RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sailing

Looking to push your sailing limits? Then step up and master passage-making, night sailing, and advanced navigation.

Duration: 5 Days

Minimum Age: 17

Price: €950

Assumed Knowledge: Intermediate Sailing Skills, and 8 night hours. Coastal Skipper Theory. Max students 5

Expanding Horizons. What Makes This Course a Must-Do?

Taking the step from coastal cruising to true passage-making requires more than just confidence—it requires skill. The RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sailing course is designed for experienced sailors who are ready to tackle longer passages, sail at night, and handle unexpected challenges at sea. This isn’t just about skippering in familiar waters; it’s about mastering advanced navigation, pilotage, and decision-making in more demanding conditions.

Over five intensive days, you’ll refine your ability to plan and execute extended passages, handle emergencies like engine failure or steering loss, and skipper a yacht with authority—by day and night. This course is your gateway to serious sailing.

The Confidence That Awaits You Beyond the Course

Skipper Longer & More Challenging Passages:
- Take command beyond familiar waters, handling longer coastal passages.
- Navigate by day and night, factoring in tides, weather, and restricted visibility.
Refine Your Boat Handling & Seamanship:
- Master advanced manoeuvres under both sail and power, including close-quarters handling.
- Learn how to manage challenging conditions and unexpected failures like engine trouble or steering loss.
Plan & Execute Advanced Pilotage:
- Navigate tricky harbours and coastlines using leading lines, transits, and back bearings.
- Confidently enter and exit unfamiliar ports, even in poor visibility.
Lead & Make Decisions Under Pressure:
- Manage a crew on longer trips, making real-time navigational and safety decisions.
- Develop the confidence to stay calm and decisive when things don’t go as planned.
Your Next Step: RYA Yachtmaster & Beyond
- The perfect stepping stone towards RYA Yachtmaster Coastal or Offshore.
- Ideal for those pursuing professional roles as yacht skippers, delivery crew, or charter captains.