper.
• Yacht Maintenance — Get hands-on with diesel engine maintenance and yacht systems to ensure you’re ready for anything at sea.
• Yachtmaster Offshore Exam Preparation — Hone your skills during an intensive prep week, culminating in the independently examined Yachtmaster Offshore assessment (exam fee not included unless stated).

Check out what we offer against other providers – We provide the most comprehensive package in the industry, giving you better value for money.

We put you through selected training courses twice, reinforcing your learning experience without putting you under pressure to get it right first time around.

Accommodation is also included for the full 18 weeks, even during shore-time courses*.

We even provide you with a full set of new wet-weather kit to take away with you upon completion of the course.

Why go anywhere else?

*Subject to boat availability

Professional Practices & Responsibilities

An essential part of the programme, this module covers everything you need to know about operating safely and responsibly as a professional skipper. You’ll gain a solid grounding in the legal and ethical standards expected within the yachting industry. Topics include crew welfare, vessel management, environmental stewardship, collision regulations, and maintaining best practice in navigation and safety.

Learning takes place online, concluding with an assessment to ensure you’re up to speed with industry requirements and ready to take on professional responsibilities at sea.

The Training Yachts

During your time on the programme, you’ll be sailing aboard well-equipped cruising yachts in the 38-foot range, such as the popular Bavaria 38 and other similar models. These modern vessels are the gold standard for training—comfortable, reliable, and designed for both aspiring skippers and seasoned sailors. Spacious below decks and responsive at the helm, these yachts provide the ideal environment to develop your skills, gain confidence, and experience life on the water exactly as you would in real-world scenarios.

Environmental and Navigational Conditions

During your training, you’ll experience a diverse range of real-world sailing conditions designed to build your confidence and skill at sea. The Solent, renowned for its dynamic environment, will be your primary playground—offering everything from brisk cross-channel breezes to the tactical challenges of tidal streams and busy commercial shipping lanes.

Throughout the programme, you’ll tackle:

• Variable wind conditions, ensuring you learn to adapt and make sound decisions regardless of weather.
• Tidal navigation, with hands-on experience planning passages and manoeuvring in currents—an essential skill for any serious sailor.
• Night passages, helping you to sharpen your navigation and helming skills under limited visibility.
• Approaches to coastal harbours and open-sea passages, giving you a well-rounded perspective.
• The chance to put theory into practice while exploring different mooring techniques, man-overboard drills, and close-quarters handling.

By training in these conditions, you’ll gain the experience and reassurance you need to skipper confidently—no matter what the sea throws your way.

Why go anywhere else?

*Subject to boat availability

What’s Included in Your Fast Track Yachtmaster™ Programme

To ensure you get the most from your training, here’s what you can expect as part of your journey:

• Comprehensive Package: Accommodation, food and drinks, bedding, mooring fees, fuel, taxes, safety equipment, books, charts, navigation tools, and all the essentials are included. No hidden costs.
• Full Training Path: Your RYA logbook, First Aid and VHF (radio) courses, plus both Day Skipper and Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper shore-based courses are part of the package. The Yachtmaster exam fee is also covered.
• Modern, Well-Equipped Yachts: You’ll sail on a Bavaria 38 or similar, ensuring a comfortable and capable platform for learning.
• Expert Instruction: Every instructor has years of experience under their belt—both in sailing and in teaching.
• Small Groups: With a maximum of 4–5 students per yacht, you get individual attention and the best chance to succeed.
• Structured Payment: Secure your place with a £1000 deposit, with the balance due one month before the course starts.
• Extensive Sea Time: You’ll cover a minimum of 2,500 sea miles and complete the required 60-mile passages as Skipper.
• Job Support: Many of our graduates go on to work in the sailing industry. We offer introductions and references, drawing on our extensive network to help you launch your career.
• Flexible Online Learning: The shore-based courses are completed online before you arrive (included in your fee). You’ll have six months to finish them, and can start as soon as your deposit is paid.
• Beyond the Exam: It’s not just about passing the test. We prepare you to be a true Master of a yacht, ready for everything a career at sea can throw at you.

To read more about what we offer that other sea schools don’t, and how we give you the best experience and training available, why not take a look at our RYA Yachtmaster™ Fast Track syllabus.

*Qualification is subject to the student demonstrating the required level of competence to the examiner in the RYA Yachtmaster exam. Passing this course is not guaranteed.